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NAMI Arkansas Home Page

Ask Your Senators to Support Parity Regulations!

After years of hard work by consumers, families and advocates, Congress passed the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 on October 3, 2008.  The bill requires the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and Treasury to issue regulations before the effective date for the Act which is October 3, 2009 .  It is essential the regulations are issued to avoid misinterpretation of the law and to ensure access to critical mental health and addiction services.

Senators Al Franken (D-MN) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are currently circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter in the Senate which will be sent to the Secretaries of the three departments responsible for issuing the regulations insisting they act quickly and consider comments filed by NAMI and other advocacy groups in response to the recent request for information (RFI).

Act Now!

Don't let years of hard work and advocacy go to waste!  Make sure regulations addressing the concerns of the field are issued by October 3, 2009. Send a letter today asking your senators to sign onto Sen. Franken's and Sen. Whitehouse's Dear Colleague Letter by 5:00 pm on August 6th.  Ask them to ensure parity and equality are achieved for mental health and addiction services. 

The law requires the departments to issue regulations to ensure the intent of Congress is carried out and mental health and addiction treatment services really do achieve parity and equality in mental health insurance.  The Act goes into effect on October 3, 2009 for most health insurance plans whether any regulations have been issued or not.

The Dear Colleague Letter also insists the departments take into account the over 400 comments they received when they issued a request for information (RFI).   It is vital that the comments submitted to the departments are considered when the final regulations are issued to guarantee true parity and equality for mental health and addiction services.

Please sign onto Senators Franken’s and Whitehouse’s Dear Colleague letter urging swift action from the three departments responsible for issuing these important parity regulations by close of business on Thursday, August 6, 2009.

Health Reform Effort at a Critical Stage -- Your Calls are Needed!

July 30, 2009

As Congress moves toward its month-long summer recess, health care legislation has reached a critical stage.  While neither the House nor the Senate is expected to move forward on a final vote on legislation this week, a strong grassroots push is needed to keep the pro-reform effort on track going into the fall.  A toll-free number is up and running to direct calls to all House and Senate offices.  While advocates can also send e-mails and hand-written notes to members of Congress, phone calls directly to congressional offices are drawing the most attention in this critical stage in the debate.

The House is expected to adjourn for its summer recess on July 31, while the Senate is expected to follow on or about August 7.  Even if votes are not taken in either chamber on the legislation, NAMI will be engaging in a broad grassroots advocacy campaign throughout the month of August -- including efforts to reach members of Congress while they are in their states and congressional districts.

Act Now!

Advocates agreeing with this are strongly encouraged to use the following toll-free numbers that will be up and running through August 7:

To connect to House offices, call 1-800-828-0498.  A second toll-free number -- 1-866-308-6259 -- will connect callers to a recording that requires them to enter their zip code and then be connected directly to their House member.

To connect to Senate offices, call 1-866-544-7573.  Again, callers will hear a pre-recorded message and will need to enter your zip code. You will then be asked whether you want your call to go to your state's junior Senator or your senior Senator. Each state has two U.S. Senators, and the senior Senator from your state has been in the Senate longer than the junior Senator. To send your call to your junior Senator, Press 1. To send your call to your senior Senator, Press 2. After making your selection, your call will be redirected to the appropriate office.

What is NAMI's Message?

NAMI's basic message to Congress is:

• Move this year on health reform legislation that provides quality and affordable health care for all while reducing the rate of growth in health care costs in the future;
• Ensure that mental illness treatment is included as part of any required basic benefit package AND is covered at parity relative to medical surgical benefits consistent with Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008; and
• Address medical co-morbidities experienced by individuals with serious mental illness through expanded access to primary care and early intervention services.

NAMI also urges that any health care reform package should include:

• Adequate financing in order to guarantee that health reform lives up to its promise of delivering comprehensive, affordable coverage;
• Income-based standards for premiums, co-payments, deductibles and all out-of-pocket health care costs;
• Premium subsidies on a sliding scale up to 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level along with limits on cost sharing so health coverage is affordable for all American families;
• An expansion of Medicaid that strengthens and maintains Medicaid's role as the base of coverage for current mandatory beneficiaries;
• Improvements to portability, enrollment, and renewal to maximize coverage, minimize red tape, and provide stability for all Americans;
• Regulations that prevent insurance companies from discriminating based on health status, gender, and occupation;
• Guarantees that quality, affordable health care coverage is available across the country and that individuals and families have options in selecting health plans;
• Financial support and incentives for primary community-based care -- especially for children and adults living with serious mental illness;
• Adequate cost savings to improve long-range fiscal stability;
• A strong employer responsibility requirement with penalties for those employers who do not offer coverage based on total payroll rather than penalties tied only to employees who receive income subsidies;
• Sufficient assistance for states so that federal health reform does not impose an unnecessary burden on already strained state budgets, and that does not punish states that have chosen to expand Medicaid and SCHIP coverage above federal requirements.

Arkansas Gets F for Mental Health Care

Decrease From Last Report Card; State Budget Cuts Threaten Recovery

Little Rock, Arkansas--The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) issued a national report card today that gives Arkansas an F grade for its public mental health care system 

The report is a follow-up to a NAMI report published three years ago to measure the progress of states in achieving the goals of a presidential commission that called for transformation of the mental health care system—which too often is fragmented, outmoded and inadequate.

In the previous report, Arkansas received a grade of D. This year it is one of 12 states that saw their grades decline.   The national average is D, remaining stagnant from three years ago. Six states received Bs. Six received Fs. No state got an A.

See www.nami.org/grades2009 for the full report.

“There’s not much to say about dropping from a D to an F,” said Kim Arnold, Executive Director of NAMI Arkansas. “We are at rock bottom. We need to be investing in change and moving forward instead.

“Clearly, our state has few of the moving parts for a proven, cost-effective mental health care system. Political leadership, investment, improved planning, and, lastly, action will be needed in order to improve.”

Arnold continued, “However, I do have hope for our state and our citizens. I know there is a strong desire for improvement in the mental health community. But, for that improvement to occur, we need desire and commitment from all.”

The report card is based on 65 criteria, including access to medication, housing, family education and support to National Guard members. It includes policy recommendations for federal and state leaders. State governments provided most of the information on which the grades are based.

Arkansas in the News

Click on these links to read what they have to say about this report:

Little Rock Family

KARK 4 News

Stuttgart Daily Leader

NAMI Arkansas is accepting applications for Board of Directors for the state office.

Right now, we are accepting applications from all areas, but have great interest for the following regions:

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