Continuing their efforts to end discrimination in Medicare coverage for mental health, Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Olympia Snowe (R-MAINE) introduced a bill (S 3028) to end the 190-day lifetime cap on psychiatric hospitalization. . . Full Story

House Committee on Education and Labor passed HR 4247, a measure opposing restraints and seclusion of children in schools. The bill had widespread support and passed with a bi-partisan vote of 34 to 10 including 5 Republicans. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) has been shepherding this issue. A report from the Government Accounting Office (GAO) about abuses in residential treatment programs was issued in 2008 and you can download it here.... Full Story

Disabilities will be protected under federal provisions of hate crimes in new law on the way to President Obama's desk for signature. Not all lawmakers agreed that the federal government should play a role in federalizing hate crimes. According to the New York Times "Senator Jim DeMint, Republican of South Carolina, said he agreed that hate crimes were terrible. "That's why they are already illegal," Mr. DeMint said, asserting that the new law was a dangerous, even "Orwellian" step toward... Full Story

The House tucked language for a hate-crime bill (HR 2647) including disabilities into the $680 authorization bill for the Pentagon and Department of Defense spending. . . Full Story

Suicide rates among Native Americans range from 3 1/2 to 10 times greater (depending on the state) than for other youth in America, said Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND). The Indian Affairs Committee heard testimony on behalf of the "7th Generation Promise: Indian Youth Suicide Prevention Act of 2009 (S 1635)" discussing the epidemic of suicide pointing to the mental health needs of the Indian Health Service. Dr. Yvette Roubideaux explained services are inadequate and fragmented, stitching together a combination of... Full Story

Improvements in mental health treatment for women veterans were part of a bill (HR 1211) the House passed by unanimous vote, 408 to zero. Among the provisions are special training for mental health professionals to treat women for sexual abuse and PTSD, and a study of the barriers, including stigma, to seeking treatment. Reports indicate sexual harassment of military women has increased and is often unreported.... Full Story

Michigan's Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) introduced a bill to open the door for seriously mentally ill people, now receiving Medicaid, to get comprehensive care in 10 participating states. The Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act (S 1136) is a demonstration program with the potential to close a treatment gap by linking to primary care. Diabetes and heart disease are among the chronic conditions afflicting people with a mental illness and shortening life and Stabenow's proposal recognizes the existing system has... Full Story

In uncommon combat where injuries do not always take place on a formal battlefield, criteria for assessing combat-related disability may be outdated. A bill to change the meaning of "combat with the enemy" (HR 952) was introduced by Rep. John J. Hall (D-NY) who opened congressional hearings by noting "an unnecessary burden on veterans diagnosed with Post-traumatic stress disorder - PTSD and other conditions - to prove their combat stressors."... Full Story

A bill (HR 1256) to allow the FDA to regulate smoking is long overdue said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Cal.). The powerful committee chairman signed up 124 co-sponsors for a smoking prevention bill which he introduced on March 3. (It is similar to a bill (HR 1108) the House passed last year.) Despite support for regulating nicotine, some doubt the FDA is capable of regulating this industry, and critics fear the intent is to eliminate rather than control nicotine. Smoking is... Full Story

Hearings to improve services for veterans with special attention to women and students were held with reference to three pending bills. One (HR 784) will list vacancies for mental health jobs in VA facilities. Another (HR 785) proposes "a pilot program to provide outreach and training to certain college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. A third bill (HR 1211) "Women Veterans... Full Story

Abuses in wilderness camps, therapeutic communities, and other residential treatment programs have fallen between the law and regulation. For lack of success in other treatment setting, parents of out-of-control adolescents with mental health, addiction, or behavior problems have turned to unlicensed programs. After hearings and law-suits detailed abuses such as the withholding of food, sex abuse, unlicensed treatment providers, and, in some instances, death, Rep. George Miller (D-Cal) re-introduced a bill (H.R. 911) to establish enforceable standards. Update (23 Feb.... Full Story

Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich) introduced again a bill for single-payer, universal health insurance for comprehensive care. The bill specifies easy registration, a list of comprehensive services, and details about how service providers can participate and will be paid. HR 676 explicitly addresses mental health: (a) In General- The Program shall provide coverage for all medically necessary mental health care on the same basis as the coverage for other conditions. Licensed mental health clinicians shall be paid in the same manner... Full Story

