Since most Senators are working remotely, you can tweet and/or email them using the attached and following link: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Action Now! Urge Your Senators to Reject Virus Relief Package Excluding Medicaid Providers
The following comes to us thanks to Ron Manderscheid and the Mental Health Liaison Group (https://www.mhlg.org/):
PLEASE CALL YOUR TWO SENATORS THIS MORNING TO OBJECT TO THIS EXCLUSIONARY PROVISION.
WE HAVE ONLY A FEW HOURS TO TURN THIS AROUND!
Over the last couple of business days, there has been heightened alert that the current Senate COVID-19 relief package would prohibit Medicaid-participating businesses from being eligible for the small business loans being made available – with the existing text explicitly excluding it (see below).
Here’s the text of the exclusion in the McConnell bill.
(2) EXCLUSION OF NONPROFITS RECEIVING
11 MEDICAID EXPENDITURES.—Paragraph (1) shall not
12 apply to a nonprofit entity eligible for payment for
13 items or services furnished under a State plan under
14 title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396
15 et seq.) or under a waiver of such plan.
A couple of groups quickly put together the following letter on Friday:
March 20, 2020
The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Senate Majority Leader Speaker of the House
United States Senate United States House of Representatives
S-230, US Capitol S-222, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20511
The Honorable Chuck Schumer The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Senate Minority Leader Minority Leader
United States Senate United States House of Representatives
S-221, US Capitol S-204, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 Dear Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader McCarthy,
We are leading national organizations representing people with mental health conditions and addiction, family members, mental health and addiction providers, advocates and other stakeholders. We want to thank you for your urgent action to provide economic relief in this time of crisis.
We are writing to highlight three specific issues of critical importance to people with mental health conditions and addictions, their families and providers of behavioral health services. We note that 1 in 5 Americans has a mental health condition and everyone across the country is experiencing increased mental health concerns such as increased anxiety from isolation created by the current public health crisis created by COVID-19. We also know that those who are severely impacted by the virus either as patients or healthcare professionals may need follow up mental health care to address trauma from this experience. Given the need to provide mental health care and support during this crisis, we request the following changes:
First, remove the language excluding nonprofits that receive Medicaid reimbursements from the emergency Small Business Loan Program. Many non-profit organizations receive Medicaid funds, but are experiencing significant losses due to difficulties in billing, cancelled appointments, and increased demands requiring infrastructure-related costs. Additional funds through the Small Business Loan Program will be critical to supporting mental health providers as they continue employing staff and providing critical services to the public.
Second, we are very appreciative of the additional flexibilities in telehealth in Medicare and we request that you expand these flexibilities to allow reimbursement for audio only telephone services. Millions of Medicare patients who are quarantined and/or physically distancing do not have cellphones with video chat capability, and/or do not know how to use this capability. They may also not have internet service, broadband speed or sufficient data. This is especially true for those residing in rural areas or who are lower income. At a time when older adults, particularly those with chronic conditions are vulnerable to COVID-19 and isolated in their homes, they need to be able to pick up a phone and connect easily with mental health providers. Many people are not comfortable using video for services because of their mental health condition or lack of familiarity with the technology and they need urgent mental health care.
Third, we strongly urge you to specifically add funds for mental health and addiction care. The current bill has much needed resources for health centers, but it lacks emphasis on behavioral services during a time of multiple crises. We would request similar attention to allocating funds to organizations providing behavioral health care, support and crisis care. This could include resources for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, community-based nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations providing mental health and addiction support services as well increased funding for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Thank you again for your efforts.
Sincerely,
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
The Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action The Jewish Federations of North America
Mental Health America
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Council for Behavioral Health