NAMI - Arkansas

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is withdrawing the proposed rule, “Medicaid Program; Coverage for Rehabilitative Services” (72 FR 45201). Originally published in the Federal Register on August 13, 2007, the rule proposed to clarify the definition of Medicaid “rehabilitative services” and establish new documentation and other requirements.

This rule had been subject to a congressional moratorium put in place by two laws, the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-173) and the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 110-252), that prohibited the Secretary from taking any action, including publication of a final rule that was more restrictive with respect to coverage or payment for rehabilitative services than the requirements in place as of July 1, 2007. Before the expiration of the congressional moratorium, section 5003(d) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5), enacted on February 17, 2009, included a “Sense of Congress” that the Secretary should not promulgate as a final regulation the August 13, 2007 proposed regulation. In light of clear congressional concern as well as the complexity of the underlying issues and of the public comments received, CMS decided to withdraw the August 2007 proposed rule in order to assure agency flexibility in re-examining the issues and exploring options and alternatives with Congress and stakeholders.

This notice went on display at the Office of the Federal Register yesterday and will be published in the Federal Register on Monday, November 23, 2009. If you have any questions about this withdrawal notice, please contact the CMS Office of Legislation.

NOVEMBER 20TH CHILDREN’S CONFERENCE CALL WITH DR. KEN DUCKWORTH

We are very pleased to have special guest, JoAnne Nicholson, Ph.D., a national expert on children who have a parent living with mental illness and a professor of psychiatry and family medicine at the Center for Mental Health Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School on our November Children’s Conference Call with Dr. Ken Duckworth to discuss the challenges children who have a parent living with mental illness may have, programs that exist for them and what their needs are. This conference call is in response to the huge interest in this issue from NAMI members and we are excited for the opportunity to address this topic.

Friday children’s conference calls with Dr. Ken Duckworth, NAMI’s Medical Director and a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, take place on the third Friday of every month. The calls are toll free and are scheduled from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. E.T. To access the toll-free call, please dial 1-888-858-6021; access number 309918#. We hope that you will join us!

AACAP Policy Statement: Family and Youth Participation in Clinical Decision-Making

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) released a policy statement in October 2009 on family and youth participation in clinical decision-making, if you would like to read it, you can find it here.

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.

Send your letter now by visiting the NAMI Legislative Action Center or use the letter below:

I am writing you today to encourage you to sign onto a Dear Colleague Letter being circulated by Senators Al Franken and Sheldon Whitehouse asking the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Treasury issue parity regulations for mental health and addiction treatment services as they were mandated to do under the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

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.

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.

“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

As a concerned family member of a son who is diagnosed as having Schizophrenia, I am writing this letter to let you know about a pressing need in our state. As a patient at Arkansas State Hospital (ASH), my son receives nursing care from staff nurses on his Unit.

Attracting and retaining qualified nurses today is a challenge in any setting. Keeping nurses at ASH is even more of a challenge because their pay scale is lower than that of the University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences (UAMS) Hospital right across the street from ASH. In too many cases, ASH will hire and train a nurse, only to have her resign and go to work at UAMS Hospital because he/she can make a better salary there.

This frequent turnover results in poorer nursing care as the nurse on duty is unfamiliar with the patient and his/her routine, and the patient is constantly having to adjust to a new personality who is unfamiliar with his/her needs. Also, ASH has to hire "temps", nurses who hire out from an agency on a day to day basis. This results in higher costs to the state.

Arkansas has graded salary scales for nurses and other employees. This scale is applied statewide. The pay scale at UAMS Hospital is not mandated to abide by this statewide pay scale and is able to offer higher salaries to nurses. Arkansas State Hospital and University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences Hospital ought to be part of the same system. Their pay scale for nurses, as well as for Public Safety Officers, and other employees ought to be equal.

If you share Mrs. Wilson's interest, please feel free to use this letter as a draft for you to use if you wish to contact your legislators.

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:

The board meets quarterly and if necessary, travel arrangements (mileage) can be arranged and currently the meetings are held on Saturdays. There is no stipulation of being a consumer or family member, but you will be asked about their interest in this area. It may be professional or otherwise, but you will be asked about this.

NAMI Arkansas Home Page

CMS Withdraws Medicaid Rehabilitative Services Proposed Rule

From SAMHSA/CMHS Consumer Affairs E-news