The 111th Congress was expected to quickly pass SCHIP once Barack Obama was in office. The House did (289-139), but the Senate has been stalling -- a vote is expected this week, perhaps today -- but party lines are drawn and the debate has become acrimonious. Today CQ reports that two amendments were vetoed that would require cost-sharing and limit enrollment of legal immigrants. Shedding light on the enormity of this problem, the Kaiser Family Foundation released its 2009 report... Full Story

. . .Next steps essential Full Story

The Senate voted to approve the rescue bill which contained the mental health parity bill. Now the package returns to the House. See Update on parity... Full Story

The Senate voted to approve the rescue bill which contained the mental health parity bill. Now the package returns to the House. See Update on parity... Full Story

The Senate passed a bill (HR 2851) allowing college students to retain their insurance if they are health issues require taking a leave of absence. The measure, which the House approved in July, was named for a student named Michelle who died of colon cancer.... Full Story

The Senate passed a bill (HR 2851) allowing college students to retain their insurance if they are health issues require taking a leave of absence. The measure, which the House approved in July, was named for a student named Michelle who died of colon cancer.... Full Story

A voice vote in the House approved a compromise for the "Veteran's Mental Health Bill" calling for improvements in treatment and research for PTSD, substance abuse disorders and for expanding the time when military families may seek mental health services. For updates on S. 2162, click here.... Full Story

A voice vote in the House approved a compromise for the "Veteran's Mental Health Bill" calling for improvements in treatment and research for PTSD, substance abuse disorders and for expanding the time when military families may seek mental health services. For updates on S. 2162, click here.... Full Story

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced a bill (HR 6594) "To amend the Public Health Service Act to extend and improve protections and services to individuals directly impacted by the terrorist attack in New York City on September 11, 2001." Full Story

"A bill to provide assistance to adolescents and young adults with serious mental health disorders as they transition to adulthood," was introduced by Sen. Gordon Smith on June 25, 2008. Full Story

Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) introduced the "Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007," on June 27, 2007, "to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under the Medicare program." Full Story

Rep. George Miller (D-CA) introduced the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 on April 22, 2008: “To require certain standards and enforcement provisions to prevent child abuse and neglect in residential programs, and for other purposes.” Full Story

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced the Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2008 on March 12, 2008: “To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, or medical supplies for which payment is made under Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP.” Full Story

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2007 on September 5, 2007: “To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, or medical supplies for which payment is made under Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP.” Full Story

Rep. Shelley Berkeley (D-NV) introduced the Mental Health Improvements Act of 2007 on Oct. 31, 2007, “To improve the treatment and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders, and for other purposes.” Full Story

Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hi) introduced the Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 on October 14, 2007: "To improve the treatment and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders, and for other purposes." Full Story

Economic Recovery in Health Care Act of 2008, introduced by Sen. John Rockefeller, April 2, 2008, "Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from finalizing, implementing, enforcing, or otherwise taking any action to give effect prior to April 1, 2009" Full Story

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) introduced the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 on February 11, 2007: “To provide parity between health insurance coverage of mental health benefits and benefits for medical and surgical services.” Full Story

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) introduced the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 on March 8, 2007: “To amend section 712 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, section 2705 of the Public Health Service Act, section 9812 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require equity in the provision of mental health and substance-related disorder benefits under group health plans, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment, and for other purposes.” Full Story

Rep. John Hall (D-NY) introduced the Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act of 2008 on April 23, 2008: “To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modernize the disability benefits claims processing system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure the accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans and their families and survivors, and for other purposes.” Full Story

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) introduced the Health Care Safety Net Act of 2007 on March 14, 2007: “To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide additional authorizations of appropriations for the health centers program under section 330 of such Act.” Full Story

Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) introduced the Health Centers Renewal Act of 2007 on March 5, 2007: “To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide additional authorizations of appropriations for the health centers program under section 330 of such Act.” Full Story

Rep. Michael Michaud introduced the Justin Bailey Veterans Substance Use Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act of 2008 on March 5, 2008: “To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs for substance use disorders, and for other purposes.” Full Story

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) introduced the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act on March 12, 2008: “To extend certain moratoria and impose additional moratoria on certain Medicaid regulations through April 1, 2009, and for other purposes.” Full Story