We have posted on our website a policy webinar, “Parity and Health Reform: Important Changes for Behavioral Health.” You can listen to the webinar by going to: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/action/policy-issues-a-z/healthcare-reform.
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.
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.
Not enough has been written about the positive steps the new health care reform law takes to expand and improve mental health and substance use coverage and services.
Mental health care and addiction treatment are included on the list of essential benefits that must be covered in new plans offered to the uninsured through the state exchanges. In addition, these plans must comply with the federal mental health parity law.
I think we will look back at the passage of the Wellstone-Domenici parity legislation as a watershed event. The law created a platform for advocates to push for mental health and substance use coverage in reform.
Coping with plenty of leisure activities and sense of purpose in life
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