ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. FEDERAL PARITY LAW NOW IN EFFECT - IS IT WORKING FOR
YOU?
2. GREYSTONE EXECUTIVE SAYS WHISTLE-BLOWERS WERE NOT REPRIMANDED
3. GROUP SUES HEALTH INSURERS OVER CONFIDENTIAL PATIENT
RECORDS
4. LAWMAKER WANTS PERMANENT FUNDING FOR VETS COUNSELING
PROGRAM
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FEDERAL PARITY LAW NOW IN EFFECT - IS IT WORKING FOR
YOU?
For many group health plans, the Paul Wellstone and Pete
Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act went
into effect on January 1, 2010. The new law requires most
group health plans to cover treatment for mental illness
and substance use disorders on the same terms and conditions
as medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer
and asthma. Specifically the new law bars health plans from
imposing durational treatment limits (caps on inpatient
days or outpatient visits) or financial limitations (higher
cost sharing, deductibles or out of pocket limits) that
do not also apply to medical-surgical coverage.
The effective date of the new law is actually the beginning
of the first new plan year after October 3, 2009. The new
law applies to all group health plans sponsored by employers
with 50 or more workers.
View the NAMI Fact Sheet:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?
Section=Issue_Spotlights&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=94856
Share your story on the new parity law by posting on the
parity discussion group:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Forums&template=/Security/Login.cfm
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GREYSTONE EXECUTIVE SAYS WHISTLE-BLOWERS WERE NOT REPRIMANDED
Doctors at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital who spoke
out last year about a lack of adequate medical staff and
negative effects on patients were not reprimanded or punished
in any way, Greystone’s chief executive officer said
today.
Trustee Chairman Eric Marcy said he continues to get letters
and phone calls from doctors on the staffing issue, but
said they are reluctant to come forward publicly again.
Hospital staffing, including the number of doctors, is
frozen as the department awaits a new state budget and directives
from new Gov. Chris Christie.
Read more:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/greystone_psychiatric_hospital.html
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GROUP SUES HEALTH INSURERS OVER CONFIDENTIAL PATIENT
RECORDS
.A psychologists group is suing two insurance companies
and an administrative agency that serve 800,000 state employees,
saying they are routinely demanding therapists hand over
confidential patient information as a condition of getting
paid. The New Jersey Psychological Association accuses the
state Health Benefits Commission, along with Horizon Blue
Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Magellan Health Services,
of telling therapists to turn over "treatment notes
revealing patient thoughts and feelings revealed during
therapy, and the treating psychologist’s specific guidance
and counseling,’’ according to the lawsuit filed
in Superior Court in Mercer County.
Read more:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/nj_psychologists_group_sues_3.html
Register your complaints about the actions of your insurance
company:
http://speakyourmindnj.org/
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LAWMAKER WANTS PERMANENT FUNDING FOR VETS COUNSELING
PROGRAM
One state senator is seeking permanent funding for a peer
counseling program that helps thousands of veterans dealing
with mental health issues. "Vet-2-Vet," a toll-free
confidential help line, was created five years ago by the
state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. It's
designed as an early intervention for returning veterans
suffering from psychological or emotional distress or seeking
help assimilating back into civilian life.
Read more:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/nj_lawmaker_wants_permanent_fu.html
