President’s Message September
Tech Upgrades for NAMI Central Middlesex
Mental Health Omnibus Bill
Community Behavioral Health Centers(CBHC) News
Remembering Ralph Fleischmann
Tech Update for CMSX
A handful of CMSX volunteers spent time in August bringing our affiliate up to snuff on a few tech fronts. As you can see, we’ve updated our look and outreach method for our newsletter in hopes of giving you the most enjoyable way to read the news that is pertinent to you. Our wonderful newsletter editor, Becky Hadden is still at the helm, so we won’t lose the warm heart that lies in the center of “The Bridge.” We are also now offering online donations options on our website and have a Venmo account for in person events, like our Scarecrow Contest. We are revamping our Community Table Outreach program by side lining a great many paper documents and having QR codes on hand for scanning. Thanks to Treasurer Jennie Payne for taking care of the financial opportunities and to our table coordinator Judy McKendry for always being responsive to the needs of our community.
Mental Health Omnibus Bill
The Mental Health Omnibus bill was signed in to law this summer and will impact many sectors of our behavioral healthcare system. The legislation . . .
Creates online portals to address emergency department boarding by providing access to real-time data on youth and adults seeking mental health and substance use services. It includes a search function for providers to seek available beds and eliminates prior authorization for mental health acute treatment and stabilization services.
Addresses parity loopholes by providing insurance coverage for annual mental health exams as well as community based acute treatment for youth, collaborative care models, and behavioral health emergency services.
Provides a method for incarcerated individuals on mental health watch to petition for transfer to a therapeutic treatment unit outside the carceral facility.
Sets up structures to guide the coordination of the national 988 crisis line with existing call-in numbers, like 911 and 211, and other programs within the system.
Promotes school-based behavioral health services by creating a statewide program to implement behavioral health supports in schools and by limiting the potential for preschool suspension and expulsion.
Establishes an Office of Behavioral Health Promotion to address the precursors to mental health problems “upstream,” such as by looking at social determinants of health.
Defines a clear structure for the Division of Insurance to receive and investigate parity complaints and requires increased reporting and oversight of insurance carriers’ mental health care coverage processes and policies.
Requires an equitable reimbursement rate floor for mental health evaluation and management services that is consistent with primary care provider rates.
Creates a suicide postvention task force that will prepare best practices, mental health standards, and a postvention care kit for behavioral health resources and supports to address the after effects of a confirmed suicide.
Thanks to all who worked so tirelessly to help build this new platform of care and oversight for our communities. If you would like to add your voice to mental health advocacy issues, please sign up to participate in NAMI MA advocacy alerts: https://namimass.org/advocacy-news-alerts/. It makes a difference!
Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHC) News
The Department of Mental announced the contracts for the 25 regional Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHC) across the Commonwealth. These were outlined in the “Road Map to Behavioral Healthcare Reform” in early 2020 and will be structured to focus on urgent care and crisis stabilization while offering a wrap-around approach to care. Eliot, Vinfen, and Advocates are currently working on developing the programs and hiring staff for locations within our affiliate’s geographic area. They are scheduled to be fully functional in early 2023 and will offer an alternative to local emergency departments. One Eliot clinician working on the reorganization noted, “Clinicians are going to be offered a living wage.” The list of vendors and assigned towns is available here: https://www.masspartnership.com/provider/cbhcrfp.aspx.
Community Outreach Tables
We are shaking up our table program to make the load lighter in a number of ways. As noted, there will be significantly fewer paper pamphlets to be delivered to the location of the event, and the offerings on the table will focus on local resources. We will be investing in a new tent that will be easier to put up, easier to transport, and easier to weigh down for safety. We still need smiling table greeters to chat with table visitors about NAMI programs. There are two dates this fall when you could help others learn about local mental health supports. Contact Judy at jdmckendry@verizon.net if you can donate a few hours for Bedford Day or the Littleton Mental Health Fair on Saturday, September 17th or Maynardfest on Saturday, October 1st.
In Memoriam
We honor the passing of Ralph Fleischmann who was an active NAMI member and served as the Auditor on our affiliate’s board in the early 2000’s.
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There is exciting transformation in the works at the state and local level! Enjoy the energy of change and the gentle flow in to the fall season. ~Lori