Updates from SPAN USA
Healthcare Reform Update: Continued Need for Your Voice to be Heard
On Oct. 2, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee released a Mark of the healthcare reform bill titled, America's Healthy Future Act of 2009. On Tuesday, Oct. 13, this bill will go before the full Finance Committee for a vote. After this vote, the Finance Committee bill would then need to be combined with the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee bill that was passed on July 15 of this year. Parts of the legislation are in line with AFSP/SPAN USA's priorities for healthcare reform.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is working to combine the three versions of health reform that passed the relevant committees in July. A vote on the House floor may come as early as the week of Oct. 19.
Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Progress
On Oct. 8, the defense authorization bill for the Fiscal Year 2010 (H.R.2647) emerged from legislative conference. In the Conference Report, two provisions that AFSP/SPAN USA strongly supported were included in the final legislation.
In this final bill, National Guard members, military Reservists, and their families are provided with suicide prevention and community healing and response training. This will be completed under the Yellow Ribbon Regeneration Program and will work in coordination with existing community prevention programs. The proposed program is based on a program created by the National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire with which AFSP/SPAN USA worked closely to ensure inclusion of the program in the Department of Defense bill. Both groups thank Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) for their support of these provisions.
The second aspect of the Department of Defense bill that AFSP/SPAN USA supported is a mandate for the Secretary of Defense to implement a review of the current substance use programs in the military as well as a review of the handling of substance abuse offenders in the military. When this review is complete the report will be provided to Congress.
Other provisions are included in this legislation that are also positive. For example, one provision of the bill requires that those diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or exhibiting signs of PTSD must receive a medical exam before administrative separation. Other positive provisions ranged from increasing the amount of scholarships available to those Armed Forces personnel pursuing mental health professions, to a mandate for mental health screening on a person-to-person basis for soldiers deployed for a contingency operation.
In addition to the many positive elements in the authorization bill, other suicide prevention actions are being taken by the military. A military taskforce, mandated under the Fiscal Year 2009 Defense Department authorization bill, met to examine suicide in the military on Oct. 1 in Bethesda, Md. SPAN USA's Director of Public Policy Brian Altman was present and made a public statement.
Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Grants Being Awarded Across the Country
Funding for the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act has allowed the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to award grants to tribal, state, and college/university suicide prevention programs across the country for the Fiscal Year 2009. The funding for each of these programs ensures that thousands of young people are being reached with the message and the tools to prevent suicide.
Click here to see new recipients of the tribal and state grants and click here for the new college grant recipients.
States Working on Mental Health Parity Protections
Last month the California Legislature passed a bill (A.B.244) that provides parity protections for mental health disorders. This bill was sponsored by State Assembly Members James Beall and Wesley Chesbro and currently awaits the Governor's signature.
Pennsylvania is considering a bill similar to California's recent legislation. The bill passed the House and is currently pending in the Senate. This legislation (H.B.1593) would provide regulation of the insurance practices concerning mental health parity. AFSP/SPAN USA is hopeful that this bill will be enacted before the end of the legislative session.
Save the Date
AFSP/SPAN USA has set the dates for the 2010 Legislative Institute! Mark your calendars for March 8-9, 2010, and plan to join us in Washington, D.C. for this informative and empowering event. More details and registration information will be announced soon.
