Washington, D.C. - December 17, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- The American Psychiatric Association (APA) and National Council for Behavioral Health commend the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for its report by the federal Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC). The report acknowledged that the health care system has failed to meet the needs of adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances, and outlined areas to help address this failure.
Based on initial deliberations, the ISMICC’s areas of focus include making it easier to access care, closing the gap between treatment that works and what is offered, and developing financing strategies that increase availability and affordability of care.
The APA and National Council call on the Department of Justice, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, and CMS to move swiftly to identify specific, concrete actions each agency can take to move forward these recommendations.
We will continue to contribute to and closely follow the ISMICC as we work together to improve the lives of all people with mental illnesses and addictions. They deserve nothing less.
AARP Calls on Senate to Reject Health Bill AARP
June 22, 2017
AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond released the following statement in response to the Senate bill which imposes an “Age Tax” on older adults—increasing health insurance premiums and reducing tax credits, makes cuts to both Medicare and Medicaid funding, and yet gives billions of dollars in tax breaks to drug and insurance companies. AARP calls on every Senator to vote ‘NO’ on this harmful bill. Read more...
Federal union leader says Senate health care bill ‘shameful’ American Federation for Government Employees
June 22, 2017
"The Senate's bill follows the same failed approach as the House-passed bill. It would deny health care coverage to millions of Americans in order to lavish huge tax cuts on corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent. Read more...
The Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act is Irredeemable, would eliminate 12 Percent of CDC’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2018 Trust for America’s Health
June 22, 2017
If the Better Care Reconciliation Act becomes law, tens of millions will lose insurance. A critical part of what they’ll lose is access to the care they need to prevent or manage chronic conditions in a life- and cost-saving way. More than 80 percent of the $3 trillion dollars we spend every year on healthcare goes to individuals with one or more chronic conditions—with better preventive care and well managed chronic disease clinical services we can reduce costs and improve health outcomes. Read more...
Court Expresses Concerns About First Amendment Violations Before Dismissing Appeal First Liberty Institute
June 22, 2017
Writing for the majority Judge Moritz stated, “We assume that the defendants violated Sause’s rights under the First Amendment when, according to Sause, they repeatedly mocked her, ordered her to stop praying so they could harass her, threatened her with arrest and public humiliation, insisted that she show them the scars from her double mastectomy, and then ‘appeared…disgusted’ when she complied – all over a mere noise complaint.” Read more...
Army Veteran Finds Light In His Recovery With Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project
June 22, 2017
"I realized there is light inside me," Joey said. "That light is my wife, my kids, and the Holy Spirit. I can achieve recovery with them by my side and with the tools I learned at the workshop. I'll do it for me and to show my brothers and sisters it's possible." Read more...
Sovereign Health: Protesters and Shaken up Employees Stand Up for Behavioral Health Patients Sovereign Health
June 22, 2017
Tuesday’s protest follows the incident on Tuesday June 13, in which armed federal, state and local officials searched the offices of Sovereign Health’s Culver City, Palm Desert and San Clemente facilities. What the authorities termed a “raid” was actually an unnecessary and brutal disruption to doing what the company does best – providing specialized care for patients with behavioral and mental health issues. Read more...
EVENT ALERT: 60 Talk Radio Hosts Converging on Capitol Hill, June 28 and 29 to Evaluate Trump's Progress on Immigration and Urge Congress to Act The Ponder News
June 22, 2017
On June 28 and 29, more than 60 talk radio hosts from around the country will converge on Washington, D.C., for the 11th annual – and largest ever – Hold Their Feet to the Fire radio row event. Their intent is to make sure the President delivers on his immigration promises and that Congress acts. Sponsored by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the event features two days of live, continuous broadcasting with talk hosts debating and interviewing dozens of members of Congress, administration officials, policy experts, law enforcement professionals, and people whose lives have been forever changed by our failed and dangerous immigration policies.
What: Hold Their Feet to the Fire Radio Row
When: Wednesday June 28 and Thursday June 29, 6 am to 9 pm
Where: Phoenix Park Hotel 520 North Capitol Street, NW, Washington D.C.
