ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. CODEY KICKS OFF CONSTRUCTION OF NEW GREYSTONE HOSPITAL
2. PUBLIC FORUMS ON PARTIAL CARE PROGRAMS SCHEDULED
3. MEDICARE PART D AND DUAL ELIGABLES
4. COURT RULES AGAINST SPECIAL ED. PARENTS
5. ACTION NEEDED NOW ON OUTPATIENT COMMITMENT LAW!
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CODEY KICKS OFF CONSTRUCTION OF NEW GREYSTONE HOSPITAL
Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today kicked off construction
of the new Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, making way
for a smaller, better facility for individuals with mental
illness in New Jersey.
“It was one year ago this morning, on my first day
in office as Governor, that I came here to spend the day
and visit patients at Greystone,” said Codey. “During
my visit, I made it clear that the problems in New Jersey’s
mental health system would no longer be swept under the
carpet. Today we are fulfilling that promise.”
Read more:
http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/governor/njnewsline/view_article.pl?id=2806
Watch the NJN TV report:
http://www.njn.net/television/webcast/njnnewstuesday.html minute
5:21
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PUBLIC FORUMS ON PARTIAL CARE PROGRAMS SCHEDULED
The Governor’s Mental Health Task Force report called
for the immediate review of currently licensed partial care
and partial hospitalization programs to determine appropriateness
of utilization and to shift where appropriate, to recovery
based programming/services. The Division of mental Health
services has scheduled public forums during which they invite
the public to provide their perspective on this topic. Each
individual interested in providing testimony will be given
3 minutes to describe what they think partial care/hospital
should become.
The forums will be held on the following dates and locations
between the hours of 3 and 7pm:
November 28 – UMDNJ, Academic Center, Bldg.
3, Medical Center Drive,
East Laurel Road, Stratford, NJ, 08084
December 5 – Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital,
Community Room, Morris Plains, NJ
If you wish to provide testimony at any one of these Forums,
please register by telephone or e-mail with Mr. William
Cahill, Office of Customer Services, DMAHS (609) 631-4641,
William.Cahill@dhs.state.nj.us.
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MEDICARE PART D AND DUAL ELIGABLES
On January 1, 2006, people who are entitled to both Medicare
and Medicaid (Dual Eligibles) will have different coverage
for their prescription drug benefits. For these individuals
Medicaid will no longer be the first payer for their medications.
After January 1st Medicare Part D will be the primary payer
through private Prescription Drug Plans (PDP). All Dual
Eligibles will be able to choose a Prescription Drug Plan
beginning on November 15, 2005. Those who do not choose
a plan will be auto enrolled in a plan. Dual Eligibles may
switch plans once a month.
Based on the successful work of the advocacy community,
New Jersey has created a “wraparound” that will
exempt dual eligibles from having to pay a co-payment. They
will also have access to a wider range of medications than
those in other states.
The ARC of New Jersey http://www.arcnj.org/Issues/Medicaid_care/Dual-eligibles/2005-Summer-Dual_eligibles.pdf
and the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities
http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/duals-partd.pdf
have developed excellent references on Medicare Part D and
New Jersey dual eligibles. NJ Medicaid has set up a toll
free call center (800) 356-1561 to answer questions.
You will need an Adobe Reader to access the ARC and ABCD
material:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder- Help find the plan
best for you!
https://www.medicare.gov/MPDPF/Public/Include/DataSection/Questions/Questions.asp
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COURT RULES AGAINST SPECIAL ED. PARENTS
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that parents who demand
better special education programs for their children have
the burden of proof in the challenges. Retiring Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor, writing for the 6-2 court, said that
when parents challenge a program they have the burden in
an administrative hearing of showing that the program is
insufficient. If schools bring a complaint, the burden rests
with them, O'Connor wrote.
The ruling is a loss for a Maryland family that contested
the special education program designed for their son with
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Read the full AP story:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/11/15/high_court_gives_ruling_on_special_education
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ACTION NEEDED NOW ON OUTPATIENT COMMITMENT LAW!
Advocates are urged to Contact the members of the Senate
Health, Human Services and Seniors Committee and let them
know how important legislation (S2760) that would authorize
outpatient commitment to treatment is to you and what it
will mean to your family. The real life stories of NAMI
advocates are the most powerful testimonial to the need
for this law.
List of Health Committee members:
http://www.naminj.org/advocacy/advocacy_alerts.html
TALKING POINTS
• S2760 is supported by NAMI NEW JERSEY, Acting Governor
Codey, The Governor’s Task Force on Mental Health and
the New Jersey Psychiatric Association.
• S2760 Clarifies that the existing New Jersey commitment
statute requires dangerousness in the “reasonably foreseeable
future” rather than “imminent” as widely
misapplied.
• There are a small group of individuals who are so
disabled by a mental illness that they vehemently deny or
are unaware that they have a mental illness. These individuals
disproportionately become homeless, incarcerated, exploited
or harmed.
• New Jersey is one of only 8 states that does not
have a provision for commitment to outpatient treatment.
• Families need to be included as full partners
• S2760 builds on and clarifies New Jersey’s current
commitment standard and offers an alternative to more restrictive
inpatient commitment.
• This year New Jersey has allocated $40 million in
new funding to enhance voluntary mental health services
along with establishing a $200 million housing trust fund.
The recently passed state budget specifically allocates
funding to implement outpatient commitment
• We need help now for those who are in desperate need
and who cannot or will not access services on a voluntary
basis.
• WE CAN NO LONGER TURN OUR BACK ON THOSE WHO ARE TOO
ILL TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES!
