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March 24, 2008 Public Policy Update |
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Mental Health Association in North
Carolina
Public Policy Update
March 24, 2008
In this Update:
Don’t let this be your last policy update: ACTION Requested
Federal Issues Update – ACTION Requested
MHA-NC 2008 Policy Priorities
LOC meetings and dates
New Division of MH/DD/SAS Co-Directors Named
New School Mental Health Resource
Trainings for Working with National Guard and Veterans
Recent Letters
Economic Stimulus Checks and Tax Returns
Medicare Scams and Problems
Don’t let this be your last policy
update – sign up on our website!
New Website – ACTION Requested: MHA-NC is pleased to announce the launching of our new website at www.mha-nc.org. The new site comes with many additional features including registration for newsletters, policy updates,
announcements and alerts. Beginning in April, policy updates and other MHA-NC information will not be sent to your inbox unless you sign
up through our website. Your name and emails will only be used to distribute MHANC information; they will not be sold or used otherwise. Sign up now to ensure you continue to get
e-newsletters, policy updates and other announcements by going to http://www.mha-nc.org/english/index.php/Newsletter-Signup.html
Federal Issues Update – ACTION
Requested: Mental Health America and MHA-NC continue to track and advocate on a number of federal policy
issues. We encourage you to sign up for Mental Health America ’s Advocacy Network to receive information and alerts about national issues that affect you: http://takeaction.mentalhealthamerica.net
House Passes Parity: The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity
Act, H.R. 1424, passed 268-148 in the House of Representatives on March 5. This first-ever House vote on a comprehensive mental health/addiction parity bill gives our cause new momentum.
But even with this victory, there is still work to do. The House-passed measure must now be reconciled with a parity bill
already passed by the Senate, S. 558. A final version will have to be approved by both chambers and signed by the President before people living with mental illnesses will finally have the same
rights under their insurance plans as individuals with other health conditions.
Write to your Senators and Congressmen through the Mental Health America Advocacy Network:
https://secure2.convio.net/nmha/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=325 and urge
them to push for enactment of a strong parity bill this year. You can make the difference in delivering that message to your elected officials!
Bush FY 2009 Budget: The President's proposed FY 2009 budget drastically cuts
funding of a wide range of federal programs critical to people with or at risk of mental health problems including suicide prevention, housing, education, juvenile justice, public health, health
promotion, workforce development and research. This includes cuts to the Center for Mental Health Services and to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for consumer
technical assistance, family advocacy networks, older adults outreach and treatment, youth violence prevention, child trauma services, and school counseling programs, just to name a few. Call on
Congress to reject the Administration's budget and adopt a budget that makes mental health one of the nation's most urgent priorities https://secure2.convio.net/nmha/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=313
Parity for Medicare: Mental Health America continues to advocate for the repeal
of higher co-insurance rates for outpatient mental health services under Medicare, the insurance program that covers seniors and the disabled. Research indicates that inadequate access to mental
health services under Medicare is largely due to the 50% co-pay, a much higher one than for physical health services. Join advocates in urging Congress to remove this unfair barrier to care.
https://secure2.convio.net/nmha/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=239
MHA-NC 2008 Policy Priorities: MHA-NC’s policy priorities are now available on our website. In addition, we have prepared a short explanation of each priority and
a list of links and resources where you can find more information on each issue. Please see our Advocacy webpage for more information and access to these documents http://www.mha-nc.org/english/index.php/Advocacy.html
LOC meetings and dates: The Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services continues to meet to review
results of past legislative action, current MH/DD/SA service models, problems in the system and consider recommendations for the upcoming short legislative session. Next meeting dates are March
26 from 9AM to 4PM, April 17 and April 23 from 10AM to 3PM. Most meetings take place in room 643 of the Legislative Office Building , although the April 17 meeting is currently scheduled for room
544. Meetings in these rooms can be heard on the GA’s audio feed at http://www.ncleg.net/Audio/Audio.html. Meeting dates and times are subject to change. To get meeting notices for this committee via email sign up at http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/Committees/Committees.asp?sAction=ViewCommittee&sActionDetails=Non-Standing_823
New Division of MH/DD/SAS Co-Directors
Named: On February 28, Secretary Dempsey Benton’s office announced a new leadership team for the NC
Division of MH/DD/SAS. The Division will be led by two co-directors, Dr. Michael Lancaster, who had been chief of clinical policy for the Division since June 2004, will be in charge of clinical
activities, and Leza Wainwright, who had been deputy director since December 2003, will be in charge of handling day-to-day administrative operations.
New School Mental Health Resource: The Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA has made a new resource available to download, “Mental Health in School and School
Improvement: Current Status, Concerns and New Directions.” This book-length resource to help create a school environment that promotes mental health and reduces problems is available online
at no cost. The URL is: http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/mhbook/mhbookintro.htm For convenience in downloading, each section of this book can be accessed
separately.
Trainings for Working with National Guard and Veterans: A series of trainings for mental health professionals are being held around the state entitled "Painting a Moving Train: Working with
Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and Their Families." These trainings are intended to help professionals apply their existing clinical skills to working with these populations. Please see Coastal
Area Health Education Center for more information about these trainings and how to register. http://www.coastalahec.org/edservices/pdf/movingtrain.pdf
Recent Letters: MHA-NC will begin posting letters sent to state agencies, commissions, etc. from MHA-NC and our Coalitions, beginning with our objections
to the method for implementing the smoking ban in state psychiatric hospitals and concerns about the types of facilities eligible for receiving involuntary commitments. MHA-NC regularly comments
on proposed policy changes and we are please to be able to share those with you through our advocacy webpage at http://www.mha-nc.org/english/index.php/Advocacy.html
Economic Stimulus Checks and Tax Returns: Congress and the President have authorized “economic stimulus” checks for 130 million taxpayers. Those making more than $3,000 a year, as well as Social Security beneficiaries and disabled veterans, are set to receive between $300 and $600 starting May 2 as part of the effort. In order
to get the additional checks, taxpayers must file a 2007 tax return – even if, like many Social Security
beneficiaries, they normally do not do so. The IRS has local tax assistance centers in many communities and partners with community organizations to provide tax help. For a list of contacts in
North Carolina go to http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/article/0,,id=98320,00.html
Medicare Scams and Problems: The NC SHIIP office recently alerted us to scam targeting dual-eligibles, those who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. This
scam urges people to call a “Benefits Check-up Group” sponsored by “The National Council on Aging” to see if they qualify for additional add-on benefits. These scam
artists may then use the information they get to steal identities and defraud the consumer. The Benefits Check Up is a legitimate program to help people find out if they qualify for government
benefits programs, but beware of people offering to help find “unused Medicare benefits” or “unused Medicare money” since Medicare does not work this way. Be cautious as
well of changing Medicare insurance plans to Medicare Advantage, some of which offer no monthly premiums. These plans are legitimate (not scams) but they do have limitations. Be sure to read the
fine print and ask questions anytime you change your health care plan. If you have any questions about Medicare coverage, regardless of your age, you can contact the NC SHIIP program at
1-800-443-9354.
Thank you for signing up for policy updates and for urging Congress to do the right thing for
people with mental illness. Your past actions helped create the passage of a historic House parity bill - Keep at it! If you have any questions about these or other mental health policy issues
please contact Jennifer Mahan, Director of Policy and Advocacy Initiatives, Mental Health Association in NC, 919-981-0740 or
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