Text Box:   MID WEEK ALERT   January 30, 2008     Text Box: Index Text Box: Call To Action From the ED’s Desk In the News Legislative Update About MHAV Upcoming Events Contact Us

Text Box: CALL TO ACTION!!! Text Box: Contact Information Text Box: Mental Health America of Virginia 3212 Cutshaw Ave, Ste 315 Richmond, VA  23230 Office:  804-257-5591 Fax:  804-257-5593 Toll Free:  1-866-400-6428   Paula Price Executive Director    

Text Box: Upcoming Events Text Box:   CELT Tidewater:  Feb 25-29 NOVA I:  Apr 22-25 NOVA II:  June 2-5 Info @ mhav.org                                                        General Assembly Regular Committee Meetings   House of Delegates   Courts and Justice MWF 1/2 hour after adjournment House Room C   Health Welfare And Institutions MT -8:30am House Room D   Educations M -9 House room C W -8:30 Appropriations Room   SENATE   Courts and Justice M-9  W-2 Senate Room A   Education Th -8:30 Senate Room B   For subcommittees go to http://legis.state.va.us/

Text Box: KEEPING AN EYE ON WASHINGTON Last month the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published interim final rules governing case management services provided by state Medicaid programs.  CMS went far beyond the changes called for by Congress in developing these regulations. The new rules would cut coverage of case management for individuals transitioning out of institutions from 180 days to 60 days or less. They would promote fragmentation of case management services by prohibiting Medicaid coverage if case management services could also be considered a component of another program. And, they would dramatically limit case management for children in the child welfare system by prohibiting child welfare workers or child welfare agency contractors from receiving Medicaid reimbursement for case management services. They would also impose unworkable documentation requirements and only allow individuals to have one case manager.  Mental Health America submitted comments to CMS expressing these and other concerns with the troubling new regulations. We urge affiliates and mental health advocates to submit comments as well and to share how Medicaid case management services impact your community and the ability of mental health consumers to manage their recovery efforts.  A condensed version of our comments are available for affiliates and coalitions to adapt or use verbatim.  The comments must, however be filed by February 4, 2008.   Electronic comments can be submitted by visiting the public comment section of CMS' website.  Members of Congress also need to hear these concerns. Please send your senators and representative a message expressing your alarm and encouraging them to take legislative action to block these regulations from going into effect until they can be significantly revised. SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS

Text Box: IN THE NEWS Text Box: Struggling To Commit Burke Connection - McLean,VA,USA Tim Kaine's proposal to put $40 million into Virginia's Community Services Boards to expand mental health services. Virginia needs more up front services ... See all stories on this topic   • Va. Acts to Plug Gaps in Mental Health System Washington Post - United States One revision would put Virginia's mental health system in line with those elsewhere, such as in New York, that give states greater authority in deciding who ... See all stories on this topic Blue Cross of California Launches Maternity Depression Program CNNMoney.com - USA However, according to the National Mental Health Association, in the first three months after childbirth, 14.5 percent of women may become withdrawn, ... See all stories on this topic

Text Box: LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Text Box: Click here for MHAV Positions On Selected 2008 Virginia Mental Health Legislation       

Text Box: Bills are moving rapidly through the sub committees of the legislature but I anticipate much last minute wrestling closer to the end if the session.  Every one I have spoken with on both sides of the aisle expect the mental health portions of the governor’s budget to pass mostly unscathed.  Bills duplicate to the omnibus bills are being melded into SB246 and HB499.  As expected, bills limiting gun ownership by mental health consumers are flying through yet bills to tightened  gun show checks are falling by the wayside.  We have a long way to go but  as of now the rush to make political points out ways good long term policy.    As we focus on Virginia’s legislature it is easy to lose sight of important federal issues.  Please read the information about the changes CMS is making to Medicaid.  If we let this slip it will come back to bite us in Virginia.

Text Box: FROM THE ED’s DESK Text Box: ABOUT MHAV Text Box: Our Mission Mental Health America of Virginia, and its fourteen affiliates around Virginia are nonprofit, nonpartisan, advocacy organizations affiliated with the Mental Health America.  Our mission statement: To promote mental health, develop services to prevent mental illness and assure the proper care and treatment of mentally ill children and adults.   What does MHAV Do?  MHAV is a thoughtful voice of reason advocating for public and private sector services and financing to ensure adequate and appropriate detection, treatment, housing, and rehabilitation programs. Teaming with consumers, families of consumers, mental health professionals, providers and the public we ensure that the members of the Virginia assemble and members of Virginia’s Congressional delegation are aware of the concerns and needs of people with mental illness. MHAV educates the public about mental health and mental illness to eliminate the stigma which prevents people from obtaining the help they need.   MHAV promotes and provides programs to meet the needs of individuals suffering from mental illness, to improve mental health, and to reduce conditions which impede the attainment of mental health.   Find back issues of Mid Week Alerts on our web page mhav.org   Contact Us:   3212 Cutshaw Ave, Suite 315  * Richmond, VA 23230   804-257-5591    

Text Box:   For more information about the changes CMS has made see below for links to Mental Health America and other sources.   If you have any questions or would like to talk further about the implications of the new TCM rules, please contact Kirsten Beronio, Senior Director, Government Affairs at kberonio@mentalhealthamerica.net or 202-675-8413.    LINKS   To read MHA national’s comments: http://takeaction.mentalhealthamerica.net/site/DocServer/tcm_reg_comments_final_draft_jan_24_08.doc?docID=741&JServSessionIdr004=rv3ltfk9b3.app5b To send an email to Congress:https://secure2.convio.net/nmha/site/Advocacy?id=297&pagename=homepage To submit comments to CMS:  http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/dockets/comments/commentdocket.cfm?AGENCY=CMS To review the interim final rule (CMS–2237–IFC):  http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-5903.pdf    BACKGROUND   Case management consists of services, which help beneficiaries gain access to needed medical, social, educational, and other services. “Targeted” care management services are those aimed specifically at special groups of enrollees such as those with developmental disabilities or chronic mental illness.   MHA fact sheet on Medicaid Options for Mental Health Services: http://www1.nmha.org/shcr/community_based/medicaid_options.cfm Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Issue Brief: http://www.cbpp.org/12-21-07health.htm Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law summary of TCM regulations: http://www.bazelon.org/issues/medicaid/takeaction/TCMRegsSummary12-20-07.htm

Text Box: Keeping an eye on washington