Insight Matters
Spring 2005

Legislative Priorities for 2005

Access to Medications. Promote full access to safe, effective and appropriate medications provided by competent medically trained physicians. Support the right of patients to have access to medications recommended by their physician. Advocate for access to modern psychiatric medications in the public mental health system and jails/prisons.

Child and Adolescent Services. Support efforts to increase collaboration between and among various stakeholders, including members of the Coalition for Healthy Communities and the Ohio Department of Mental Health, to provide adequate funding and services to promote early diagnosis and treatment of mental health services for all children. Support efforts to eliminate the need for parents to relinquish custody of a child with a mental illness in order to obtain treatment through the public mental health system. Work to improve training and mentoring opportunities to increase the number of child and adolescent physicians in Ohio. Work to address recruitment and retention of child and adolescent psychiatrists in Ohio.

Confidentiality and Patient Privacy. Information contained in medical records is highly sensitive, particularly with regard to treatment for mental and behavioral health. Work to ensure protections for patient confidentiality, so that personal information is not inappropriately disclosed. Work to educate policy makers and the public that confidentiality of medical information is a necessity to high quality medical care.

De-Criminalize the Mentally Ill. A revolving door problem has developed in this country where jails and prisons have become the de facto mental health system. Support efforts by the Ohio Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on the Mentally Ill in Courts the Courts to advocate for funding of the public mental health system so that un-treated and under-treated individuals with mental illness. Work to educate policy makers and the public to support innovative diversion programs and Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for police officers who deal with the mentally ill.

Discriminatory Insurance Coverage for Mental Illnesses. Ohio law allows insurance plans to discriminate against patients seeking treatment of mental disorders by allowing higher co-payments and few outpatient visits or in-patient days. Continue work to ensure mental health insurance parity so that patients in Ohio who suffer from severe biological brain disorders receive fair health care benefits. Work to educate policy makers that illnesses of the brain should be treated no differently than other physical illnesses.

Managed Care Reform. Work with managed care companies and the Ohio Department of Insurance to ensure that managed care companies honor the terms of their agreements for coverage of mental health benefits. Work to reduce the regulatory burdens imposed on patients and physicians by managed-care practices. Support efforts to reduce the hassle-factor on patients and physicians by managed-care companies. Work to educate members on The Patient Protection Act, which provides patients the opportunity to appeal claims that have been denied.

Quality of Care. Advocate for patients to receive the highest quality mental health services by competent, medically trained physicians. Work with primary care physicians to increase access to mental health services and to foster enhanced communication mechanisms for improved coordination of care. Work to educate policy makers and the public about the role and scope of practice of various health care providers to ensure appropriate and high quality care standards in Ohio.

Stigma. People with mental illness have to endure a great deal more than their illness - they are also burdened with the stigma of negative stereotyping and discrimination. Mental illness often generates misunderstanding, prejudice, confusion and fear. The stigma associated with mental illness may stop people from seeking help when they need it. Work actively with other organizations to educate policy makers, other health care professionals and the public about mental illnesses and the excellent outcomes associated with treatment in order to reduce and eliminate stigma.

Suicide. Work actively with other organizations to significantly reduce the rate of suicide by promoting treatment for mental disorders, creating awareness of policy makers and the public that suicide is a preventable health issue - and that treatment works!

Back to newsletter