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Budget Action Alert Index |
Talking
Points |
Evidence
Based Background
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Sample
Letter from Affiliate Leaders |
Sample
Letter from Members and Associates
Open
Letter from Executive Director to Legislators
Action Alert!
We are Calling on your Help!
State Budget Cuts in Medicaid 2005 Budget
Budget Talking Points
1. OPPOSE Medicaid cuts
• Medicaid is the only source of health care for many low-income
individuals and families
• Recovery from mental illness is dependent upon access to
medications and treatment
• Restricting access to mental health treatment will likely
have a negative impact on people with mental illness and increase
costs in other areas
• Treatment must be based on individual needs, not administrative
policy
• Consumers being placed in the community as a result of the
closure of the Harrisburg State Hospital must have access to services
2. OPPOSE Script Limits
• Medical Assistance patients will be limited to 6 prescriptions
per month; General Assistance patients will be limited to 3 prescriptions
per month
• Access to prescription medicines and effective treatment
is critical for people with mental illness; effective medication
can mean the difference between being an employed, productive person,
or being unemployed, homeless or suicidal
• Many persons with mental illness also have other health
problems; all need to be treated to avoid more costly treatments
3. OPPOSE Preferred Drug List (PDL)
• Treating physicians should make decisions about appropriate
medications
• Decisions about appropriate medications should be clinically
based and not based on cost; DPW’s PDL will be based on cost
• New medications frequently have few side effects resulting
in higher compliance rates
• Treatment for mental illness is not a “one-size-fits-all”
approach
4. SUPPORT a “Carve-Out” for Mental Health
Drugs
• At least 30 of the 36 states with Preferred Drug Lists (PDLs)
or Prior Authorization policies have some type of mental health
related exemption
• The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured recommends
that all psychotherapeutic drugs be exempt from access restrictions.
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