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For Immediate Release: February 8, 2005
Contacts: William Emmet, 703-739-9333
Chris Burley, 202-467-5730 x 133
Heather Cobb, 703-797-2588
Bob Carolla, 703- 524-7600
Budget Brings More Broken Promises
Campaign for Mental Health Reform Statement
on
President Bush’s Proposed FY2006 Budget
WASHINGTON, DC—A national coalition of groups representing millions
of people with mental or emotional disorders, their families, service providers,
administrators and other concerned Americans today condemned President Bush’s
proposed FY2006 budget for undermining already overburdened services that are
crucial to people with mental illnesses.
The following is a prepared statement by William Emmet, campaign coordinator
for the Campaign for Mental Health Reform:
“The President’s budget—and the disregard it shows for the
urgent need to address unmet mental health needs in America—is incredibly
disappointing.
“In April 2002, President Bush announced the formation of his New Freedom
Commission on Mental Health, remarking that ‘[o]ur country must make
a commitment to Americans with mental illnesses.’ Unfortunately, the
Administration has done little to honor its pledge.
“Since the President’s Commission on Mental Health released its
final report in July 2003, more than 40 thousand adults and children with mental
health disorders have died by suicide and the U.S. economy has lost more than
$118.5 billion in worker productivity due to mental illness. Yet, the Administration
maintains only tepid support for concrete action to address this public health
crisis.
“At a time when the Administration should be offering bold proposals
to address major problems in public mental health systems, it has instead proposed
tens of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid—the largest public funder
of mental health services—and slashed discretionary spending on mental
health.
“The rare bright spots in this bleak budget picture are eclipsed by
deep cuts in federal spending for education, housing and efforts to expand
employment opportunities for people with mental illnesses. Specific initiatives
to address the growing number of people with mental illnesses inappropriately
placed in the nation’s jails and prisons are also given short shrift.
“
There are even darker clouds on the horizon. The Administration’s proposal
to cap federal Medicaid spending on “optional” populations and
services—those that states are not required to cover—is a disaster
in the making for people who have mental illnesses. Many people who have
mental illnesses—and the critical services that they need—are
covered under these “optional” eligibility categories.
“The Administration should be offering solutions, not backpedaling on
its promise to the millions of people in this country with unmet mental health
needs. Wrong-headed Medicaid reforms and soft support for mental health spending
are no way to address this crisis.”
For more information on the budget, see the
Campaign's FY 2006 Budget at a Glance.
# # #
The Campaign for Mental Health Reform has been organized as the mental health
community’s united voice on federal policy. Its goal is to make access,
recovery, and quality in mental health services the hallmarks of our nation’s
mental health system. For more information, see www.mhreform.org.
Campaign for Mental Health Reform: American Psychiatric Association * American
Psychological Association * CHADD - Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder * Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) * Federation of Families
for Children's Mental Health (FFCMH) * International Association of Psychosocial
Rehabilitation Services (IAPSRS) * Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental
Health Law * National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) * National Association
of County Behavioral Health Directors (NACBHD) * National Association of State
Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) * National Council for Community
Behavioral Healthcare (NCCBH) * National Empowerment Center (NEC) * National
Mental Health Association (NMHA) * National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help
Clearinghouse * Suicide Prevention Action Network USA (SPANUSA)
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