Legislative Info

Campaign for Mental Health Reform Statement on President Bush's Proposed FY2006 Budget

The following is a statement by the Campaign for Mental Health Reform. The Bazelon Center is a proud member of the Campaign.

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Budget Brings More Broken Promises
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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 million 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 back-peddling 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."

Additional details on the budget are available on the Campaign for Mental Health Reform's website at http://www.mhreform.org/.

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.