ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. PANEL OKS PSYCHIATRIC REFORM BILLS
2. NO NEW FUNDS FOR RHCFs
3. AETNA SETTLES EATING DISORDERS LAWSUIT
4. CORZINE TO NOMINATE LEADER OF STATE CHILDREN'S AGENCY
5. STATE GIVES WARNING TO GREYSTONE CONTRACTORS
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PANEL OKS PSYCHIATRIC REFORM BILLS
Three bills that would require drug testing and training
for staff, and public disclosure of patient deaths and assaults
at state psychiatric hospitals were unanimously approved
Thursday by a state Assembly committee, after some substantial
amendments. After six patient deaths in the past two years
triggered disciplinary action against at least two dozen
Ancora employees, state Assembly members Sheila Y. Oliver,
D-Essex, Louis D. Greenwald, D-Camden, and Pamela R. Lampitt,
D-Camden, introduced legislation calling for reforms.
Read Alan Guenther's Asbury Park Press report:
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806130467
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NO NEW FUNDS FOR RHCFs
.
New Jersey is under pressure from a federal lawsuit to reduce
the number of people waiting to get out of state hospitals.
Currently, about 300 of the roughly 650 patients in Ancora
have been cleared for release by the courts, but they remain
in the hospital because there are no appropriate, supervised
places for them to go. In a National Alliance survey, only
a small percentage of the people with mental illness said
they wanted to live in a residential health care center
with 20 or 30 other people. And some larger facilities,
such as Dover Woods in Toms River, have been repeatedly
cited for violations.
Read the Asbury Park Press story:
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806130473
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AETNA SETTLES EATING DISORDERS LAWSUIT
In a step toward better insurance coverage for eating disorders,
Aetna has agreed to pay $250,000 in reimbursements to up
to 100 New Jersey policyholders whose claims were denied
and to liberalize its largesse for many future claimants.
The agreement, if approved, would settle a class action
suit in federal court in Newark, N.J., brought by insureds
seeking the same benefits for anorexia and bulimia that
are available in cases of biologically based mental illnesses
such as schizophrenia.
Read more in the New Jersey Law Journal report:
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202421880648
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CORZINE TO NOMINATE LEADER OF STATE CHILDREN'S AGENCY
Gov. Jon Corzine is expected to announce today he will nominate
Kimberly Ricketts as the next commissioner of the Department
of Children and Families, according to two sources who were
briefed on the appointment. Ricketts the former executive
director of former Gov. Richard Codey's Taskforce on Mental
Health, is currently administrator of the Department of
Law and Public Safety. This would be her first cabinet-level
job, but she has held numerous jobs in state government.
She has been the director of the state Division of Consumer
Affairs; chief of staff at the Department of Community Affairs.
Read the Star Ledger report:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-10/121333177250790.xml&coll=1
Codey Statement On Ricketts Being Named To Lead Department
Of Children And Families:
http://www.politickernj.com/jbutkowski/20800/codey-statement-ricketts-being-named-lead-department-children-and-families
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STATE GIVES WARNING TO GREYSTONE CONTRACTORS
Frustrated by delays in getting the new $170 million Greystone
Park Psychiatric Hospital opened, the state has put the
contractors on notice of potential legal action unless the
situation is soon remedied. Breach of contract notices have
been issued to general contractor/construction manager Torcon
Inc. and architect Vitetta Corp. on a project that was appeared
almost complete last November, when a gala opening ceremony
was held in Parsippany featuring Gov. Jon Corzine and state
Sen. President Richard Codey (D-Essex).
Read more:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/sussex/index.ssf?/base/news-2/121350455530820.xml&coll=1
