Washington, DC, June 29, 2017 – The American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is pleased that the Senate has delayed its vote to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). As AACAP President Gregory K. Fritz, MD, noted, the Senate draft legislation “would have separated millions of Americans from their health insurance coverage and put at risk the physical and mental health of all Americans, including children and adolescents.”

While the Senate vote to repeal and replace the ACA has been delayed, we must not become complacent. The Senate is currently working on restructuring their legislation and plans to reintroduce it in the coming weeks.

It is crucial that all AACAP members contact their U.S. Senators and tell them that any reforms to the ACA must enhance services and programs for children and adolescents with mental health and substance use disorders, not weaken them. It is imperative that we raise our voice to protect those children and adolescents suffering from mental health and substance use disorders and aim to promote positive changes to this legislation that reflect AACAP’s values.

To send a message to your Senators’ offices, click here.

-#-

The American Association of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, an affiliated 501(c)6 non-profit organization of AACAP, was formed in 2013 as a way for child and adolescent psychiatrists to increase their advocacy activities.

The mission of the Association is to engage in health policy and advocacy activities to promote mentally healthy children, adolescents, and families and the profession of child and adolescent psychiatry.