Volume VII, No. 6, August 6, 2008

Congress Adjourns for Summer Recess

Now Is Your Best Chance to Press Key Issues

In this issue

• Take Mental Health Parity Over the Finish Line
• Renew Criminal Justice Collaboration Programs
• College Students’ Access to Mental Health Services
• ADA Amendments Are Ready to Roll
• Increase in Supportive Housing Proposed
• Juvenile Justice Reauthorization Would Fund Behavioral Care
• Medicaid Access for Juvenile Offenders upon Release

Newsbytes

• Principles for Healthcare Reform
• State Appeals Court Rules on Outpatient Commitment
• Bazelon Center Newsletter

With Congress in its annual August recess, constituents have an excellent opportunity to press the issues that need a lift over the finish line. The legislators will return to Washington soon after Labor Day. That leaves only a few weeks before the 110th Congress adjourns in early October—in time to campaign for the 2008 congressional and presidential elections on November 4th.

Now is the time to thank your lawmakers again for their recent votes enacting mental health parity in the Medicare program, approving a fix for the Americans with Disabilities Act (see also this Reporter) and delaying harmful Medicaid regulations on rehabilitation and case management services.

However, much work is still needed on critical issues that can’t wait until the next Congress. These include ending employer-sponsored group health insurance discrimination and improving grants to help mentally ill offenders caught up in the criminal justice revolving door.

Don’t let your lawmakers off the hook this summer. Read more...