Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey discusses his fear that a $6.3 billion health package that would also overhaul the mental health system could be undercut by GOP efforts to repeal the health care law. He tells CQ Roll Call’s Health reporter Andrew Siddons and Managing Editor Adriel Bettelheim that Medicaid cuts are of particular concern. Congress passed the bipartisan “21st Century Cures” bill, which would, among other things, provide extra money for brain research at the National Institutes of Health, help fight the opioid epidemic, fund Vice President Joe Biden’s ‘Moonshot’ cancer project and better integrate mental health care into standard medical practice.

Show Notes:

• Obamacare Repeal Could Undercut Mental Health Effort 
• Study: Obamacare Repeal Could Leave 30 Million Without Coverage 

BREAKING: Sen passes #21stCenturyCures 94-5.#MentalHealthReform,#CancerMoonshot,&funding 2 fight #opioidepidemic now headed to @POTUS’ desk

— Rep. Frank Pallone (@FrankPallone) December 7, 2016

He gets a cool $352 million extra! Not bad? https://t.co/sn9On7mf9G

— Andrew Siddons (@asiddons) December 7, 2016