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July 24, 2014

Advancing Public Policies for People with Mental Illness, Chemical Dependency or Developmental Disabilities   

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Betsy Gorman, Editor
bg@clmhd.org

The SAMHSA Recovery Month Toolkit is Here!

Get a jumpstart on your September 2014 event planning with the newly launched Recovery Month Toolkit. This year's toolkit, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of Recovery Month, highlights the theme "Join the Voices for Recovery: Speak Up, Reach Out."
Webinars & Resources:

Diverse Promising Practices for Engaging Youth Before and During Times of Emotional Distress: Youth, Family, and School Perspectives
 August 6th  3-4:30 here

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), Office of and Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), Department of Health (DOH), and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH)
are pleased to announce a series of Behavioral Health Medicaid Managed Care Kick-Off Forums here.

DSRIP and 1915i Community Based Providers Webinar
August 6th 4-5PM here 

Using Data to Reduce Disparities and Improve Quality: A Guide for Health Care Organizations here.

Read the Brief here.    

 

Bridging the Gap: Addressing Health Disparities in Multicultural Communities here

 

  

JULY:

 

Fiscal Officers Workgroup

July 29th

9:00-10:00 GTM Call in

AUGUST:

CLMHD/OMH/DOH Health Home Conference Call 
August
21st  10:00-11:00
Details to follow

Fiscal Officers' Workgroup
Conference Call 
August 26th 9:00-10:00
Details to follow

Contact CLMHD for all call in information, 518.462.9422

SAVE THE DATES:

CLMHD Fall Full
Membership Meeting
September 22-23, 2014 
Lake Placid Crowne Plaza
CLMHD Members:
Register Here

CLMHD Committee Day
Monday October 27th
Holiday Inn Wolf Road Albany
10:00-4:00

 

WASHINGTON - Two federal appeals court panels issued conflicting rulings Tuesday on whether the government could subsidize health insurance premiums for millions of Americans, raising yet more questions about the future of the health care law four years after it was signed by President Obama.

 

David Klemencic, said, "If I have to start paying out for health insurance, it will put me out of business."

The contradictory rulings will apparently have no immediate impact on consumers. But they could inject uncertainty, confusion and turmoil into health insurance markets as the administration firms up plans for another open enrollment season starting in November.  Read more.     

 

RELATED:  White House "Confident in Legas Basis" of Obamacare: more.   

 

RELATED: GAO Finds that Phony Obamacare Applications Soar Through the System: more.  

 

RELATED: HHS Releases 2013 MRL Savings Report: "Consumers have saved a total of $9 billion on their health insurance premiums since 2011 because of the Affordable Care Act" here

States Experiment With Health Savings Accounts for Medicaid

People who contribute up to $25 a month would be exempt from cost-sharing requirements. But some consumer advocates say the health savings accounts add a needless layer of complexity to Medicaid.  Read more.

 

Eight state agencies will soon begin collecting the self-reported, voluntary data on LGBT people who use their services. The agencies are: the Department of Health, Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Office for the Aging, Office of Mental Health, Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Office of Children and Family Services and Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.

 

The agencies will ask people using their public services to self-report their sexual orientation on forms, along with other identifying data state agencies typically collect.  Read more

Feds Clarify Obligations To Kids With Autism

 

In what advocates are calling a major win, federal officials are for the first time telling states that Medicaid coverage must include treatments like applied behavior analysis for children with autism.

 

Medicaid programs nationwide must offer "medically necessary diagnostic and treatment services" to kids with autism, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told states in a bulletin this month. That includes everything from speech and occupational therapy to personal care services and medical equipment, the agency said.  Read more.  

 

IBM's plan to partner with Apple could prove significant for healthcare, addressing issues of data security that have stood in the way of the expansion of mobile healthcare usage and development.  Read more.   
DCSs & Their Staff:
Register by July 25th for
CLMHD Conference  
Expanding Assess to Children's Behavioral Health/Oct. 8th Albany 

Hear from State and National experts about success stories and challenges. Learn how to enhance the effectiveness of services and systems for children and youth with mental health challenges and their families.  Learn more and Call Vicky Quinn @ CLMHD to register 518-462-9422.
The Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors advances public policies and awareness for people with mental illness, chemical dependency and developmental disabilities.  We are a statewide membership organization that consists of the Commissioner/ Director of each of the state's 57 county mental hygiene departments and the mental hygiene department of the City of New York.

Affiliated