Advocacy

Advocacy: The act of speaking, acting or writing in support of a cause or idea in order to defend the rights, needs and interests of a person or group of people who are disadvantaged by society.

The Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers' Association provides and participates in individual and systems advocacy for people in Pennsylvania who have, or are recovering from, mental illness.

Loss of Medicaid Eligibility

It was recently reported by DPW that at least 100,000 Medicaid "cases" were closed when redeterminations of eligibility were sent to people who were given 10 days in which to respond. We need your help to determine how to advocate to resolve this issue.

Update: Determination letter sent to DPW Secretary Gary Alexander and OMHSAS Deputy Secretary Blaine Smith. Read more...

If you have questions or need further assistance, view the Medical Assistance contact document to contact the appropriate agency directly.

Budget Cuts

Update: August 10, 2011. Read about the latest advocacy efforts to maintain behavioral health budget, Medical Assistance funding and express concerns about Welfare Code changes.

HB 58 - Update

Thanks go to all of you who used your voices to let the House Human Services Committee know that there are many people who are opposed to House Bill 58, forced outpatient commitment.

Through your efforts, House Bill 58, Assisted (forced) Outpatient Commitment, has been pulled from Committee and will not be presented for a vote on Monday April 11.

We will keep you posted on any future efforts to move this bill.

Membership in PMHCA

One of the benefits of membership in the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers' Association is being included on the membership email list. All members receive emails with timely information on policy and legislative issues and action alerts, notice of trainings, conferences and MH recovery employment opportunities throughout the state. Become a member today.