The Pennsylvania Community Providers Association is looking for written policies regarding texting clients, with several comment about social media policies. See the post here:

http://paproviders.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/to-text-or-not-to-text/

Senate hopeful Sue Lowden’s plan for Healthcare reform is to barter chickens for medical procedures.Click the chic to calculate your estimated payment:

Understanding Mental Health Webcasts

Thursday, April 22, 2010, 2:00 – 3:30 pm eastern

REGISTER FREE

Presenter
Bryan Gibb, MBA, Director of Public Education, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

Technical assistance for Mental Health First Aid USA instructors continues through yet another webinar, on the all-important topic of business planning that many of you have wanted to hear about.

In this webinar, we’ll go over how to deliver Mental Health First Aid in your community, backed by a sustainable plan. Join us to walk through a standard strategic business plan, to learn how others are structuring the program, and to hear from each other on your best strategies for supporting Mental Health First Aid for a variety of audiences.

There’s a provocative discussion on the National Council listserve regarding company policies and body art and piercings. Good points on each side:

I do not want my staff representing clients in court, doing school visitations  with body parts written up with all kinds of symbols

… it’s important that the people we serve be cast in a light that is generally considered to be positive

… in Chicago tattoos are on huge numbers of bodies in all walks of life. Not everyone may want to be tattooed, but there is no general public rejection of people who are tattooed.  I would never refuse to hire a great candidate because they have tattoos unless the

I don’t think we need to apologize for upholding professional appearance standards

… healthcare reform is trivial in comparison. Did you see the flip-flop memos?

Have a day

The 40th National Council Conference brought together the best and brightest in behavioral health to share current trends and advances in treating mental illnesses and addiction disorders in the midst of economic difficulties and social uncertainties.

Healthcare Reform Implementation

What to Expect When Contracting with MCOs

Fri, April 9, 2010, 2 pm eastern

Presenter
Julianna Gonen, Counsel, Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

Register Free

Being savvy through the negotiation process could make or break your community behavioral health organization’s business plan. The release of the regulations implementing the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and the recent passage of a national healthcare reform package are all the more reason why your organization needs to be thinking strategically about relationships with managed care entities in your state. Julianna Gonen,  walks you through what you can expect to see in a typical managed care organization contract, discusses approaches to negotiation, and highlights some of the recent hot button issues in health plan-provider contracting.

Long time member of the National Council, the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association, has a new blog!

Drop in and join a contest, answer an HR question, find out about the “r-word” and learn about their organization.

http://paproviders.wordpress.com/

From George Kimes and Jen Bankard —

We have created this blog as a first step in PCPA expanding its membership communication avenues and utilizing social media to reach another generation of PCPA leaders. Unlike PCPA’s typical forms of communication, blogging allows members to receive informative updates and instantly share comments and experiences with providers across Pennsylvania.So, I invite you to join us on this new venture and on behalf of the association, I welcome your comments, feedback and most of all, look forward to your participation in this blog.

To date, Mental Health First Aid USA has trained and certified instructors from community mental health and addictions treatment organizations, state departments of health, hospitals, federally qualified health centers, faith-based organizations, state police, the National Guard, developmental disability centers, mental health authorities, and other mental health advocacy organizations including MHA and NAMI affiliates. See our interactive map for a list of organizations in your state that already have certified Mental Health First Aid instructors.

Upcoming Instructor Training Programs

Instructor Training Programs are available for a fee at various locations across the country. We invite you to apply for an upcoming Instructor Training Program:

• Blue Bell, PA (outside of Philadelphia)  — May 3-7
• Washington, DC — June 28-July 2
• Houston, TX — July 12-16
• Chicago, IL - August 2-6
• San Francisco, CA — September 13-17
• Atlanta, GA - September 27 - October 1

Propagandist and elements in the war on healthcare reform are spreading fear and misinformation. John Fund, from Health Reform’s Hidden Victim’s, The Wall Street Journal:

While Democrats on Capitol Hill dispute claims that individuals will lose their existing coverage under their reform plans, on other issues many Democrats privately acknowledge some people will indeed get whacked to pay for the new world of government-dominated health care.

Democrats have been brilliant in keeping knowledge about the pain and sacrifice of health reform from the very people who would bear the brunt of them. They’ve done so by convincing health-care industry groups not to run the kind of “Harry and Louise”-style ads that helped sink HillaryCare in 1993.

The facts belie the article.

Charles Ingoglia,Vice President of Public Policy and Technical Assistance for the National Council dispels rumors in this short video clip.

With more than fifteen years experience in behavioral healthcare, Charles Ingoglia has worked as a provider, advocate, and educator for government and public sector organizations at the national and local levels.

