Thursday, September 11, 2003

Senators To Offer Amendment to Increase Medical Research Funding – Increased Funds for Mental Illness Research At Stake
A call to action at the NAMI web site - "The U.S. Senate will soon begin considering legislation covering FY 2004 funding for federal agencies and programs that include important federal investments for mental illness research. This bill, known as Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill (S 1356) includes the proposed 2004 budgets for both the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Because of tight budget constraints and a growing federal budget deficit, neither the House nor the Senate version of the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill includes sufficient increases for needed investments in research and services on severe mental illness..."  
  

Mental health law urged (New York)
Story in the Democrat & Chronicle - "Mental-health activists urged the state Senate on Wednesday to pass a bill that would make health insurers provide more coverage for people with mental illnesses. Supporters of the bill, which they call 'Timothy’s Law,' told a Senate hearing that coverage for mental-health services should be at the same level as for physical illnesses. Under current law, most insurance plans allow only a limited number of doctor visits for mental-health patients."