If enacted, bill will result in millions of Americans lose life-saving access to care
Arlington, VA — Today, the U.S. Senate narrowly passed the budget reconciliation bill commonly referred to as the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act,’ which includes deep cuts to Medicaid funding. If signed into law, this legislation will lead to millions of Americans losing their health insurance and make it significantly harder for people with mental illness to access, afford, and keep their mental health care. NAMI is deeply disappointed by this action and released the following statement from CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.:
“There is nothing beautiful about stripping millions of Americans of their health coverage, making drastic funding cuts to Medicaid, and shuttering health care providers across the country. Yet the Senate just passed a bill that will do just that. People with mental illness have shared story after story about how critical Medicaid coverage is for accessing lifesaving mental health care, and it’s devastating to see policymakers ignore the pleas of the people they represent by advancing these harmful policies.”
Medicaid is the backbone of America’s mental health and substance use system, paying for one in four dollars spent on all behavioral health care across the nation. The bill will result in nearly 12 million people becoming uninsured and cut more than a trillion dollars in funding from Medicaid, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates released over the weekend.
Mental health and substance use conditions impact people in every community across the country — regardless of age, income, background, or where they live. That’s why protecting access to care is essential for all of us. And Americans overwhelmingly agree. In a NAMI poll conducted by Ipsos and released this spring, seven in ten (71%) Americans disagree with cutting Medicaid funding to reduce government spending.
Through NAMI’s “Protect Medicaid. Protect Mental Health.” campaign that launched earlier this year, NAMI’s advocates have contacted Congress 150,000 times, urging them to protect Medicaid and access to life-saving mental health care.
On the bill’s impact, NAMI’s Chief Advocacy Officer Hannah Wesolowski said:
“This bill will impact every aspect of our nation’s health care systems, particularly our mental health system. We’ve heard a lot during the debate of this bill on who is ‘deserving’ of Medicaid. At NAMI, we believe that every person is worthy of a healthy, fulfilling life – and Medicaid gives many people this chance. We urge the House to stop this rushed process and to reject changes to Medicaid that limit access to lifesaving care for their constituents.”
The bill now goes back to the House, where Congressional leaders are trying to finalize the bill in advance of July 4th, President Trump’s goal date for a final bill. While Congressional leaders work to pass the bill, there is still time to stand up for all Americans to stand up and urge Congress to reject these cuts. As NAMI’s Gillison wrote in a column shared by POLITICO last week:
“As Americans, we look out for one another — especially in times of need. Medicaid reflects that core value of compassion. It helps ensure that people with mental health conditions or substance use challenges aren’t left behind. These proposed cuts to Medicaid undermine the basic decency and shared responsibility that have always defined us at our best.”
To learn more about NAMI and our advocacy work, visit nami.org/Medicaid or click here to contact your policymakers.
