ACA News

Congressman Lieu Receives ACA Award for Work Banning Conversion Therapy

Congressman Ted Lieu received the Illumination Award for passing the nation's first statewide conversion therapy ban in California and for introducing similar legislation in Washington.

What's a CBO Score and Why Does It Matter?

CBO scores are the official cost-benefit analysis of bills introduced in Congress. The score for the healthcare reform bill the House already passed came out yesterday. It actually matters more now that the bill is in the Senate than it did for the ...

White House Budget Cuts Mental Health and Substance Abuse Programs

The President's budget targets SAMHSA programs as well as Medicare, threatening mental health treatment for millions.

Education Cuts Will Impact School Counselors

ACA's first budget briefing will cover Department of Education cuts and the impact on school counselors. Sign up for the Thursday webinar to learn more.

Nevada Passes Ban On Conversion Therapy For Minors

Governor Sandoval signs bill banning conversion therapy on minors in Nevada, which becomes the ninth state to do so.

Vote To Repeal Obamacare, Reduce Mental Health Benefits Scheduled Today in the House

The House will vote today on a bill that reduces Medicaid funding and eliminates the guarantees that insurers will provide mental health services and will cover preexisting conditions. Contact your representatives.

Medicaid, Behavioral Health, And Congress

Medicaid plays a key role in providing mental health care for millions of people, and the funding for that role is significantly reduced in the House healthcare reform bill. The Senate is now writing its own bill. State governments may end up ...

Connecticut Passes Ban On Conversion Therapy For Minors

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed a bill banning conversion therapy on minors Wednesday, the same day it was passed by the Senate. Connecticut becomes the eighth state to do so.

House Passes Healthcare Bill. Senate to Find Some Remedies.

The House passed a healthcare reform bill that substitutes tax credits for insurance subsidies, removes the requirement for mental health coverage, and removes millions from the Medicaid rolls. The Senate will now write its own bill that will not be ...

President Signs Spending Bill; Government Stays Open, Mental Health and Education Programs Funded

This afternoon the President signed the bill that funds the government through September 30. Money for mental health programs, money for fighting opioid abuse, and money for schools becomes available.

Controversial Nominee Picked to Oversee SAMHSA

A former chief medical director at SAMHSA has been chosen to oversee the agency. She criticized its approach to severe mental illness after she left, and the Congressman who helped create the post overseeing the agency has criticized the nomination.

Supreme Court Turns Away Challenge to Conversion Therapy Ban

The Supreme Court upholds California's conversion therapy ban, which was challenged on religious freedom grounds and previously on free speech grounds. This protects bans in other states as well. Congress is considering a nationwide ban on conversion ...

Bills Introduced in Congress Would Ban Conversion Therapy. Add your support

Bills in the House and Senate would ban conversion therapy as a fraudulent practice because sexual identity is not a treatable medical condition, or a medical condition at all. You can add your support.

Keeping the Government Open, and Obamacare Funded, or Not: A Busy Week

Congress has until Friday to fund school counseling programs, drug and alcohol programs, the VA, and the rest of the government, or trigger a shutdown. How will the President's priorities affect the outcome?

New Mexico Bans Conversion Therapy

New Mexico becomes the first state this year to pass bipartisan legislation that bans conversion therapy on minors.

ACA Hosts Congressional Briefing on Opioid Addiction

ACA hosted a briefing for Capitol Hill staff on the opioid crisis and how counselors can be involved in the response. The event is available on video.

Limbo for the Affordable Care Act Is Coming To An End

The White House and Congress must decide whether to proactively weaken the Affordable Care Act or whether to prop it up because deadlines are looming on a court case, a spending bill, and for insurance companies to remain in the program.

Repealing and Replacing Obamacare Becomes Retreating and Regrouping

The House bill to repeal and replace Obamacare could not attract enough votes to pass. Its future viability, and the mental health benefits it provides, are up to the insurance companies and the Administration.

Video: House Committee Discusses Mental Health Care Requirement in Medicaid

A House Committee considering the bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act discusses the requirement for mental health care coverage going forward. It will be up to the States to decide.

Supreme Court Sends Transgender Rights in Schools Case Back Down

The Supreme Court returned a case involving transgender students and school bathrooms back to the Fourth Circuit Court after the new Administration withdrew guidance on the subject provided by the Obama Administration. The guidance from the new ...