President’s Message for April 2023
NAMI Mass Advocacy Day is in full swing at the publication time of this month’s newsletter. NAMI supporters are meeting with their legislators to tell them how our behavioral health care system is functioning from their personal perspective. These voices are so important. In recent years, we’ve had some big wins in the advocacy department, but there are new and recurring legislative priorities to consider.
In the Access/Parity category, NAMI Mass identifies a bill about Emergency Department (ED) boarding, which is waiting for days or weeks in the local emergency department for an inpatient bed without being given therapeutic care. While this isn’t a new concern for our constituency, Bill H.1980, “An Act Relative to Ending Unnecessary Hospitalizations and Reducing Emergency Department Boarding,” takes the approach of mandating consideration of the community-based alternatives accessible via the new Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line and/or the Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) rather than defaulting to boarding in the ED.
Other bills in this category address insurance coverage for early psychosis and assertive community treatment and policies regarding prior authorization or mandated step therapy for medications. Bill S.1248, “An Act to Increase Investment in Behavioral Health Care in the Commonwealth,” creates a requirement for a 30% increase in behavioral health expenditures over baseline behavioral health care spending. This approach harkens back to a budget proposal outlined by former Governor Baker whose background in health and human services includes ten years as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.
You can learn about the legislative priorities in the other categories, Criminal Justice Reform, Education on Mental Health, Family Support, and Workplace Mental Health, under the Take Action tab on the NAMI Mass website, namimass.org/current-policy-priorities.
When I’m asked to explain what NAMI does, my response includes “education and support” but I also always tag on “advocacy.” It is incredibly important and, though legislation is tough to read and the process is a slow one, speaking up through the right channels just once in a while, makes a big impact. Please consider sending a quick email to your state representative and senator telling them you would appreciate their support on this list of bills. They want to hear from you!
Our “Starting the Conversation: College and Your Mental Health” webinar panel went off without a hitch in late March. We welcomed two new NAMI peer presenters, Sam Gerry and Marena Koenka, who did a fabulous job of sharing their experience of navigating college while living with a mental health condition. The college administrators on the panel covered a long list of topics about things to consider prior to the first term of school and then during the opening semester. We also offered a look at an alternative to a four-year residence program, your welcoming community college. We thank our panelists for sharing their experience, expertise, and empathy. Resources that we shared during the College Panel event include the NAMI’s Mental Health College Guide collegeguide.nami.org/, the JED Foundation jedfoundation.org/, and the Steve Fund stevefund.org/. All of these links offer support and guidance for students.
Happy advocating and happy spring! This is the season of hope and action!