Advocacy E-News January 25, 2017
January 25, 2017
STATE REMOVES ANCORA’S TOP DOCTOR, NURSE
Ancora Psychiatric Hospital’s medical director has lost his job, and the hospital’s chief nursing officer is facing an administrative hearing Tuesday, according to the state Department of Human Services. This comes on the heels of the public outcry over new, restrictive visitors’ policy at the institution.
BILL TO GUARD AGAINST LOSS OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE GAINS ASSEMBLY APPROVAL
Legislation to ensure that the state does not recklessly limit access to health care treatment by changing the way it pays treatment service providers was approved 67-1-1 by the full Assembly on Monday. The bill (A-4146) was prompted by the state’s decision to begin transitioning most community-based behavioral health care treatment services from the traditionally-used cost reimbursement system to a fee-for-service reimbursement system this past summer. The sponsors noted that health care providers across the state have expressed concern that the new payment model will result in substantial revenue losses that could force many to reduce or eliminate community-based treatment services.
CHRISTIE DELIVERS DRAFT LEGISLATION TO ALLOW IMMEDIATE TREATMENT FOR DIAGNOSED DRUG ADDICTIONS WITHOUT PRIOR AUTHORIZATION
Governor Chris Christie delivered draft legislation today mandating that people seeking immediate treatment for diagnosed substance abuse disorders should no longer wait for prior authorization from their insurance carriers, making good on a promise he made during his State of the State address earlier this month.
SETTING RECORD STRAIGHT ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
SSDI is not a “secret welfare system that has strayed from its original purpose of serving the truly disabled.” The Government Accounting Office estimates the fraud rate in Social Security Disability is less than 1 percent. Congress ordered Social Security to fairly evaluate mental illness after discovering the Reagan administration illegally attempted to deny benefits to the mentally impaired.
NJCOUNTS 2017 POINT-IN-TIME EVENT SET TO HELP HOMELESS
On Jan. 25, all 21 New Jersey counties will participate in NJCounts 2017 conducting a statewide Point-In-Time Count of the sheltered and unsheltered homeless. The count is designed to understand the nature of New Jersey’s homeless population so that resources can meet its needs. Monarch Housing Associates is coordinating this year’s statewide count that is being conducted county by-county at the local level. Participating agencies are service agencies/organizations in the counties that help the homeless, people with mental illness, and low-income individuals/families.
FIND YOUR LOCAL NAMI
