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eNewsletter: January 19, 2007
Campaign to Insure Mental Health and Addiction Equity
Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad’s (R-MN) nationwide informal field hearings in cities across the country, the Campaign to Insure Mental Health and Addiction Equity, are underway. They are joining with other members of Congress to collect testimony from people whose lives have been touched by addiction or mental illness.
The testimony will be used to help facilitate a comprehensive debate over equal access to health care for mental health and addiction treatment as they prepare to introduce federal legislation aimed at ensuring that health plans offer fair coverage for mental health and addiction care. The bill, called the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act after the late Senator who championed the cause, had majority support in past Congresses but was blocked from consideration by the House leadership. The new House Leaders have promised Congressmen Kennedy and Ramstad that they will bring the bill up for a vote.
In a press release announcing the campaign, Representative Kennedy said, "Every day that we allow insurance discrimination against mental illnesses is another day 82 Americans will die of suicide. It's another day that American business will lose $85 million in lost productivity to depression alone. It's another day that thousands of children will be in state custody instead of home with their parents. It's another night on the streets for 200,000 homeless Americans living with mental illness and addictions. We cannot afford the status quo."
According to the Government Accountability Office, nearly 90 percent of plans impose such financial limitations and treatment restrictions on mental health and addiction care despite voluminous scientific research documenting the biological, genetic, and chemical nature of these diseases, and the effectiveness of treatment. The bill applies to group health plans of 50 or more people.
According to Representative Ramstad, "The American people should not be forced to wait any longer for Congress to knock down the barriers to treatment for mental illness and chemical addiction. Congress must hear their call and pass the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act."
Here’s an updated list of the scheduled field hearings. If there’s a hearing scheduled near you, contact the local office of the member of Congress holding the hearing and request an opportunity to testify.
SCHEDULE
Feb. 20th – 10 a.m. (confirmed)
UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute
Sacramento, CA
Host: Rep. Matsui
Point of Contact: Marilyn Hillerman, MHA in Sacramento
(916) 875-5644
marilynhillerman@yahoo.com
Feb 21st
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors’ chambers
Palo Alto
Host: Rep. Eshoo
Point of Contact: NAMI San Mateo
650-638-0800
Feb. 22nd – 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (confirmed)
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Fitzsimmons Campus
Ben Nighthorse Campbell Native Health Bldg Auditorium
13001 E. 17th Place
Aurora, CO
Host: Rep. Perlmutter
Point of Contact: Chris Habgood, MHA of Colorado
chabgood@mhacolorado.org
720-208-2224
Feb. 26th (confirmed) 10 a.m.
The State House
Trenton , NJ
Host: Rep. Pallone
Points of Contact: Marie Verna, MHA of New Jersey
mverna@mhanj.org
Colleen Maguire, MHA of Monmouth County
colleen.m@verizon.net
732-542-6422 x 15, Fax 732-389-3163
Feb. 27 (confirmed) 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Philadelphia metro area (location TBD)
Host: Rep. Sestak
Point of contact: MHA of Southeast Pennsylvania
March 2nd (cancelled, attempting to reschedule)
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Point of Contact: Marie Chapman, NAMI Dearborn, MI
313-563-1245
March 12th (confirmed)
Pittsburgh (location TBD)
Host: Rep. Murphy
Point of Contact: Rachel Freund, MHA of Allegheny County
rfreund@mhaac.net
412-391-3820 ext. 16
March 16th (confirmed)
New York City , NY (location and time, TBD)
Host: Rep. Rangel
Point of Contact: Wendy Brennan, NAMI NYC
wbrennan@naminyc.org
212-684-3365
March 30th morning (confirmed)
Tulsa, OK (location TBD)
Host: Rep. Sullivan
Point of Contact: Stacy Wilson, MHA in Tulsa
swilson@mhat.org
918-382-2407
March 30th 3pm (confirmed)
Dallas
Point of Contact: Janie Metzinger, Mental Health America of Greater Dallas
jmetzinger@mhadallas.org
214-871-2420 x114
March 31st (under consideration)
Houston
Point of Contact: Melissa Mitchell, MHA of Greater Houston
mmitchell@mhahouston.org