You Did It!

Jul 28, 2017

NAMI’s six-month fight to defend mental health and substance use coverage is over and, together, we stand victorious.

In the early hours of Friday morning, the Senate’s “skinny repeal” of the Affordable Care Act came to an extraordinary end. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) joined Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)—and their Democratic colleagues—to reject the Senate bill by a vote of 51-49.

Just seven months ago, NAMI celebrated the 21st Century Cures Act being signed into law. Today, we celebrate another win for mental health care.

You spoke up and Congress listened. They heard your stories. Because of you, they know that mental illness affects 1 in 5 of their constituents. Because of you, they know that stripping Medicaid funding would result in millions of Americans losing access to mental health and substance use services. And because of you, they know that taking a step back from insurance protections would harm people with mental illness.

Your voices made a difference. You sent 122,539 emails to members of Congress. Advocates 1,066 strong marched to Capitol Hill during our National Convention and spoke face-to-face with elected officials. You called, you tweeted, you posted on Facebook. You told Congress to work for bipartisan solutions that fix the insurance marketplace, not strip Medicaid and mental health coverage.

Thank you. You not only triumphed, you helped make mental health care a focal point of the debate.

Take a moment to congratulate yourself for being an integral part of NAMI’s movement to champion better care and better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Thank your Senators who voted “no.” And urge your Senators who voted “yes” to work with their colleagues for quality, affordable mental health coverage for all.

Contact your Senators