NAPHS release: "Jessica Zigmond Joins NAPHS as Director of Communications"

Mental Health Liaison Group letter in support of the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act of 2017 (H.R.2509), which would repeal the Medicare 190-day lifetime limit for inpatient psychiatric care

NAPHS release: "Scott Dziengelski Joins NAPHS as Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs"

NAPHS release: "Julia E. Richardson Joins NAPHS as Director of Advocacy and Senior Counsel"

NAPHS release: "Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) Receives 'Mental Health Champion Award' from National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems"

NAPHS release: "Sen. Christopher Murphy (D-CT) Receives 'Mental Health Champion Award' from National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems"

NAPHS ad as seen in Politico and Roll Call titled "Helping Americans with mental and substance use conditions is important to overall health andto our economy. Congress agreed....Save lives, families, and communities with behavioral health."

Joint HHS/CMS letter to governors: "Affirming Partnership of HHS, CMS, and States to Improve Medicaid Program." Also see HHS release.

National organizations' letter of support to Reps. Murphy and Kilmer for Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Accessibility Act (H.R.1253) -- to support construction and upgrading of behavioral health facilities

NAPHS letter on the Medicaid IMD exclusion submitted for the record to House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee's hearing on "Strengthening Medicaid and Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable"

Release: "NY Attorney General Announces National Settlement With Anthem To Discontinue Pre-Authorization For Opioid Addiction Treatment Drugs"

HHS/SAMHSA final rule: "Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records"

HHS/SAMHSA proposed rule: "Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records"

Partnership to Amend 42 CFR Part 2 release: "SAMHSA Final Rule Well Intended, Falls Short; Coalition to Urge Congress to Take Next Steps"

NAPHS release: "Shawn Coughlin Joins NAPHS as Executive Vie President for Government Relations and Public Policy"

Congressional Research Service report detailing mental health provisions of the 21st Century Cures law: "The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Reform Act of 2016 (Division B of P.L. 114-255)"

NAPHS statement: "Inclusion of Mental Health Reforms and Addiction Funding in 21st Century Cures Act Is a Victory for the Health of America." See a summary of key behavioral health provisions.

NAPHS statement on House passage (392-26) of mental health reform and addiction funding as part of the 21st Century Cures Act

Parity Implementation Coalition release: "Parity Implementation Coalition Applauds Inclusion of Parity Provisions in 21st Century Cures Bill."  See bill excerpts.

U.S. Surgeon General Issues Landmark Report: "Facing Addiction in America: A Surgeon General’s Prevention Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health." See news release.

CMS final rule: "Medicare Program: Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY17..." (including Psychiatric Collaborative Care). Also see CMS news release and blog, 11.18.16 correction, and 12.29.16 correction.

Mental Health Liaison Group letter to Senate Majority and Minority Leaders in support of mental heatlh reform

CMS final rule with comment period: "Medicare Program: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment...Systems and Quality Reporting Programs;...etc." (NOTE: partial hospitalization section begins on p.79678). Also see CMS release and fact sheet.

NAPHS statement on 2016 national election

Parity Implementation Coalition: "Summary of the White House Parity Task Force Report and Accompanying Action Items"

PIC release: "Parity Implementation Coalition Applauds Release of White House Parity Task Force Recommendations"

Joint statement (43 organizations) on release of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force report

White House Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force final report to the President. Also see fact sheet/recommendations, a blog, and www.hhs.gov/parity for more information.

Release: "NY Attorney General Announces National Settlement With Cigna To Discontinue Pre-Authorization For Opioid Addiction Treatment Drugs"

OIG report (A-07-15-01158): "Medicare Improperly Paid Providers Millions of Dollars for Incarcerated Beneficiaries Who Received Services During 2013 and 2014"

Mental Health Liaison Group letter in support of the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act (H.R.4374 and S.2685)

SAMHSA/HHS final rule: "Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders Reporting Requirements"

Coalition letter to Members of Congress urging passage of mental health reform legislation with strong parity protections

NAPHS comment letter to CMS on “Collaborative Care Model for Beneficiaries with Common Behavioral Health Conditions” (in proposed rule on CY17 physician fee schedule)

NAPHS comment letter on proposed rule on Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)

