The email thanks the recipient for a previous meeting to discuss behavioral health policy issues. It informs them that two new bills have been introduced - one that would create a federal definition for federally qualified behavioral health centers, and another that would extend federal incentive payments for health information technology adoption to behavioral health providers. The email asks for the recipient's support on these issues and offers to answer any other questions.

1. SAMPLE FOLLOW-UP EMAIL
[Name]:
Thank you for taking the time on June 30 to meet with me and my colleagues from [state or organization
name] about key behavioral health policy issues.
Since our meeting, Reps. Doris Matsui and Eliot Engel have introduced HR 5636, the Community Mental
Health and Addiction Safety Net Equity Act, which creates a federal definition for federally qualified
behavioral health centers (FQBHCs). Senator Debbie Stabenow will soon be introducing a companion bill
in the Senate. This legislation would help our centers provide services to vulnerable individuals by
establishing standards for FQBHCs and ensuring cost-based reimbursement for our services.
In addition, I wanted to let you know that several additional Republican and Democratic co-sponsors
have signed on to HR 5040, the Health IT Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act, which extends
federal incentive payments for the adoption of HIT to previously ineligible behavioral health providers
and organizations. I hope that [Representative/Senator] [Name] will consider doing the same.
We would appreciate [Representative/Senator] [Name]’s support on these issues and would be happy to
answer any other questions you might have about these important policies affecting children and adults
with serious mental illness and substance use disorders.
Sincerely,