Announcements

Awareness of Mental Health through the Performing Arts (AMHPA) is requesting stories! AMHPA raises awareness of mental health issues by providing education and insights through the performing arts. AMHPA, a coalition of Indiana area mental health and arts organizations, is seeking stories from mental health providers, consumers or family members who can share personal experiences of overcoming obstacles involving mental illness. For more details, click here.

Mental Health Association's Newsletter (pdf version)

Behavioral/Physical Health Coordination Form

Help Us End Insurance Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness

Senate Committee Approves a Post Terrorism Mental Health Package

Equitable Treatment Act of 2001

Take a Mental Health Quiz

Press Releases

Prescription Assistance

Mental Health Association Applauds Senator Lugar's Support
of Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2001

U.S. Senator Dick Lugar is cosponsoring legislation that will change the lives of people seeking mental health treatment by making mental health coverage in parity to physical coverage in insurance policies. Cosponsor of what is called the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2001; Senator Lugar has sent a clear message to people about the need for mental health treatment that is equal to coverage for physical treatment in insurance plans across the nation.

"The toll that mental illness takes on individuals and families is steep," said Lugar. "If we can treat individuals for mental illness before the problems manifest themselves into more serious health issues, we will save lives and help people live better lives." A list of all Senators co-sponsoring this legislation is attached

The Mental Health America of Indiana has long advocated for mental health parity, passing a limited law in Indiana covering plans not ruled by the Erisa law. This federal law would cover plans that are governed by the Erisa law, effectively reaching many more people.

"We are encouraged and excited that Senator Lugar is cosponsoring such important legislation and applaud the Senator for speaking out on the topic of mental health," said Stephen C. McCaffrey, President of the Mental Health America of Indiana. "Research over the last decade has illustrated that mental illnesses are indeed medical illnesses that can be successfully treated. It is time that the insurance industry catches up to research. Millions of dollars will be saved by treating the mental illness before it becomes crisis care."

The Mental Health America of Indiana is a statewide organization with 60 chapters across that state. An affiliate of the National Mental Health Association, Indiana is the largest and strongest affiliate of any throughout the United States. For more information, contact the Association at 317-638-3501 or 1-800-555-6424 outside of the Indianapolis area.

S.543
Sponsor: Sen Domenici, Pete V. (introduced 3/15/2001)
Title: A bill to provide for equal coverage of mental health benefits with respect to health insurance coverage unless comparable limitations are imposed on medical and surgical benefits.
Cosponsors:

 

Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. - 3/22/2001

Sen. Baucus, Max - 7/12/2001

Sen. Bennett, Robert F. - 5/8/2001

Sen. Biden Jr., Joseph R. - 4/5/2001

Sen. Bingaman, Jeff - 7/9/2001

Sen. Byrd, Robert C. - 4/2/2001

Sen. Cantwell, Maria - 7/12/2001

Sen. Carnahan, Jean - 7/23/2001

Sen. Chafee, Lincoln D. - 3/15/2001

Sen. Cleland, Max - 3/20/2001

Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham - 4/2/2001

Sen. Cochran, Thad - 3/15/2001

Sen. Collins, Susan M. - 7/16/2001

Sen. Conrad, Kent - 5/22/2001

Sen. Corzine, Jon - 5/2/2001

Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. - 3/15/2001

Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. - 4/25/2001

Sen. Durbin, Richard J. - 3/15/2001

Sen. Edwards, John - 6/5/2001

Sen. Grassley, Charles E. - 3/15/2001

Sen. Harkin, Tom - 4/30/2001

Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. - 7/16/2001

Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. - 3/20/2001

Sen. Jeffords, James M. - 6/11/2001

Sen. Johnson, Tim - 3/15/2001

Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. - 3/15/2001

Sen. Kerry, John F. - 6/13/2001

Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. - 6/26/2001

Sen. Levin, Carl - 4/2/2001

Sen. Lincoln, Blanche - 6/19/2001

Sen. Lugar, Richard G. - 6/18/2001

Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. - 6/5/2001

Sen. Miller, Zell - 4/3/2001

Sen. Murray, Patty - 7/10/2001

Sen. Reed, Jack - 3/15/2001

Sen. Reid, Harry M. - 3/15/2001

Sen. Roberts, Pat - 3/15/2001

Sen. Rockefeller IV, John D. - 7/17/2001

Sen. Sarbanes, Paul S. - 3/19/2001

Sen. Schumer, Charles E. - 3/21/2001

Sen. Specter, Arlen - 3/15/2001

Sen. Stabenow, Debbie - 6/14/2001

Sen. Thomas, Craig - 4/26/2001

Sen. Torricelli, Robert G. - 7/10/2001

Sen. Warner, John W. - 3/15/2001

Sen. Wellstone, Paul D. - 3/15/2001

In a move applauded by mental health groups across the nation, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved legislation this week that will provide "such sums as may be necessary" for response to the long-term mental health needs arising from the September 11 terrorist attacks.

According to Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-MA), "this help is essential for the individuals and families who were injured or lost a loved one, for the brave public safety officers who put their lives on the line trying to rescue or recover victims, and for the many other Americans of all ages in communities across the country who have suffered psychological trauma as the result of these attacks."

The legislation, called the "Post Terrorism Mental Health Improvement Act", was introduced by Senators Kennedy (D-MA), Warner (R-VA), Clinton (D-NY), Wellstone (D-MN), Schumer (D-NY), Domenici (R-NM) and Roberts (R-KS). Some highlights of the act include:

• Establish a grant program to find individuals in need of mental health services and to provide treatment for those individuals through state and local governments and other public entities, directly and indirectly affected by the terrorist attack

• Reauthorize a $40 million appropriation for the treatment of children who experience violence-related stress

• Award HHS grants to study the mental health impacts of the September terrorists attacks

• Provide planning grants for state and local public entities to develop programs to respond to post-disaster mental health needs.
  

  The tragedies of September 11 have been widely reported, but mental health experts warn that a mental health crisis will soon emerge across the nation as a result of this tragedy. People directly involved, those who lost loved ones and even those who have seen each moment unfold on their television can suffer mental health consequences.
  
  According to a study done by The Pew Research Center For The People and The Press, the tragedy has had a strong emotional impact on most Americans, but women, parents, and urban residents have been among the hardest hit. In the weeks following the attacks, up to 68% of Americans in the Midwest studied suffered with depression.
  

  "We have never had a tragedy of this proportion in our nation. I am pleased that the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee has acted swiftly, and applaud the Senators who have authored this legislation. The systems of care for people with mental health disorders are currently overwhelmed, to think that these systems could adequately care for the people who will enter the system for the first time (because of the attacks) would be very shortsighted. I encourage people to contact their Senators and ask them to support this very important piece of legislation," said Stephen C. McCaffrey, President of the Mental Health America of Indiana.

  The Mental Health America of Indiana is a nonprofit corporation with 60 local chapters across Indiana. For more information about the Mental Health America of Indiana, call 317-638-3501, extenuation 221 or 1-800-555-6424, extension 221.

In 2004 [MCO] was part of a multidisciplinary task force consisting of mental health advocates, managed care organizations, primary health care providers, the community mental health system, academics, and state officials who met to discuss methods for improving the communication between behavioral health and physical health providers. The task force began with the belief that the exchange of information between physical and behavioral healthcare providers is essential for safe, effective coordination of care. To facilitate this exchange of information, the task force developed the Behavioral/Physical Health Coordination Form. It is the task force's hope that providers across Indiana will use the form to assist in the sharing of information, thus increasing the coordination of care between the two health care systems.

More information, and a copy of the form, can be found here.