Legislative Issues: Overview
The National Council promotes a provider-focused public policy and legislative agenda that urges government leaders to improve and strengthen mental health and addictions treatment by acting to:
- Promote access to high-quality, cost-effective community-based treatment and supports.
- Assure adequate resources to meet mental health and addictions treatment needs through necessary increases in Medicaid and Medicare, SCHIP, and federal appropriations and grants.
- Ensure “parity” by bringing mental health and addictions treatment benefits more in line with coverage for general healthcare.
- Further develop the capacity of the nation’s community-based mental health and addictions treatment system to maximize its contributions to taxpayers and our communities.
- Promote increased public understanding of the nature and science of mental illness and addictions.












