National Healthcare Reform Alert

National Healthcare Reform Alert:

Please Contact Your U.S. Senators and Representatives Today and Ask Them to Make Sure that Addiction and Mental Health Services Are Fully and Equitably Included in National Healthcare Reform

 

Message:

Experts agree that addiction and serious mental illness are chronic diseases that can be prevented and treated effectively. Including the full continuum of mental health and addiction prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery support services in healthcare reform will improve the quality of life for millions of Americans and dramatically reduce healthcare costs.

 

Action:

Members of Congress will be in their home districts during the week of June 29th for the July 4th Congressional recess. Please call your U.S. Senators and Representatives today and ask them to make sure that addiction and mental illness prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery supports are fully and equitably included in national healthcare reform. Find your Members of Congress by visiting http://www.congress.org/ and entering in your zip code or by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

 

Background:

Congress and the Obama administration are hard at work on proposals to reform the nations healthcare system. Committee votes on the draft healthcare reform bills are expected in July, with votes by the full House and Senate possibly being held before the August recess.

 

So far, all of the draft healthcare bills and proposals that have been released include some mention of addiction and mental health. However, strong advocacy is needed to make sure that the full continuum of addiction and mental health services are included and will be available just like any other health condition.

 

Members of Congress will be in their home districts during the week of June 29th for the July 4th Congressional recess. This is an excellent time to urge your elected officials to do their part to ensure national healthcare reform includes full and equitable coverage for addiction and mental health prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery support services.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Gabrielle de la Gueronniere or Dan Belnap at Legal Action Center, (202) 544-5478. Thanks for your help!