MHA's Blog: Chiming In

Mental Health America’s David Shern and Kirsten Beronio have co-authored an article in the National Council Magazine, “Prevention is Better Than Cure,” that looks at how health care reform impacts prevention and mental health and addiction services. To view the table of contents and download the full magazine, visit http://www.thenationalcouncil.org/cs/about_us/national_council_magazine.

The “American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 (HR 4213)” originally included an extension of the higher Medicaid federal matching rates until June 30, 2011, at a cost of $24 billion. However, the Medicaid funding was stripped out to lower the cost before the bill passed the House of Representatives on May 28th by a vote of 245 to 171.  An extension of subsidies to help unemployed workers pay for COBRA coverage was also removed from the bill prior to the vote.  This bill would extend a number of expiring tax cuts along with authorizing spending programs to encourage job growth. 

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Mental Health America today joined with women’s health advocates and Congressional champions in the fight against Postpartum Depression to celebrate the enactment of the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act.

The initiative to combat postpartum depression was signed into law as part of health insurance reform. The law, which was authored by U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), will establish a comprehensive federal commitment to combating postpartum depression through new research, education initiatives and voluntarily support service programs.

Mental Health America was a stronger supporter of the law. Postpartum depression is a widespread problem that must be acknowledged, assessed, and treated as the serious health issue that it is.

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Stephen McCaffrey, president and CEO of Mental Health America of Indiana, has been selected as a member of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) Effective Healthcare Program Stakeholder Group.

The group supports the work of the agency’s Effective Health Care Program, which funds individual researchers, research centers, and academic organizations to work together with the AHRQ to produce effectiveness and comparative effectiveness research for clinicians, consumers, and policymakers. The program reviews and synthesizes published and unpublished scientific evidence; generates new scientific evidence and analytic tools, and compiles research findings that are synthesized and/or generated and translates them into useful formats for various audiences.

AHRQ is the lead federal agency charged with improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans.

Steve, who is also a member of our Regional Policy Council, was nominated to the position by Dr. David Shern, president and CEO of Mental Health America.