Improving Health

NAMI believes that all people with mental health conditions who are incarcerated deserve access to quality mental health treatment. NAMI supports the continuation of Medicaid coverage for people with mental health conditions who are justice-involved and calls for the repeal of the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy.

NAMI believes that all people with mental health conditions who are incarcerated deserve access to quality mental health treatment. NAMI supports public policies and laws that expand and improve access to mental health care within prison and jail settings.

NAMI believes that all people with mental health conditions deserve accessible, affordable, and comprehensive health care. NAMI supports laws and policies that limit the sale of short-term limited duration health plans.

NAMI believes that all people with mental health conditions deserve accessible, affordable and comprehensive health care. NAMI supports laws and policies to protect people against surprise medical bills received for out-of-network care.

NAMI believes that public policies and practices should promote greater awareness and early identification of mental health conditions. NAMI supports public policies and laws that enable all schools, public and private, to increase access to appropriate mental health services.

NAMI strongly supports early mental health screening. Early mental health screening should take place in a primary care doctor’s office or in school.

NAMI believes that all people should have the right to make their own decisions about mental health treatment. However, in rare instances where voluntary engagement is not possible, NAMI supports involuntary civil commitment only when used as a last resort and only when it is believed to be in the best interests of the individual.

NAMI believes in minimizing justice-system response to people with mental illness, while ensuring that any interactions preserve health, well-being and dignity. NAMI supports the use of problem-solving courts as part of a broad strategy to reduce incarceration and promote diversion from further involvement in the criminal justice system for people with mental illness.

NAMI believes that health insurance should provide comprehensive mental health and substance use disorder coverage without arbitrary limits on treatment. NAMI opposes block grants or per-capita caps in Medicaid, which impose financing limits that jeopardize coverage and services for individuals with mental health conditions.

NAMI believes that public policies and practices should promote access to care for people with mental health conditions. NAMI opposes efforts to take Medicaid coverage away from people who don’t meet a work requirement.

NAMI believes that health insurance should provide comprehensive mental health and substance use disorder coverage without arbitrary limits on treatment. NAMI opposes Medicaid’s discriminatory prohibition on paying for mental health treatment delivered in certain inpatient settings, known as “institutions of mental disease” (IMDs).

NAMI believes that all people with mental health conditions deserve accessible, affordable and comprehensive health care. NAMI supports state efforts to expand Medicaid, as indicated in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), to provide important mental health services and supports to more low-income adults.

NAMI believes that all people with mental health conditions deserve accessible, affordable, and comprehensive health care. NAMI supports public policies and laws that extend Medicaid coverage for at least 12 months postpartum.

NAMI believes that health insurance should provide comprehensive mental health and substance use disorder coverage without arbitrary limits on treatment. NAMI supports repeal of Medicare’s discriminatory 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital care.

NAMI believes that all people with mental health conditions deserve access to effective medication and treatment options. NAMI supports Medicare’s “six protected classes” policy to ensure access to a broad range of antipsychotic and antidepressant medications.

NAMI believes that public policies should be guided by credible, evidence-based research. NAMI supports public policies and laws that facilitate research into the risks and benefits that marijuana and other cannabis products have on people with mental health conditions.

NAMI supports public policies and laws that facilitate research into the benefits and risks that Schedule I drugs have for people with mental health conditions.

NAMI believes that all people with mental health conditions deserve access to effective medication and treatment options. NAMI supports public policies and laws that prohibit therapeutic substitution of psychiatric medications.

NAMI believes that all people with mental health conditions deserve access to effective medication and treatment options. NAMI supports public policies and laws that prohibit step therapy for psychiatric medications.

NAMI supports limiting medical license application questions about mental health to only those necessary and relevant to assess an individual’s current ability to practice medicine safely and competently.

NAMI supports public policies and laws that create, expand and sustain loan repayment programs and scholarships for mental health professionals.

NAMI supports public policies and laws that build, promote, expand, and sustain the role of peer support workers throughout the mental health and substance use workforce.