National Council MHFA

Mass Backwards

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The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council) is offering small emergency grants and free Mental Health First Aid training to support mental health efforts in the wake of the devastating Haiti earthquake.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Haiti and with their loved ones in the U.S. We commend the efforts of many agencies and individuals that are providing disaster relief. Our pockets are not deep but we are standing by to help in any way we can,” said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council.

Through its Project Helping Hands, the National Council offers small grants to organizations working to meet the mental health needs of Haitian survivors and loved ones in the U.S. Since 2005, Project Helping Hands has supported behavioral healthcare organizations responding to emergency mental health and addictions treatment needs in the wake of disaster — hiring treatment staff, setting up emergency outreach offices, and purchasing medications and emergency equipment.

Emergency Grants and Mental Health First Aid Training Available to Meet Mental Health Needs after Haiti Earthquake

Contact: Meena Dayak, MeenaD@thenationalcouncil.org; 202.684.3728

Washington, DC (January 15, 2010)— The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council) is offering small emergency grants and free Mental Health First Aid training to support mental health efforts in the wake of the devastating Haiti earthquake.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Haiti and with their loved ones in the U.S. We commend the efforts of many agencies and individuals that are providing disaster relief. Our pockets are not deep but we are standing by to help in any way we can,” said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council.

Through its Project Helping Hands, the National Council offers small grants to organizations working to meet the mental health needs of Haitian survivors and loved ones in the U.S. Since 2005, Project Helping Hands has supported behavioral healthcare organizations responding to emergency mental health and addictions treatment needs in the wake of disaster — hiring treatment staff, setting up emergency outreach offices, and purchasing medications and emergency equipment.

It is estimated that up to 25 to 30 percent of people in the most vulnerable communities experience the onset of trauma and mental disorders in the wake of disaster. These needs usually manifest several weeks to months after a disaster, as the reality of loss and displacement sinks in. Those with pre-existing serious mental illnesses may be traumatized anew or displaced and need extra care and support.

Haitian populations in the U.S., concerned about the safety and whereabouts of any loved ones in Haiti, may also be experiencing acute anxiety and stress reactions. Further, it is likely that the U.S. will see a significant influx of surviving Haitians over the coming months and a good number will likely experience mental health issues, in addition to the challenges of settling into a new culture.

Free Mental Health First Aid USA (www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org) training is available for volunteers headed to help in Haiti in the coming months and for community groups and caring citizens working with Haitian populations in the U.S.

Mental Health First Aid USA — a collaboration of the National Council, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Missouri Department of Mental Health — equips members of the public with skills and resources to help someone developing a mental health problem or save someone experiencing a mental health crisis. Those trained in Mental Health First Aid can recognize the risk factors and warning signs of mental illness and connect persons in need with appropriate professional or other help, including peer and family support.

Those who wish to support the Haiti disaster mental health response may donate to the National Council’s Project Helping Hands at www.thenationalcouncil.org/cs/project_helping_hands.

Register NOW

Presenter
Chris Wilder, Executive Director, Valley Medical Center Foundation

Join the National Council and Chris Wilder, Silicon Valley’s “Outstanding Professional Fund Raiser 2008,” in a fun and useful look at how the public sees your healthcare organization today… and how they could see you tomorrow.

After 8 years of budget cuts, Silicon Valley’s public hospital, Valley Medical Center, faced mandated closure of half their beds. Join this webinar to learn how VMC used social media to prove the value of their organization to secure financial support and avoid a shutdown. Chris Wilder will demonstrate how YOU can use Facebook, video, blogs, and other Web 2.0 tools to launch a successful fundraising campaign. He will walk you through how to develop, implement, and support a strong social media strategy that delivers results. This webinar previews Chris Wilder’s live social media presentation at the National Council Conference, March 15-17, 2010 in Disney World, Orlando.

Sign up to receive the weekly Public Policy Update e-newsletter, with the latest Congressional healthcare legislation and National Council news on mental health and addictions treatment.

HHS Awards “Performance Bonuses” to States for Improving Children’s Access to Medicaid and CHIP

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius last week announced $72 million in “performance bonuses” for nine states that made significant progress in improving children’s access to coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  The nine states receiving the awards are:

• Alabama: $39.1 million
• Alaska: $789,000
• Illinois: $9.1 million
• Louisiana: $1.5 million
• Michigan: $3.7 million
• New Jersey: $4.2 million
• New Mexico: $5.1 million
• Oregon: $1.6 million
• Washington: $7.5 million

A chart showing the enrollment practices adopted by each of the nine states is available from InsureKidsNow.gov .  Additional information on states’ enrollment and outreach efforts is available is this Kaiser Family Foundation report on the results of its 50-state survey on Medicaid/CHIP enrollment and eligibility in 2009.