Advocate Number 205 | April-June 2019
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Advocate Number 205 | April-June 2019 Speaking Out at Mental Health Day on the Hill The Mental Health Legislative Network’s annual Day on the Hill drew over 500 people to the Capitol on March 14 to urge legislators to pass important legislation to expand school-linked mental health services, invest in more supports for children and adults and ensure that insurance parity for mental health care is met. Mental health advocates from around Advocates Looking for Bigger Gains the state participated in the day getting updated on the status of these The Minnesota Legislature is to complete its work by May 20. As this critical issues, visiting legislators and newsletter goes to print the first deadlines have passed but the budget bills holding a vocal rally in the Capitol still need to be put together. It’s too early to measure success. Rotunda. Governor Walz released his budget that included increased funding in several “Today is not the time to be silent. areas of interest to NAMI members. Today is our day to get loud,” shouted state mental health advisory council For children’s mental health, his budget includes over $4 million a year for member Rozenia Fuller as she the school-linked mental health program, funding to offset the loss of federal See “Mental Health Rally” p.3 Medicaid funding for our children’s residential system and increasing the number of Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) beds from 150 to Elk River Finally Gets 300 beds. IRTS Facility There is continuation funding for the Certified Community Behavioral Health People living in the Elk River area Clinics and an expansion of the Transitions to Community program to support will finally be getting a residential people transitioning out of state-operated mental health services in a timely program for adults recovering from fashion when they no longer require this level of care, along with expanding the a mental illness. After lots of input program to people who are committed and in a community hospital and on the from advocates the Elk River City waiting list for Anoka. Council reversed itself on Feb. 22 and approved the development of There is funding for provide traditional healing practices to American Indians an Intensive Residential Treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. Funding would go to Tribal Services (IRTS) facility. The Nations and five urban Indian communities. breakthrough came after nine previous tries to locate a facility in Elk River There are changes to Substance Use Disorder treatment to provide early that fell through for various reasons, intervention and to realign the funding streams for residential treatment. including community resistance. The See “Looking for Gains” p.2 facility will be run by ResCare MN, Inc. Looking for Gains... continued from p. 1 The Governor proposes to repeal Despite being passed ten the sunset of the provider tax, which years ago, the promise of would provide $992 million for the Health Care Access Fund. This funds parity has not been realized. Medicaid expansion, MinnesotaCare and public health activities. funding for early childhood mental health, multi-generational mental The Health Department requested health and for school-linked mental over $3 million for a comprehensive health programs. Funds are being suicide prevention program requested to fund an online suicide Sen. Paul Gazelka (center) met with mental including expanding community- health advocates to learn what is needed to prevention program for teachers and a based programs, purchasing suicide build our mental health system list of programs to educate students prevention training materials and about mental illnesses and mental resources for public and private health. schools, increasing protective factors in the community, implementing the Increased funding for the IPS Zero Suicide program, and funding employment program and an effort national suicide prevention lifeline to expand employment programs to sites in Minnesota. meet the needs of people with mental illnesses is also moving as is NAMI’s The MN Housing Finance Agency bill to provide college-linked mental asked for an increase to the Bridges health programs. NAMI supported testimony by Out Front housing voucher program for adults Minnesota to ban conversion “therapy.” with mental illnesses. The Board of Housing continues to be a major Public Defense asked for funding to concern and NAMI is pushing for more hire an additional 50 attorneys to There are other bills being advocated funding for Bridges and for supportive bring down caseloads. by NAMI that would also continue housing. to build our mental health system There is also a proposal to streamline and that look to be moving. This NAMI is again pushing for a bill waivered services, such as the CADI includes a bill to increase funding for to restrict the use of solitary waiver and to improve the quality of loan forgiveness for mental health confinement in the prisons and to the mental health crisis