ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. LAWSUIT PUSHES MENTAL HEALTH REFORM IN NEW JERSEY
2. HAGEDORN WILL STAY OPEN BUT WORRIES PERSIST
3. N.J. STARTS U.S.-FUNDED HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PATIENTS WITH PRE- EXISTING CONDITIONS
4. MENTAL HEALTH NEED RISES AS ECONOMY LAGS
5. LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE TRAVELS TO WASHINGTON
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LAWSUIT PUSHES MENTAL HEALTH REFORM IN NEW JERSEY
Lawyers Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit seeking reform in New Jersey's mental health system on behalf of patients. The lawsuit argues that it's "appalling" to force powerful drugs on competent mental patients, without allowing them recourse to an independent review. Mental health advocates say 34 states -- including New York and Connecticut -- have such impartial reviews if competent mental patients object to medication. The lawsuit claims that an existing appeals process for New Jersey mental patients is an "abject failure" that is neither independent nor impartial.
An outside expert favors an independent review process but says sometimes psychiatrists insisting on certain medicine can benefit their patients."Forcible treatment should be provided in order to allow patients to make conscientious and well-founded judgments for themselves," said Seton Law School Professor John Jacobi.
Read more:
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Lawsuit-Pushes-Mental-Health-Reform-in-New-Jersey-99900489.html
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HAGEDORN WILL STAY OPEN BUT WORRIES PERSIST
Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital here will stay open next year while a 17-member state task force scrutinizes the entire system of state-run psychiatric hospitals.
But some Hagedorn staff and members of its board of trustees worry that recent reductions in referrals and resources are signs that the hospital is being set up for failure in the task force review. there had been 246 geriatric referrals to Hagedorn in 2009, but only 54 in the first six months of 2010. The board suspected that the drop reflected an attempt by the state to reduce patient counts.
See the full report:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/07/hagedorn_psychiatric_hospital_1.html
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N.J. STARTS U.S.-FUNDED HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PATIENTS WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS
In one of the first, tangible consequences of the national health care overhaul passed earlier this year, New Jersey today opened up a federally funded health insurance plan for people with major or ongoing medical conditions. The plan — called NJ Protect — will use $141 million in federal money to cover an estimated 21,000 residents for three years through a program run by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, said Ed Rogan, a spokesman for the state Department of Banking and Insurance. It’s open to New Jersey residents with specifically defined pre-existing conditions who have not had health insurance for six months.
Read more:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/nj_opens_federally_funded_heal.html
Visit the state’s website for NJ Protect
http://www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_insurance/njprotect/index.htm
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MENTAL HEALTH NEED RISES AS ECONOMY LAGS
As the Great Recession grinds on and unemployment rates hover near double digits, calls to hospitals, clinics and hot lines for mental health problems have soared, as has the number of people admitted to psychiatric wards. Health providers are struggling to meet spiking demand with stagnant funding. Many hospitals have wait lists of up to three months for outpatient and voluntary inpatient services, and patients in crisis are flooding emergency rooms. As hospitals and clinics struggle to meet rising demand, hotlines are working overtime to help, with many tailoring themselves to repeat callers, not just people in acute crisis.
Read the full story:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/health/99578249_Economy_to_
blame_for_increase_in_mental_health_problems_experts_say.html
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LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE TRAVELS TO WASHINGTON
Recovery and reform was the theme of the National Alliance on Mental Illness's (NAMI's) 2010 convention, in Washington, DC. With 454,000 members and 1,000 affiliate groups nationwide, NAMI is the nation's largest association dedicated to individuals who live with mental illness and their families. Attendees met with members of Congress to educate and advocate for legislation affecting mentally ill individuals and their families, including housing, support for children and veterans and the need for increased scientific research. New Jersey delegates met with Rep. Leonard Lance, Rush Holt and an aide to Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen. In a separate ceremony, NAMI presented Sen. Robert Menendez with an award for his advocacy for the mentally ill, including his sponsorship of the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2009.
See more:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/health/events/99523894_Local_mental_health
_advocate_travels_to_Washington.html
