ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. DHS OUTLINES MEDICAID “GLOBAL WAIVER” PROPOSAL
2. GORDON URGES HELP FOR KIDS IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
3. BILL PROTECTING ELDERLY & DISABLED IN ASSISTED LIVING NOW LAW
4. BUSINESSMAN SHARES STORY OF LIVING WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA
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DHS OUTLINES MEDICAID “GLOBAL WAIVER” PROPOSAL
In a conference call the New Jersey Department of Human Services began to outline the proposed “Global Waiver” that is projected to reduce the state’s Medicaid spending by $300 million in the coming fiscal year. The Commissioner reviewed the purposes of the comprehensive waiver which included structural consolidation and reform of the Medicaid program, opportunity for savings and an increased federal match, and the opportunity to request streamlined decision-making from the Center on Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS). It will also meant to further DHS’ policy objectives (which included - among other things – “budget predictability”, reducing reliance on institutional care and increasing the use of home and community-based services, promoting primary and preventative care and the use of medical homes, and enhancing performance-based contracting.
See the Departments PowerPoint presentation:
http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/news/hottopics/Medicaid%20
Comrehensive%20Waiver%20Power%20Point.pdf
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GORDON URGES HELP FOR KIDS IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Senator Bob Gordon (D-Bergen) has introduced a Senate resolution calling on the state to apply for federal funds in order to help create a pilot program that would assist children in need of mental health services. Specifically, the pilot program would provide primary care physicians with immediate access, through telephone or by some other electronic means, to a child psychiatric team that will assist primary care physicians in their assessment, diagnosis and treatment of child and adolescent mental health issues.
Read more:
http://www.politickernj.com/47229/gordon-urges-establishment-hub-children-need
-mental-health-services
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BILL PROTECTING ELDERLY & DISABLED IN ASSISTED LIVING NOW LAW
Legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Annette Quijano and Valerie Vainieri Huttle to protect some of the state’s most vulnerable residents from having their rights abused by assisted living facilities and personal care homes has been signed into law.
The new law (S-2458/A-3732) will strengthen protections for these patients by codifying into law the more than 40 rights designed to protect a patient’s safety, well-being and privacy; and requiring each facility to provide patients with a copy of these rights. The legislation was born out of a 2009 report by the state Public Advocate, which found that Assisted Living Concepts was violating its Certificate of Need (the license obtained by the state) by attempting to kick out patients when they ran out of money and became Medicaid-eligible.
See the press release:
http://www.politickernj.com/47248/quijano-vainieri-huttle-bill-protecting-elderly-disabled-assisted-living-facilities-now-law
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BUSINESSMAN SHARES STORY OF LIVING WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA
After receiving his MBA, Cunningham began a challenging business career. Within three years, he ad-vanced to the level of vice president. His accomplishments are unusual since he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 13, in a time when the prognosis for individuals with this disease was dismal and the associated stigma was devastating.
See the full story
http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20110502/NEWS01/110502005
