June 25, 2025
Protect Medicaid, Protect Mental Health
At Mental Health Partnerships, our mission is clear: to ensure that every individual has access to the mental health support they need and deserve. But a looming legislative change, the reconciliation bill, threatens to undermine this very foundation, potentially rolling back decades of progress and leaving our most vulnerable communities in crisis.
By Jeannine L. Lisitski, Ph.D, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Partnerships
At Mental Health Partnerships, our mission is clear: to ensure that every individual has access to the mental health support they need and deserve. But a looming legislative change, the reconciliation bill, threatens to undermine this very foundation, potentially rolling back decades of progress and leaving our most vulnerable communities in crisis.
Medicaid is a state and federal partnership that funds healthcare for nearly 80 million individuals and families and is the single largest payer for mental health services in the United States. It covers services such as therapy, drug and alcohol programs, naloxone, outpatient services, integrated care, crisis interventions, case management and day treatment services.
Most importantly, it funds many of the peer support programs we offer at Mental Health Partnerships.
The numbers are stark: if the reconciliation bill passes without changes, over 300,000 Pennsylvanians could be stripped of their access to healthcare and crucial mental health support. This crisis would hit Philadelphia especially hard, with more than 73,000 of our own community members facing the loss of their healthcare coverage.
It is not just the services that we provide that are threatened, every year in PA, Medicaid allows over 44,000 seniors and people with disabilities to receive care in their homes and communities; covers over 45,000 births across the Commonwealth and provides health insurance to over 1.3 million children.
What does the legislation do?
- Requires healthy adults between the ages of 19 and 64 years old to prove they have worked at least 80 hours in a month. On the surface, this may seem straightforward. However, 92% of individuals who receive benefits are already working full or part time jobs. If they were not working, it was due to caregiving responsibilities, an illness or disability or being in school. The Congressional budget office estimated that the work requirements will not increase employment and will increase the number of uninsured.
- Redetermination: The legislation requires six and twelve month redetermination for Medicaid enrolled. That is similar to asking individuals to fill out their taxes twice a year. This additional burden will lead to more individuals opting out of healthcare altogether or being disenrolled due to paperwork errors. PA does not have the staff or funding to implement these changes. The Department of Human Services would need to increase its staff by 500 and would cost an additional $37 million per year.
- Uncompensated Care - A Looming Crisis for Mental Health Services: The proposed reconciliation bill, if enacted, is projected to dramatically increase uncompensated care, with some estimates indicating a staggering $63 billion surge for hospitals. This is not just a financial burden; it's a profound threat to the entire healthcare ecosystem, and its ramifications for mental health services are particularly dire.
When a significant portion of the population loses their health insurance coverage—whether due to new work requirements, stricter redetermination processes, or other factors in the bill, they do not stop needing care. Instead, they often delay seeking treatment until their conditions become acute, leading them to emergency rooms where hospitals are legally obligated to provide care, regardless of ability to pay. This directly translates into a massive increase in uncompensated care.
Medicaid is the essential foundation that strengthens communities and serves as the primary bridge between health and hardship for countless individuals we serve. At Mental Health Partnerships (MHP), we are deeply committed to ensuring this vital lifeline remains intact.
How We Are Working to Save Medicaid
Our advocacy efforts to protect Medicaid have been extensive. We've seen our participants attend rallies, share their stories with the press, and we will be traveling to Washington D.C. to make their voices heard. We have sent countless letters and collaborated closely with our partners at the city and state levels to ensure that legislators in D.C. fully understand the profound impact proposed cuts would have on all of us.
Join Us to Protect Mental Healthcare
On Monday, June 30th, 2025 at 10:00 am Mental Health Partnerships, in collaboration with The Alliance of Community Service Providers, will be hosting a press conference to vehemently oppose these proposed Medicaid cuts and advocate for protecting mental healthcare.
We urge you to join us and stand in solidarity to protect these crucial services. Your presence demonstrates the collective power of our community.
When: Monday, June 30th, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Where: The Octavius V. Catto Memorial (South side of City Hall, 1400 JFK Blvd, at South Penn Square & Broad Street)
Can’t make the press conference? Here are some other ways you can make your voice heard.
Related Reading from Our Advocacy Corner
Stay informed and inspired by exploring more stories from our Advocacy Corner. From uplifting community visits to powerful policy insights and personal recovery journeys, these articles spotlight the people and progress shaping mental health advocacy today.
Transforming Lives, Strengthening Communities
From peer-led recovery programs to statewide advocacy and education, our work touches thousands of lives every year. These numbers reflect our deep commitment to accessible, compassionate, and person-centered mental health support across Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania.
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individuals and families served
34
active programs across the region
1,106
Peer Specialists trained each year
5,801
people supported through direct services
3000+
individuals reached monthly through homeless outreach
1,573
engaged in community advocacy
Real Stories of Hope and Recovery
We’re here to champion every journey to wellness, offering unwavering support and transformational advocacy. Together, we foster resilience and recovery—so everyone can thrive and live their fullest life in the community, free from barriers to mental health care.
"I'm so grateful for the community that's here and the people that I get to work with in a way that they inspire me every day."
"Every experience I've had with MHP thus far has been great, from the training to being able to get support, a community, sponsorships to go places I never thought I'd go."
"MHP has given me so much, I want to give back."
"Give you your own purpose, you know, just like doing something more. Just a good feeling for me. Now I can be productive."
"MHP has a long history of being a really trusted and reliable resource for peer specialists.
So these experiences already live within your walls."
"The incredible empowerment and the impact that peers have in the field of mental health."
"There's something really, really powerful that happens when you're connecting with someone who's sitting across from you and says, you know, I see you and I hear you. Because I've been there."
"...and just that little click. Wow, it's so powerful just to have somebody who understands exactly how you feel, because we can sympathize all day, but to have somebody else in the room with me, to say, I've done it too, I've experienced that too, allows for a bond that goes beyond words."
"That opened me up to talk to other people so I could coach them and have them get the aha moment again. I did it and I'm glad that I got into new ways of thinking."
"I'm able to be helpful just to know that, like, all that hard work I put through actually paid off."
"And I hope that everybody would get the opportunity to connect with that organization"
"At Mental Health Partnerships. Together..."
"Together..."
"Together..."
"Together...we build hope."
"Together...we build hope."
"We build hope."
"We build hope."
"Together...we build hope."
"Together...we build hope."
"Together...we build hope."
"Period!"
Guiding Principles for Empowerment and Growth
At the heart of our mission lies a steadfast commitment to core values that shape every aspect of our work. These values—rooted in hope, empowerment, and respect—guide us in fostering environments where individuals can thrive, exercise self-determination, and pursue lifelong learning. By embracing a holistic, non-judgmental, and culturally aware approach, we empower individuals to achieve their full potential and contribute to their communities.
Together, We Build Hope
At Mental Health Partnerships, we are dedicated to fostering hope and resilience. Our mission is to create a supportive environment where individuals can regain control of their mental health and live fulfilling lives. We offer personalized care that aligns with your unique needs and helps you connect with a community that cares.
Real Stories of Hope & Gratitude
Hear directly from individuals whose lives have been touched by our programs and services. Whether it’s case management, family support, or peer-led guidance, these stories showcase the power of compassionate care and unwavering belief in every person’s potential for recovery and growth.
Let’s Take the Next Step Together
At MHP, we understand that the journey to mental wellness can feel overwhelming. With peer-led support, proven resources, and a warm, caring community, we’re here to guide you through every step—so you never have to walk this path alone.