HEALTH PARITY
March 2007
Read Books and Publications
Explaining a Parent's Mental Illness to a Child
- Tell Me a Story; Paint Me the Sun by Chaplan (1991)
- Please Don't Cry, Mom by DenBoer (1994)
Check Out Websites
Public libraries have computers available for free use. Daytime hours before school releases are the best time to access this service.
Take Family Training Classes
Look for announcement on new classes soon.
Attend Local Support Groups
Family Support group meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
Join and Attend Local Advocacy Groups
FACES meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month
Guest Speaker for the March 27th Advocacy Meeting ASK THE DOCTOR
Susan Jervey Waller, M.D. was born in Norfolk, Virginia, but moved around a lot as an "army brat." She graduated from Georgetown University with a BS in nursing and settled in Richmond. During her sixteen year nursing career, she worked at St. Mary's Hospital, Henrico Mental Health, and Traveler's insurance. Dr. Waller continued her education graduating from MCV medical school in 2001 and completed her residency there in adult psychiatry in 2005 and joined the MCV faculty. She currently works at MCV in the outpatient department of psychiatry, psychiatry clinics, and the emergency room. She also works at Hiram Davis Medical Center in Petersburg playing a major role in residency training.
Making a Difference
FACES representatives hosted a Valentine Party at Central State Hospital for wards 1 & 4 of Building 94 on Feb. 10, 2007. It is so rewarding to see that the donations of time and money which you make to FACES are making a difference in our families' lives. The following is a note to the activity chairman from Anne Houser, CHAA, Administrative Assistant, Central State Hospital:
"I just wanted to let you know that the patients REALLY enjoyed your party on Sunday. I was told that most of the patients clung to the windows awaiting your arrival... like it was Christmas and they were looking for Santa.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for you and the other members of your group taking time, money, and personal effort to bring so much joy to our patients!
Again, thank you!"
This article was taken from the Mental Health America web site.
Mental health parity took its critical first steps toward enactment with Senate committee adoption on February 14th of a parity bill introduced two days earlier by Senators Pete Domenici, Ted Kennedy, Mike Enzi and 18 other senators. The Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee approved the Mental Health Parity Act 2007 (S 558), which aims to end discriminatory treatment towards persons with mental illness. This legislation requires employers and health plans to end insurance coverage limitations for mental health conditions that do not apply to other medical conditions.
It is vitally important that strong and immediate bipartisan support be demonstrated for this legislation. Enacting this legislation is a crucial step toward improved access to care, but it is also a step toward realizing the broader goal of addressing mental illness with the same urgency and priority as we attach to other chronic illnesses.
- Mental health is fundamental to overall health, and mental disorders are readily diagnosable and treatable.
- There is no justification for a health plan to impose limits or conditions on coverage that do not apply to all other illnesses.
- Discriminatory insurance practices can be devastating to individuals and families as well as to businesses and communities, ranging from increased disability to job loss and reduced productivity, and tragically even to loss of life.
Those senators cosponsoring S. 558 at the time of bill introduction are:
- Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [HI]
- Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE]
- Sen. Boxer, Barbara [CA]
- Sen. Brown, Sherrod [OH]
- Sen. Cantwell, Maria [WA]
- Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD]
- Sen. Coleman, Norm [MN]
- Sen. Collins, Susan M. [ME]
- Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [WY]
- Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [WI]
- Sen. Graham, Lindsey [SC]
- Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [UT]
- Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [MA]
- Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ]
- Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [AK]
- Sen. Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE]
- Sen. Roberts, Pat [KS]
- Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [OR]
- Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [ME]
- Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [MI]
- Sen. Warner, John [VA]
If your senator is not already a co-sponsor of S. 558, please ask for their support and co-sponsorship of mental health parity.