Coalition for Whole Health (CWH) comment letter to White House Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force

Parity Implementation Coalition comment letter to White House Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force

Psych-Appeal, Parity Implementation Coalition, Kennedy Forum, and APA letter to Labor/HHS/Treasury on expedited external review subject to the ACA (shared with White House Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force)

NAPHS statement: "Death of Longtime NAPHS Advocate Mike Bromberg Is a Loss for the Behavioral Health Field"

NAPHS comment letter to CMS on proposed rule on Hospital Conditions of Participation

NAPHS comment letter on SAMHSA/HHS proposed rule on reporting requirements for practitioners approved to treat up to 275 patients under the "Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders" final rule

CMS proposed rule: "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY2017" (see pg.46201-46205 for sections on Collaborative Care Model for common behavioral health conditions). Also see 8.10.16 correction.

Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, S.524, passes Senate and House; goes to President for signature. See a summary of key provisions. Becomes law (P.L.114-198) on 7.22.16.

NAPHS testimony on the Medicare 190-day lifetime limit for Health Care Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee hearing on “Alzheimer’s Disease: The Struggle for Families, a Looming Crisis for Medicare”

SAMHSA/HHS final rule: "Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders" (lifting buprenorphine cap to 275). Also see 9.9.16 correcting amendment.

SAMHSA/HHS proposed rule on reporting requirements for practitioners approved to treat up to 275 patients under the "Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders" final rule

HHS/ASPE Request for Information: "Opioid Analgesic Prescriber Education and Training Opportunities to Prevent Opioid Overdose and Opioid Use Disorder"

NAPHS Alert: "CMS suspends partial hospitalization code edits planned to start 7.1.16." See MLN Matters revision.

NAPHS statement: "NAPHS Applauds House Passage of Legislation to Address Nation's Mental Health Crisis; Urges Congress to Pass Comprehensive Reform Now"

Summary of key provisions of H.R.2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, as passed by the U.S. House of Reprentatives

NAPHS fact sheet: Summary of Medicaid managed care final rule provision on Medicaid IMD exclusion

NAPHS statement: "NAPHS Applauds House Energy and Commerce Committee's Markup of Legislation to Address Nation's Mental Health Crisis; Urges Congress to Pass Comprehensive Reform"

NAPHS letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee supporting mark-up of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, H.R.2646

Department of Labor/HHS fact sheet: "Warning Signs – Plan or Policy Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTLs) that Require Additional Analysis to Determine Mental Health Parity Compliance"

CMS final rule (including a provision giving MCOs flexibiiity on IMD exclusion--p.27555-27563): "Medicaid & CHIP Programs; Medicaid Managed Care, CHIP Delivered in Managed Care, Medicaid and CHIP Comprehensive Quality Strategies, and Revisions Related to Third Party Liability." Also see CMS fact sheets, 7.20.16 correcting amendment, 1.3.17 correcting amendment, and 3.6.17 correcting amendment. 

NAMI / NAPHS letter to Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Wyden (focusing on the Medicaid IMD Exclusion) for Senate Finance Committee hearing on "Mental Health in America: Where Are We Now?"

Parity Implementation Coalition release: "Parity Implementation Coalition Applauds Release of Clarifying Guidance on Plan Disclosure Requirements of the Federal Parity Law"

Departments of Labor, Treasury, and HHS: "FAQs about Affordable Care Act Implementation Part 31, Mental Health Parity Implementation...etc." (See Q8-Q11 on parity disclosure and more)

NAPHS ad as seen in Politico and Roll Call titled "OVERDUE: Mental Health Reform:  It's time to fix the Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) exclusion that prohibits adult Medicaid beneficiaries (21-64) from accessing short-term, acute care in psychiatric hospitals"

23-organization joint comment letter (including NAPHS) to SAMHSA on "“Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records” (42 CFR Part 2) proposed rule

NAPHS comment letter on SAMHSA/HHS proposed rule on “Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records”

NAPHS ad as seen in Politico and Roll Call titled "OVERDUE: Mental Health Reform:  Too many lives lost...too little action. Pass comprehensive mental health reform NOW!"

