Letter from Linda: Topics
Letters to members from the National Council President and CEO, Linda Rosenberg, MSW, highlight key issues and predict future trends in mental health and addictions treatment.
October 2009
Re: Healthcare Reform – Where Are We? What’s Ahead?
An update…
All signs point to the passage of healthcare reform legislation. The President will keep the “blue dogs” in line as the only thing worse for the Democratic Party than passing healthcare reform along party lines is failing to pass healthcare reform at all. The surprise might be some Republican votes.
The first phase of reform, wooing stakeholders—including hospitals, physician groups, pharmaceutical companies, and the insurance industry—is long over. The town halls have been held and the Congressional committees have had their say and produced their bills. Now, with the Senate Finance Committee bill as the framework, the horse trading is underway to work out differences among the five pieces of legislation —3 in the House and 2 in the Senate—that are on the table.
July 2009
Re: HIll Day 2009 and Our Healthcare Reform Agenda
January 2009
Re: Economic recovery and healthcare reform — opportunities for mental health and addictions
Washington is already abuzz with health care groups lobbying their points of view and potential candidates for healthcare posts in the new administration polishing their resumes. But economics, politics, and history suggest that any major overhaul of our healthcare delivery system will be a difficult process at best. To date behavioral healthcare’s progress has received little mainstream attention. More money is being spent on mental health but mental healthcare’s share of GDP is constant and its share of health spending is declining while access, quality, and supports for people with mental illnesses have increased. We have data that tells a compelling story; and science that supports return on investment. So what about us? 2009 will bring a new administration, a new Congress, and a host of challenges and opportunities. I don't advise that we sit on the sidelines. Support for healthcare reform is growing but there are as many definitions of reform and plans as there are supporters. And just as universal healthcare gains momentum, our economy weakens. Nevertheless, we need to be prepared for widespread change--to be at the table, to understand the issues and to have a cogent and reasonable reform design.
November 2008
Re: Healthcare reform… what about us?
June 2008
The power of "Citizen Government"
May 2008
Strengthening America's mental health and addictions treatment capacity
We have been subject to chronic neglect, chronic underfunding and harmful restructuring for too long. We must advance our agenda. In what is a very difficult economic climate, it is more important than ever that we come together, work together, and take action together. We must preserve, strengthen and expand the mental health and addictions treatment capacity in this country. The eyes of all people are upon us.
Read more
Certainly the mental health and addiction fields have had a growing awareness of the prevalence and treatment challenges of co-occurring disorders and traditional services lack of success with this population. Yet, despite the evidence supporting the effectiveness of integrated treatment and pockets of innovative services, widespread access to integrated services remains elusive. We need to stop fooling ourselves and disappointing those who desperately need help—new treatments need new dollars. Our accomplishments speak to our progress. Membership is at an all-time high and increasing numbers of members are involved in advocacy and political action. We rolled out an array of practice improvement initiatives to help members improve access, continuity, and the general health of consumers. We were increasingly successful in telling the compelling story of our member organizations and the people they serve. And it is the National Council's public policy successes of which we are most proud. We committed to becoming a stronger voice on behalf of our member organizations and the adults and children they serve—and we have made considerable progress. National Council members can be counted on as good partners that embrace a broad social responsibility beyond the direct provision of services. And our members’ sense of responsibility extends to their national association, the National Council. They expect from us what they expect from themselves, a commitment to an assertive policy agenda that supports recovery for those with mental illnesses and addictions; a commitment to practice improvement and innovation; and a commitment to building strong communities. Two new National Council initiatives, Project Helping hands and Mental Health First aid support this goal. The Surgeon General, the President’s New Freedom Commission, and the Institute of Medicine reports helped us understand that freedom from mental illnesses and addictions is integral to overall health and that effective treatments make recovery possible. Our member organizations have embraced the findings and each week, the trade press is filled with articles about how these organizations are working to improve care and introduce innovation. Now, S.2182, the Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act, developed under the leadership of the National Council’s Public Policy Committee, offers new resources and opportunities supporting member efforts to meet some of America’s most pressing healthcare challenges. I want to update you on National Council activities and initiatives that support member's leadership in four critical areas — services to veterans, improving access to and retention in treatment, coordination of behavioral and primary healthcare, and addictions and chronic medical conditions. Our efforts in these areas are designed to demonstrate to policy makers in Washington and across the nation that mental health and addictions community-based service organizations -- state, county, not-for-profit public or private -- not only play a vital role in our nation's healthcare, economy, and society but that we are leading the way. We are navigating change with a moral compass that reflects the guiding principle that unites all of our members regardless of auspice, a fierce commitment to improving the lives of our most vulnerable citizens.February 2008
Co-occuring mental health and addiction disorders
January 2008
The National Council looks back at 2007 and ahead to 2008
December 2007
Project Helping Hands and Mental Health First Aid
New legislation to strengthen community mental health
June 2007
Community-based service organizations lead the way in improving lives
April 2007
We have a large and strong network of community mental health organizations — run under local government or not-for-profit auspices — in communities throughout the country. Unfortunately we have no federal agency that is connected to these organizations. There is no federal government conduit of information from and to these organizations. And this has proven problematic, as revealed in incidents of national significance — the Virginia Tech tragedy, Hurricane Katrina, and responding to the mental health needs of veterans and their families.
Building a national service system for community mental health
Read more
January 2007
It is our job to lead… to participate in shaping national policies related to our enterprise and the people, families and communities that we serve. If we don’t, who will? We have to get a lot more serious about our involvement in the public policy process. Every one of us needs to get to know our U.S. Senators and Congressmen and their staffs personally and develop – “cultivate” - ongoing relationships with them. We need to do a better job of reaching out to others — state and local elected officials, community leaders, the medical profession, business, clergy, academe, law enforcement, etc. — and developing them as allies. It’s our job to inform and educate them on subject where we have standing, expertise and something to contribute.
Our Time to Lead
Read more
