CONGRESS FAILS TO PASS PARITY; FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND RESEARCH I

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Department of Government Affairs

Crosby, Dir. Gov't Affairs, Dep. Ex. Dir.

Nuala , Asst. Dir. Gov't Affairs

1.800.333.7636 or <A HREF= " mailto:nmoore@... " >nmoore@...</A>

1st Session 107th Congress

107 - 13

January 8, 2002

CONGRESS FAILS TO PASS PARITY; FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND R

ESEARCH INCREASES

Despite significant bipartisan support, Congress failed to pass the

Domenici-Wellstone mental health parity bill, the Mental Health Equitable

Treatment Act, before recessing. The legislation, which was an amendment to

the Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations bill, was defeated in a

vote by House members of the House-Senate conference committee appointed to

negotiate differences between the bills passed by each chamber.There is

significant optimism, however, that an expanded parity bill can be passed.

President Bush has pledged his support for enactment of parity in 2002, and

House majority party leaders have promised to hold hearings on the issue

early in 2002. The AACAP will keep members closely informed of developments

on parity. ACTION: AACAP members are asked to contact their House

representatives in January and February requesting support for Rep. Roukema's

(R-NJ) parity bill, H.R. 162 and the Senate-passed Domenici-Wellstone bill,

S. 543.Mental Health Services and Research Appropriations Increases

The Fiscal Year 2002 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill contained some good news

for mental health services and research, which outlined by the following

chart. These programs come under the Center for Mental Health Services at

SAMHSA, with the exception of the Elementary School Counseling program, which

was passed as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization

Act and is funded by the Dept. of Education. This year's language adds child

and adolescent psychiatrists so they can now provide these services. Program

Fiscal Year 2001 Fiscal Year 2002 Increase/Decrease

Mental Health Block Grant $420 million $433 million + $13 million

Children's Mental Health Program $91.7 million $96.7 million + $5

million

Child and Adolescent PTSD

(Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) $10 million $20 million + $10

million

Youth Violence Prevention $90 million $95 million + $5 million

Elementary School Counseling Program (school-based mental health) $30

million $32.5 million + $2.5 million

National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) $1.1 billion $1.248 billion

+ $145 million

Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, P.L. 107 - 109

Another legislative success was the January 4 enactment into law of the Best

Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, which reauthorizes the FDA's Pediatric

Studies Program, one of the most successful federal child health initiatives.

The program provides an incentive for drug companies conducting pediatric

clinical trials, resulting in better information about the medications child

and adolescent psychiatrists prescribe for children and adolescents with

mental illnesses. AACAP thanks all members who contacted their members of

Congress in support of this legislation. AACAP 2002 Legislative Agenda -

Passage of Parity and GME Bills are Top PrioritiesThe Medicare Critical Need

GME Protection Act, H.R. 1928

The AACAP's top legislative priority for 2002 is gaining bipartisan support

for H.R. 1928, the Medicare Critical Need GME (Graduate Medical Education)

Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Stark (D-CA). GME funding cuts in the

1990's have endangered child and adolescent psychiatry training programs. The

programs receive no direct Medicare support because of the first board exam

limit for funding. This reduction in training support is one of the main

factors contributing to the critical national shortage of child and

adolescent psychiatrists. Passage of H.R 1928 would restore this vital

funding for training. The Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health states

that almost 21 percent of U.S. children, ages 9 to 17 (15.1 million) have a

diagnosable mental or addictive disorder. Of this number, only one in five is

receiving treatment. The Surgeon General's report also specifically cites the

shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists. Currently, there are only

about 7,000 of child and adolescent psychiatrists nationwide. These numbers

clearly demonstrate the need.H.R. 1928 would give the Secretary of the

Department of Health and Human Services the authority to provide full GME

funding for specialty training programs with confirmed professional

shortages. The bill now has twenty-eight cosponsors, but it urgently needs

more bipartisan support. <A

HREF= " http://capwiz.com/aacap/issues/alert/?alertid=33142 " >Action: Please

contact your House representative and

request cosponsorship of H.R. 1928.</A> Visit the AACAP website to get your

member's phone number (www.aacap.org, click on " Elected Officials " ) or send

an e-mail letter. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Amendments which would have threatened the education rights of students with

disabilities, including those with behavioral disorders, were defeated by

House and Senate members charged with negotiating the final Elementary and

Secondary Education Act. The issue will be revisited, however, during the

IDEA reauthorization process this year. The issues within IDEA that AACAP

will be working on include: the protection of IDEA eligibility for children

with serious emotional disorders, the expansion of early intervention and

school-based mental health services; opposition to attempts to modify IDEA

discipline provisions; and support for full federal funding (40%) of IDEA.

AACAP will keep members informed of the IDEA debate as soon as it begins.

Patient's Rights

The Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001, sponsored by Sens. McCain and

Kennedy, passed the Senate last year but failed in a House-Senate conference

committee after the House passed a different bill supported by the White

House. The issue will likely be on the agenda again in 2002. The AACAP

supports broad patient protections including including access to pediatric

specialists, continuity of care, and point of service protections. AACAP will

keep members informed of developments on patient's rights.

Mike Savory

AWAK(e)A © 2001

" Advocacy With Abundant Keys to

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