Last week Senator Sherrod Brown introduced a bill with Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, that establishes national centers of excellence for depression and bipolar disorders. This builds off the work that has been done by the University of Michigan, University of Cincinnati, and the Lindner Center of Hope. Senator Brown plans to offer this as a floor amendment to healthcare reform.
Enhanced Act of 2009October 30th, 2009Senate Healthcare Reform Bill to include Public OptionOctober 28th, 2009Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has announced his decision to include a public insurance option that would allow states to opt out in the Senate’s compromised healthcare bill. Senator Reid is in the process of merging the healthcare bill passed by the Senate Finance Committee, which did not include a public option, and the bill from the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which did include the public option. Senator Reid’s bill would give states until 2014 to decide if they want to opt out of the public option. Senator Reid has said that his healthcare bill will not only include the public option, but will also include a provision from the Finance Committee bill that would allow for the creation of nonprofit healthcare cooperatives that would negotiate collective insurance coverage for their members. To read this article in its entirety, please visit: www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/27/ health.care/index.html. Medicaid Enrollment Continues to IncreaseOctober 27th, 2009There has been an 8% increase in Medicaid enrollment in the last year, an increase of about 154,000 Ohioans, the largest 12 month increase in seven years. Enrollment in Medicaid has continued to increase for 19 consecutive months, the longest period of sustained growth since 2001. Now almost two million Ohioans, nearly 1 in 5, are insured by Medicaid. To read this article in its entirety, please visit: www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/10/13/capspike.html. Which is what?October 26th, 2009
Mental Health Parity Rules DelayedOctober 23rd, 2009Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary, sent a letter to lawmakers earlier this month informing them that the Administration is planning to issue regulations for the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 by January 2010. The mental health and addiction parity law required that regulations be issued by October 2009, but the Health and Human Services and the Labor and Treasury Departments are still developing the regulations. The law goes into effect January 1, 2010 for most insurance plans, but lawmakers and mental health advocates are worried that the absence of regulations could lead to misinterpretations of the law. Nation Anti-Stigma Campaign “BringChange2Mind” LaunchedOctober 22nd, 2009Glenn Close, the Child Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, Fountain House, and Garen and Shari Staglin of the International Mental Health Research Organization have created a nonprofit organization called BringChange2Mind. BringChange2Mind was created to raise awareness about mental illness and combat stigma as well as provide people with mental illnesses and their families with information and support. The campaign, which has the support of many mental health organizations across the nation, includes a public service announcement featuring people with mental illnesses and their friends and family members. For more information on this anti-stigma campaign, please visit: www.bringchange2mind.org. Ohio House to Vote on Bill to Delay Income Tax CutOctober 21st, 2009The House Finance Committee passed the Education Funding Protection Act (HB 318) along party lines on Tuesday. The bill would fill most of an $851 million budget hole by delaying a 4.2% income tax cut that took effect January 1. The budget gap opened up when the Ohio Supreme Court ordered the delay in the implementation of video slots at horse racetracks. The bill also includes a 5% pay cut for lawmakers beginning in 2011. The full House is scheduled to vote on the bill today. To read this article in its entirety, please visit: www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/10/21/copy/budget21.ART_ART_10-21-09_B3_ETFEBHE.html?adsec=politics&sid=101. Survey Finds Economic Downturn Affecting Mental HealthOctober 20th, 2009Mental Health America and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in collaboration with the Depression is Real Coalition conducted a nationwide telephone survey of more than 1,000 adults, showing that the economic downturn is affecting the mental health of Americans. The survey found that 13% of unemployed adults have thought of harming themselves, which is four times more than reported by adults with fulltime employment. Adults who experienced changes such as pay cuts or reduced hours were twice as likely to report symptoms consistent with severe mental illness, even though they were still employed fulltime. Unemployed adults were twice as likely to report concern about their mental health or use of alcohol or drugs within the last six months than adults with fulltime employment. To read the results of this survey, please visit: http://www.nmha.org/ index.cfm?objectid=2A7E7943-1372-4D20-C8B93F1EEE06C70A. BILL ADVOCACYOctober 19th, 2009ADVOCACY ACTION REQUIRED!!!
This past week the Representative Sykes(D) introduced a bill to postpone for the last of five scheduled income tax rate reductions, and to reduce members of the General Assembly salaries by 5%. This was done so that cuts will not need to be made to education. I cannot express how important it is for advocates of behavioral health services to keep the pressure on as policymakers move forward with this bill. One way to keep the pressure on policy makers to restore funding for behavioral health is through sending a letter or email to YOUR Senator, Representative and the Governor. We need to let them know that the behavioral heath system NEEDS ADDITIONAL FUNDS, and until the legislature and administration appropriately fund behavioral health, people are going to die needlessly! We are suggesting that you ask for the following: ODMH Request that the $36 million ($20 in 2010 and $16 in 2011) presently in the 635 line be placed in the 505 line, and that the entire amount be allocated to the Boards via the general 505 distribution method with no earmarks. Additionally, ask that the $7.35 million per year be replaced in the 408 line to be distributed to Boards. ODADAS Ohio’s liquor profits are steadily increasing, yet only 1% ($4.4 million) is allocated to ODADAS. Request that the 1% be raised to 2$ for an additional $4.4 million per year to go to ODADAS. LET’S LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD! WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE; WE CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT ACCEPT THE PRESENT LEVEL OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FUNDING! OHIOANS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS DESERVE BETTER!! If you would like more information on how you can contact your legislator, or the Governor Please go to www.OACBHA.org and visit our legislative section.
Have a great week!
Cheri L. Walter Report Released on Mental Helath Self-Help GroupsOctober 16th, 2009According to a recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Report, an annual average of 2.4 million adults ages 18 and older received support from a mental health self-help group in the past year. Two thirds of adults who received support from mental health self-help groups also received traditional treatment in the past year, but only about 5.5% of the adults that received traditional treatment in the past year also received support from self-help groups. This information is based on the combined 2005 to 2008 NSDUH. To read this report in its entirety, please visit: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k9/161/161MHSupportGroupHTML.pdf. |
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