NAPHS letter to Senate HELP Committee Chair and Ranking Member regarding introduction of staff discussion draft of Mental Health Reform Act of 2016

Behavioral Health IT Coalition letter to Senate HELP Committee urging support of a mental health reform amendment to provide financial incentives for EHRs for mental health/addictions providers

Department of Labor "Report to Congress: Improving Health Coverage for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Patients, Including Compliance with the Federal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Provisions"

HHS/Labor/SAMHSA consumer pamphlet: "Parity of Mental Health and Substance Use Benefits with Other Benefits: Using Your Employer-Sponsored Health Plan to Cover Services."

NAPHS release: "NAPHS Applauds Final Passage of Bipartisan Legislation To Extend and Expand the Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Demonstration Project; Bill Next Goes to President for Signature."  [NOTE: Signed into law 12.11.15 as P.L.114-97.]

Op-ed from NAPHS, American Psychiatric Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health America, and American Psychological Association titled “The Time Is Now for Mental Health Reform.” 

Mental Health Liaison Group letters of support to  the House (H.R.2515) and Senate (S.1865) sponsors of the Anna Westin Act (to improve access to residential treatment for eating disorders)

Mental health/substance use organization letter (including NAPHS) to House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders on need for action on meaningful mental health reform

NAPHS release: "NAPHS Applauds Introduction of Senate Legislation [the Mental Health Reform Act] to Address Nation’s Mental Health Crisis; Urges Congress to Pass Comprehensive Reform." See fact sheet from Sens. Murphy and Cassidy. 

NAPHS comment letter to CMS on IMD exclusion provision in proposed rule on "Medicaid & Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Programs; Medicaid Managed Care, etc."

NAPHS comment letter to CMS on proposed rule: "Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities PPS-Update for Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2015 (FY16)" (including IPFQR quality measures)

Parity Implementation Coalition releases updated “Parity Resource Guide.” See PIC news release

NAPHS statement on Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, H.R. 2646 ("NAPHS Commends Rep. Tim Murphy for Bipartisan Reintroduction of Legislation to Address the Nation’s Mental Health Emergency"), See fact sheet on bill.

S.599, the Improving Access to Emergency Psychiatric Care Act introduced by Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Patrick Toomey (R-PA), and Susan Collins (R-ME) to extend and expand the Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Demonstration. See Congressional Record statement on S.599 by Sen. Cardin (scroll down to pages S1168-S1170).

Parity Implementation Coalition news release: "Parity Implementation Coalition Seeks Federal Action on Parity in Response to 60 Minutes Report." Watch 60 Minutes.

NAPHS comment letter to CMS proposed rule on "Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers"

NAPHS release: "Millions of Disabled and Poor Americans Encounter Discrimination When They Face Mental or Addictive Disorders, Says NAPHS; NAPHS Applauds House Oversight Hearing on Challenges Facing Families in Mental Health Crisis."

NAPHS letter submitted to House Energy and Commerce Oversight Committee hearing on “Where Have All the Patients Gone? Examining the Psychiatric Bed Shortage.”

NAPHS release: “There is no health without mental health,”says NAPHS Board. Board urges Congress to 1) end discrimination; 2) fix gaps in the mental health and addiction treatment system; and 3) support health information technology funding.

2014 Advocacy Priorities: 1) End discrimination (modify the Medicaid IMD exclusion); 2) Fix gaps (support H.R.3717); 3) Support Medicare/Medicaid funding for health information technology.

NAPHS statement: "NAPHS Applauds Rep. Tim Murphy for Introduction of Comprehensive Mental Health Reform Legislation; Dialogue on Tough Challenges Will Help Advance Policy Changes"

NAPHS release: "Final Rule Governing the Federal Mental Health and Substance Use Parity Law Adds Important Health Insurance Protections for All Americans, Says NAPHS." See final rule.

Departments of Labor, HHS, and Treasury: "FAQS About ACA (Part XVII) and Parity Implementation"

HHS study: "Consistency of Large Employer and Group Health Plan Benefits with Requirements of the Paul Wellstone annd Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act"

NAPHS comment letter responding to Senate Finance Committee open letter seeking input on how to improve the US mental health system

CMS Notice: "Medicare Program; Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System - Update for Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2013 (FY 2014)." 

NAPHS comment letter to CMS: "Medicare: ....Quality Reporting Requirements for Specific Providers (CMS-1599-P)"