Health Reform Update - 10/16/09
Update and Status of Healthcare Reform Legislation
Healthcare reform legislation continues to move forward in Congress. This week, the Senate Finance Committee approved their healthcare reform bill by a 14 to 9 vote. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) voted with the Committee Democrats to report the bill.
Work is now focused on reconciling the Senate Finance bill with the Senate HELP Committee bill. Similar work is ongoing in the House, as Congressional leaders work to meld the House Education and Labor, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce bills. Once the bills are combined, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) will score the final House and Senate bills before floor debate and votes will occur later this month.
CALL TO ACTION: As Congress crafts final healthcare reform bills, it remains extremely important for Members of Congress to hear from us on the need to protect our hard-won gains and to fully include addiction and mental illness prevention, treatment and recovery in final legislation. Please click here for a list of talking points for key contacts to use when talking with Members of Congress and their staff.
Join the Campaign!!
These advocacy efforts are just the beginning. As a friend of the substance use disorder field and as someone who believes in the power of advocacy and the reality of recovery, we know that you will find the National Advocacy Campaign for Smarter and More Effective Drug and Alcohol Policies as exciting as we do. In order to make the work of the campaign possible, please consider joining the effort to change alcohol and drug policies. Become a member by making a contribution. To join the campaign, click here. Thank you for your support!
