NAMI East Bay*Note* we’re adding a second presenter to our Nami EastBay Jan 22 speaker meeting: Michael Bernath, PhD MFT, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the new Mental Health Clinical Supervisor for Berkeley Mental Health’s Crisis Assessment and Triage program.
PUBLIC POLICY involves local, state and national legislative advocacy. It is the intent of this web site to note relevant current bills and provide an overview for the reader. The following websites are valuable as references in that they will explore the bills in a more comprehensive manner, with more detail at times than will be provided here.
http://mentalhealthcrisisday.com/hr2646.html
http://mentalillnesspolicy.org/states/lauraslawindex.html
http://mentalillnesspolicy.org/states/lauraslawindex.html
http://mentalillnesspolicy.org
An IMD is an Institute for Mental Disease facility that can offer more than 16 acute inpatient hospital beds. The federal IMD exclusion has barred the use of Medicaid payments for these facilities.
Historically, the exclusion was considered a preventive measure against the “warehousing” of individuals with mental illness. In the light of the housing crisis and the recent instances of mass shooting violence, there are efforts being put forth to have waivers given to states to address society’s needs for an increase of treatment interventions. Waivers will be awarded where robust community-based treatment services are offered as well.
The absence of appropriate mental health treatments offered within a full range of service options has brought us to the point where jails and prisons have become the primary dumping ground for our family members. So we join with NAMI California and other NAMI affiliates across the state in advocating for application for the waiver.
Please address your concerns regarding this to Jennifer Kent, Director, Department of Health Care Services, PO Box 997413, MS 0000, Sacramento, Ca 95899-7413 or jennifer.kent@dhcs.