Your Voice is a Lifeline

Tell Your Senators to Protect Medicaid for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery!

Image of US Capitol with text: Take Action, Protect Medicaid

For millions of Americans grappling with substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health challenges, Medicaid is an absolute lifeline. It's the difference between sickness and stability, despair and hope, and, for too many, life and death. Right now, this critical support system is under threat. We need you to speak out LOUDLY and CLEARLY to your Senators: Protect Medicaid funding and ensure access to these life-saving services!

Why is Medicaid So Essential for People with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders?

Medicaid is the single largest payer for mental health and substance use disorder services in the United States. It provides a comprehensive range of support that is often unaffordable or simply unavailable through other means. These services include:

Counseling and Therapy: Essential for addressing the root causes of addiction and managing mental health conditions.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): The gold standard for treating opioid use disorder, significantly reducing overdose deaths and supporting long-term recovery.
Crisis Intervention Services: Immediate support for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or at risk of overdose.
Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment Programs: Structured care environments crucial for stabilization and a foundation for recovery.
Peer Support Services: Connection with individuals with lived experience, offering invaluable guidance and encouragement.
Prescription Medications: Access to necessary medications for managing mental health conditions.

Using the calling option? Click here for additional tips!

Your Goal: Urge your Senator to protect Medicaid funding and oppose any cuts or changes that would limit access to essential healthcare services, especially for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health challenges.

Use our action tool to look up the name and phone number of your Senators.
Make sure to mention you are a constituent from [Your City/Town, State].
Practice saying your main message in one or two sentences.
Keep your call brief and focused.
Prepare a personal story if you have one — 1-2 lines about how Medicaid has impacted you or someone you love.
You will likely speak to a staff member. They track constituent calls, so your message will be relayed. Be polite and clear!
Be prepared to leave a voicemail if you don't speak to someone directly. Keep it concise.

Medicaid is a Lifeline

Medicaid is the largest payer for mental health and substance use disorder services in the U.S.
It provides access to essential care like therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), crisis services, and vital prescriptions.
For many, Medicaid is the only way they can get the treatment they need to survive and recover.

Cuts Would Be Devastating. Cutting Medicaid would mean:

Fewer people can get the care they need.
More untreated mental illness and addiction — leading to avoidable deaths.
Greater strain on emergency rooms, hospitals, and first responders.
A step backward in addressing the addiction and mental health crises.

Medicaid Is an Investment

When people get care, they recover — and return to work, care for their families, and contribute to their communities.
Protecting Medicaid strengthens the health and economy of our state.

“Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City/Town, State]. I’m calling to urge Senator [Last Name] to protect Medicaid and oppose any cuts that would reduce access to mental health and substance use disorder services.

Medicaid is a lifeline for so many people in our state. It helps people get therapy, medication-assisted treatment, crisis care, and essential medications — often when no other options are available.

Cutting or limiting Medicaid would be devastating. It would leave vulnerable people without care, increase overdoses and mental health emergencies, and make things worse for our hospitals and emergency responders.

Protecting Medicaid is not just the right thing to do — it’s an investment in public health and our economy. People can recover when they have access to care.

(Optional: Add a brief personal sentence)

Please ask the Senator to stand strong and ensure full funding and access to Medicaid for those who need it most. Thank you for your time.”

Thank you!