Was Your Medicaid Case Closed? Share Your Story.
Since July 2011, more than 100,000 people in Pennsylvania have lost their Medicaid coverage as the state’s Department of Public Welfare (DPW) looks for ways to cut spending by eliminating what the department identifies as “fraud, waste, and abuse.” Community Legal Services (CLS) thinks that many of these case closures were done improperly, and is [...]
Oct. 12-14: Join the Call-In to Congress to Protect Medicaid
September 14, 2011, updated October 11 – Medicaid’s ability to serve low-income children and adults — including those with mental illnesses and other disabilities — is at risk! Your calls helped prevent cuts during the debt-ceiling compromise (see the August 19 Mental Health Policy Reporter), which created the 12-member, bipartisan “super committee.” Charged with developing a proposal by Thanksgiving [...]
Urgent Information About Medical Assistance Renewal Application Deadlines
If you are a recipient of Medical Assistance (MA) and have recently received a renewal of benefits packet from the PA Department of Public Welfare, you have 15 days to return the application. Anyone not returning the required information/forms included in the renewal packet by the provided deadline, will no longer receive benefits. Applications returned [...]
House Budget Proposal Includes Cuts to Behavioral Health Funding; Visit and Call Your Legislators This Week
Governor Corbett’s proposed budget protected funding for behavioral health services to the extent possible given his pledge of no new taxes. The House Republican budget proposal (HB 1485) does not protect the funding. Instead it cuts $470 million from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) budget to restore a portion of the Governor’s proposed cuts [...]
Act Now to Oppose and Request Hearings on HB 58
On Monday, April 11, the House Human Services Committee will vote to move House Bill 58 out of Committee. HB 58 proposes to amend Pennsylvania’s Mental Health Procedures Act by adding new procedures for obtaining involuntary outpatient commitment orders. The Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania (MHAPA) believes that HB 58 is incompatible with a mental [...]
Thank Governor Corbett for Commitment to Behavioral Health Services
During his fall campaign, Governor Tom Corbett’s published position on human services opened with the following statement, “Tom Corbett believes that meeting the human service needs of vulnerable Pennsylvanians is a core responsibility of state government.” In his first budget proposal, we are relieved to report that he has honored that pledge to the extent [...]
Act Now to Protect PA Behavioral Health Services Funding – 2/7/11
Governor Tom Corbett’s position statement on human services from the fall campaign started with this statement “Tom Corbett believes that meeting the human service needs of vulnerable Pennsylvanians is a core responsibility of state government.”
Speak Out for Special Education Funding & Reform
On Tuesday, September 21, the Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing on House Bill 704, legislation for special education funding and accountability reforms. We urge you to attend this hearing and show the committee members you want quality, well-funded special education for children with disabilities.
PA Budget Remains in Flux
The state of the Pennsylvania budget—and funding for critical mental health services—continues to be in flux as state agencies have had to rework their budgets after Congress failed to pass the expected amount of FMAP (Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage) funding, upon which the 2010-2011 PA budget was balanced.
