Thursday, March 18, 2004

Senate to block mental-health bill (New York)
Democrat and Chronicle story - "As hundreds rallied on the lawn of the State Capitol on Tuesday to support a mandate for more health insurance coverage for mental illnesses, key legislators said the Senate would block the measure. The bill, named 'Timothy’s Law' by supporters, would order health insurance providers to cover mental health treatments the same as they do physical illnesses. Currently, only a limited number of doctor visits are allowed for mental health patients under most insurance plans. But such a measure is too costly, said Senate Mental Health Committee Chairman Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton. The Legislature’s top Republican agreed..."  
  

Johanns visits to tout mental health reforms (Nebraska)
Story in the Columbus Telegram - "An uproar was heard across the state when Gov. Mike Johanns proposed closing the Norfolk and Hastings regional centers for mental health care. Local professionals from many fields said eliminating these inpatient facilities would spell disaster. Now, it appears the tide of opinion is slowly turning, not only here but across Nebraska, according to the governor..." See also Lawmakers to undertake mental health debate today at the same source - "The key for Johanns and the reform's supporters is developing a network of care in communities across the state to treat people closer to their homes. Doing that would remove the need for the two regional centers, they say, while at the same time provide patients with care that will be less disruptive to their lives. Closing the two regional centers also would make Nebraska eligible for federal Medicaid money it cannot now access..."  
  

Lawmakers debate mental health reform plan (Iowa)
Sioux City Journal story - "A plan to close mental health regional centers in Norfolk and Hastings got an afternoon of debate on Wednesday but it won't be back before lawmakers until at least early next week. Speaker of the Legislature Curt Bromm is hopeful that compromises can be reached behind the scenes before then. ... In what could be a telling vote, the Legislature rejected an amendment that would have required community-based resources to be operational at least six months before a center could be closed. The amendment, by Sen. Gene Tyson of Norfolk, also would have required another bill to be introduced in the Legislature after that date to close a center."