This time of year, Congress makes decisions on funding important programs and services. We need your voice to tell policymakers to pass a budget that invests in mental health research, services and supports. Fortunately, the House Appropriations Committee has already shown that they are willing to support Americans affected by mental health conditions by passing a funding…
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) is initiating an intensive effort to redesign the front door of behavioral health. Together, we will imagine a system that presents a no-wrong-door point of entry. A system with same-day access, that defines community-based emergency and urgent care responses and untangles the maze that has been…
NAMI Mass joined other members of the Massachusetts Parity Taskforce and the Mental Health Coalition to testify at the State House on June 6th. The Financial Services Committee was hearing many bills that are important to our NAMI community. Monica Luke, Chair of the Advocacy Committee for NAMI Mass, testified on the parity bills (H.…
Massachusetts state Sen. Julian Cyr knows firsthand how difficult it is to access behavioral healthcare. He’s been trying for the past two years to get his outpatient therapist covered by his insurance provider. Read more
Have you been denied insurance reimbursement? Can’t access ESP services through your insurance? Tell Legislators about your experience Several mental health bills are coming up for hearing by the Joint Committee on Financial Services. Among the top priorities for NAMI Mass are, H. 910/ S.588 An Act relative to mental health parity implementation: Rep.…
On Tuesday, May 7th, Lori Krinksky (President of NAMI Central Middlesex) and Monica Luke (Chair of the NAMI Mass Advocacy Committee) testified at the State House in support of H913 – An Act to increase consumer transparency about insurance provider networks S610 – An Act to increase consumer transparency about insurance provider networks S592 –…
State Rep. James Arciero recently met with several family representatives from NAMI, the National Alliance of Mental Illness. The meeting was arranged to discuss the legislative priorities of NAMI in an effort to help those individuals with mental illness and their family members. READ THE FULL STORY
In a scathing decision released Tuesday, a federal judge in Northern California ruled that a unit of UnitedHealth Group, the giant health insurer, had created internal policies aimed at effectively discriminating against patients with mental health and substance abuse disorders to save money. U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero found that United Behavioral Health,…
With mental health beds in short supply, emergency rooms increasingly have become the care of first and last resort for people in the grips of a psychiatric episode. Now, hospitals around the country are opening emergency units that calmly cater to patients with mental health needs. READ THE FULL STORY
Massachusetts health officials are significantly expanding addiction treatment, adding nearly 400 long-term recovery beds devoted to people who suffer from both addiction and mental illness. The recent move aims to address a major failing of the current system: Addiction programs typically lack the expertise to also treat the depression, anxiety, and trauma that often underlie…