teams. professionals and several other ideas reinstate the Ombudsman program for to address the workforce shortages. jails and prisons. The first one is a bill to strengthen the There is never one thing that we can Department of Commerce’s ability to do to build our mental health system prospectively enforce mental health – there must be many things in many parity. Despite being passed ten areas to create the changes we need. years ago, the promise of parity has not been realized. Another bill would We continue to make progress increase funding for ACT teams, First because of you – so keep those Psychotic Episode Programs and calls and letters going in to our state create a new First Mood Disorder senators and representatives. Sign Sen. Justin Eichorn (fourth from left) program. up for the legislative updates to learn advocated for employment opportunites for more about what is happening at the people with mental illnesses. Bills are being pushed to increase Capitol. 2 Advocate Mental Health Rally... continued from p. 1 implored advocates to raise their voices. Advocates asked for increased investments in “We are going to make sure we are community-based programs. heard,” said NAMI’s executive director Sue Abderholden. “We need mental Other speakers included family health parity enforced now, not next member Elaine Love, Jenna Erickson year or in two years. This bill needs to and Governess Simpson who shared be passed now!” their personal stories. NAMI’s Rally-goers listened to speakers share their executive director Sue Abderholden stories and calls for better services. Legislative speakers included Rep. and MH Minnesota’s executive Dave Baker who cited the critical need director Shannah Mulvihill addressed for enforcing mental health parity the crowd as co-chairs of the MHLN, and Sen. Julie Rosen a long-time and mental health providers Steven legislative voice for expanding mental Loos and Richard Wolleat also spoke. health services. Also speaking on the need to build the mental health After the Rally advocates visited system were Senators Rich Draheim, their legislators asking for increased Matt Klein, Carla Nelson and Michelle investments in community-based Benson along with Representatives programs that serve children and Jim Davnie, Ruth Richardson and adults (such as school-linked mental Rep. Dave Baker spoke passionately for Hodan Hasson. health, children’s residential services, enforcing mental health parity. first episode psychosis programs, and early childhood services), along with funding for affordable and supportive housing, employment, workforce expansion and suicide prevention. Mental Health Day on the Hill is sponsored by the Mental Health Legislative Network, a coalition of over 40 mental health organizations Rozenia Fuller implored advocates to make dedicated to improving mental health their voices heard. Sen. Julie Rosen has been a strong ally for care in Minnesota. expanding mental health care. Signs on Display: Know the Signs of Mental Family member Elaine Love appreciated Over 500 people attended the Mental Illness, Lets Talk About Mental Illness and the crowd’s energy. Health Rally in the Capitol Rotunda. Mental Health Matters. 651-645-2948 or 1-800-NAMI-HELPS | [email protected] | namimn.org 3 Landmark Mental Health Parity Case NAMI Minnesota On March 5, the U.S. District Court “covers” mental health services, they Board of Directors for the Northern District of California are denied the most appropriate and held that United Behavioral Health effective treatment. President (UBH), the country’s largest managed Emily Bulthuis, MSW, LICSW behavioral healthcare organization, While this is just a first step, it is 1st Vice President illegally denied mental health and a monumental win for people with Carrie M. Borchardt, MD substance use coverage based on mental health conditions. NAMI hopes 2nd Vice President flawed medical necessity criteria. these findings will have an impact on Jan Ormasa how plans make medical necessity Treasurer After weeks of testimony, U.S. determinations for people with mental Rick Lancaster Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph C. health conditions. As Angela Kimball, Secretary Spero found that UBH had created National Director of Advocacy and Dana Keeley, MBA internal policies aimed at effectively Public Policy, told the New York Times, Christine Bray, MA, PhD discriminating against patients with “This should put health plans on Jesus M. Calvillo MS, LPCC mental health and substance abuse notice that they simply can’t make up Carolie Collins disorders in order to save money. the rules as they go along.” Nancy Dillon, RN, PhD, PM HCUS BC Jessica Gourneau, PhD The Judge’s findings reinforce what This decision provides an opportunity Kevin Hanstad, MBA NAMI members have experienced to call for an end to discrimination for decades. Even with parity laws, against covering mental health Ani Rayn Koch people with mental health conditions treatment. Urge your elected officials Tom Koch, EdD too often find that, even if their plan to enforce the federal parity law.