ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. COST OF CARE RALLY MAY 23
2. NEW PARITY LAW ADVANCES
3. FOR MENTALLY ILL YOUTHS, A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY
4. EXPANSION OF GREYSTONE DELAYED
5. CONGRESS CUTS MEDICAID
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COST OF CARE RALLY MAY 23, 11:30 a.m. – 1p.m.
Join the Cost of Providing Care Coalition in a Rally at
the State House!
Our Legislators Need to Hear From Us! Funding from New
Jersey is not sufficient for the cost of providing care
to the state’s most vulnerable citizens. The actual
cost of providing care has increased, in the past twelve
years, at twice the rate of increases received by providers.
Demonstrate your support for a 3.3% Cost of Providing Care
increase in the FY 2006 budget and indexed annually!
Rally flyer and directions:
http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/COPCRallyFlyer(0523).pdf
Logistics:
http://www.abcdnj.org/COPCLogistics.html
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NEW PARITY LAW ADVANCES
Legislation that would expand the insurance coverage for
the treatment of all mental illnesses and substance use
disorders has advanced in the New Jersey Senate Health,
Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee by a unanimous
vote. The bill will now go to the Senate Appropriations
Committee before going to the Assembly for consideration.
S544 Revises the statutory mental health coverage requirements
and requires all health insurers and State Health Benefits
Commission to cover treatment for alcoholism and other substance-use
disorders under same terms and conditions as for other diseases
or illnesses.
To learn more about the bill:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2004/Bills/S1000/544_S1.HTM
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FOR MENTALLY ILL YOUTHS, A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY
A shortage of beds for children with serious psychiatric
and behavioral disorders across the Garden State forces
officials to send about 200 children out of state for treatment
every year. It also requires many more youngsters to remain
in jail waiting for spots to open up. Critics contend the
system continues to fail the neediest children, but officials
argue that they're taking steps to open up more beds in
New Jersey and develop community services in the face of
growing demands.
Read Susan Livio’s Star Ledger report:
http://www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1115539776314140.xml
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EXPANSION OF GREYSTONE PROJECT DELAYED
Plans to build a new Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
have been delayed again and state officials said yesterday
that they do not expect bids for the estimated $188 million
project to be awarded until late summer. The latest delay
was caused by acting Gov. Richard Codey's decision in March
to add 50 beds to the planned hospital, bringing it to 450
beds and a total capacity of 510 patients, state officials
said. A detailed analysis by the governor's task force on
mental health had found the proposed new Greystone, which
was to have 410 beds, was inadequate.
Read Larry Ragonese’s article:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/middlesex/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1114923246170400.xml
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CONGRESS CUTS MEDICAID WITH AIM OF SLASHING DEFICITS
Congress has narrowly passed a $2.6 trillion budget that
would cut back spending on the Medicaid health care program
for the first time since 1997 in a step toward trimming
federal deficits. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas)
said it's time to look closely at benefit programs that
are "popular but rife with waste." "These
entitlement programs deserve reform," he said. "The
Medicaid system is antiquated and the quality of care is
not being brought to the people that need it."
Read the AP story:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1114752072204760.xml
