December 24, 2009

Senate Comes Closer to Approving Healthcare Reform Bill; Vote Expected on Christmas Eve

Dept. of Veterans Affairs to Release RFP for Community Behavioral Health Pilot Project

Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act

HHS Awards “Performance Bonuses” to States for Improving Children’s Access to Medicaid and CHIP

National Council Seeks Nominations for Psychiatric Leadership Development Program

Senate Comes Closer to Approving Healthcare Reform Bill; Vote Expected on Christmas Eve

The Senate is on the verge of approving its version of healthcare reform, after weeks of floor debate and negotiations between moderate and liberal Democrats to reach a compromise that has the support of all 60 members of the party’s caucus.  The final changes to the bill have been introduced as a Manager’s Amendment, which makes several modifications and updates to the original legislation, including:

• Establishment of “community-based collaborative care networks” – consortiums of health care providers offering coordinated and integrated health services for low-income or medically underserved populations
• A provision allowing states to expand Medicaid eligibility up to 133% of the federal poverty level beginning in April 2010 (this level of eligibility becomes a requirement for all states in 2014)
• Grants to establish national centers of excellence in depression treatment, with priority given to applicants who have a demonstrated capacity to establish relationships with community mental health centers and other community providers
• An extension of CHIP funding through 2015 (it is currently set to expire in 2013)
• Elimination of the public health insurance option that had been included in the original bill

The National Council has updated its side-by-side comparison chart of the House and Senate healthcare reform bills to include these and other new provisions.

The Senate is now working through a series of procedural votes that  must take place before an up-or-down vote on the bill, and appears to be on track to approve its final version of the healthcare bill on Dec. 24.  However, the debate over healthcare reform is far from over: the House and Senate must approve the same version of the bill before it can be sent to President Obama.  As of last week, some Hill sources had suggested that the House might vote on the Senate-passed bill to expedite the Congressional process; however, since then, it seems more likely that the House and Senate will move forward with a conference committee process. Stay tuned to the Public Policy Update and the National Council’s healthcare reform update webinar series for the latest information on healthcare reform.  The next webinar in the series will be held on Dec. 29 at 2pm eastern time.  Registration is available on our website.


Dept. of Veterans Affairs to Release RFP for Community Behavioral Health Pilot Project

At the end of 2008, Congress passed the Veterans Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, which directed the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program to make care more accessible to returning service members of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars through the provision of care within Community Behavioral Health Organizations.  The legislation specified that the pilot program shall be carried out within areas selected by the Secretary for the purpose of the pilot program in at least three Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs).

The VA has selected the following VISNs for participation:

1. VISN 1: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island
2. VISN 19: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah (and parts of Kansas, Nebraska and Nevada)
3. VISN 20: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska

The National Council has just learned that the VA intends to release an RFP for Community Behavioral Health Organizations within these VISNs to participate in this program.  It could be released before January 1, 2010.  The RFP will be released on the federal procurement website FedBizOpps.  National Council staff are monitoring this website and will send out information as soon as we find it.


Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act

On Dec. 17, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-7 to approve the bipartisan Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (S. 678).  This legislation, introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy and seven cosponsors in March 2009, increases federal funding of prevention, intervention, and treatment programs designed to reduce the incidence of juvenile crime.  The bill requires states to implement alternatives to detention for juveniles who are status or first time offenders, including community-based services to address the needs of at-risk youth.  S. 678 also creates incentive grants to state and local governments for the prevention and reduction of juvenile delinquency prevention programs, including evidence-based programs such as mental health/substance abuse screening and treatment and mentoring programs.


HHS Awards “Performance Bonuses” to States for Improving Children’s Access to Medicaid and CHIP

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius last week announced $72 million in “performance bonuses” for nine states that made significant progress in improving children’s access to coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  The nine states receiving the awards are:

• Alabama: $39.1 million
• Alaska: $789,000
• Illinois: $9.1 million
• Louisiana: $1.5 million
• Michigan: $3.7 million
• New Jersey: $4.2 million
• New Mexico: $5.1 million
• Oregon: $1.6 million
• Washington: $7.5 million

A chart showing the enrollment practices adopted by each of the nine states is available from InsureKidsNow.gov .  Additional information on states’ enrollment and outreach efforts is available is this Kaiser Family Foundation report on the results of its 50-state survey on Medicaid/CHIP enrollment and eligibility in 2009.


National Council Seeks Nominations for Psychiatric Leadership Development Program

We are pleased to solicit nominations for the 2010 class of the National Council's Psychiatric Leadership Development Program.  Selected participants will join a yearlong learning community of 8 to 10 emerging community psychiatric leaders currently working in or soon to join a National Council member organization. There is no cost to participants or their organizations - we are grateful for the support of the Center for Mental Health Services at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
 
The Psychiatric Leadership Program began in 2008 in response to the challenges of recruiting a psychiatric workforce to behavioral healthcare organizations and providing adequate professional growth opportunities to retain them.  The curriculum and mentorship is designed to engage participants as members of their organization's executive leadership team. Participants engage in didactic, experience-based, and distance learning opportunities; learn from nationally recognized leaders in the areas of policy, financing and service delivery; utilize case-based learning projects; and for one year receive ongoing mentoring and support from senior community psychiatrist leaders.
 
The Program is a partnership of the National Council and SAMHSA, with faculty support from the American Association of Community Psychiatrists. The program is primarily conducted via internet, email and conference or individual phone calls; however, Psychiatric Leaders begin the program with a face to face meeting at the National Council Conference (March 12-17) in Orlando, Florida. The meeting is fully funded and attendance is required in order to participate in the program.
 
For consideration, nominees must be highly recommended by their organizational supervisor/CEO and submit a CV and completed application to the National Council by January 10, 2009. Every effort will be made to select participants from organizations in varying states serving diverse communities. For more information about the Leadership Program, please contact Chuck Ingoglia at 202.684.3749 or ChuckI@thenationalcouncil.org. For questions about the nomination process, contact Rebecca Farley at 202.684.3735 or rebeccaf@thenationalcouncil.org.