January 28, 2008 - Vol 2, Issue 2
Budget Request Good for Mental Health But Very Limited Gains for Geriatric Mental Health
The Governor's Budget Request includes cost of living adjustments for community mental health providers, additional funding for housing providers, 2000 new units of housing, additions for children, and beginning efforts to confront co-occurring disorders. But it does not include funding for more geriatric mental health demonstrations or for the establishment of a center for excellence to spread best practices in geriatric mental health throughout NYS, which have been our priorities for 2008.
However, there are other items in the budget that will benefit older adults with mental disorders:
- OMH has removed the Medicaid neutrality cap. This will make it easier for organizations to mount new or expanded geriatric mental health programs. We encourage programs to apply for licenses.
- There are 140 new housing units for people with mental retardation who are aging, about half of whom will have co-occurring mental illness.
- The targeted Expanded in Homes Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP) will include screening for mental and substance abuse disorders. Obviously, follow-up and access to treatment services for older adults that need them will be critical.
- There are also other opportunities for integrating mental health in the state's long-term care agenda.
We will now turn to the Legislature to provide additional funding for geriatric mental health. YOUR ADVOCACY WILL BE ESSENTIAL!
Click here for Michael Friedman's analysis of the budget.
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Testimony on MH Budget to NYS Legislature
Michael will be testifying on Tuesday, January 29th at the NYS Legislative hearing on the Mental Health Budget. To read his testimony, click here.
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GMHA Upcoming Events
January 31, 2008 - Semi-Annual Alliance Meeting
Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: United Federation of Teachers (UFT), 52 Broadway, Room 19H, New York, NY 10004
Agenda:
- Presentation and discussion of the NYS Executive Budget Request as it pertains to geriatric mental health
- Discussion of strategic response to budget
- Other state budget and legislative issues
- Update on Interagency Geriatric Mental Health Planning Council
- Update on NYC Geriatric Mental Health Initiative
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February 19, 2008 - Save the Date -- Mental Health Issues Of LGBT Elders: A Best Practices Presentation in Geriatric Mental Health hosted by the Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York and the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging and Longevity of Hunter College.
The event will be held from 3:00 - 5:00PM at the Hunter College School of Social Work - Auditorium, 129 East 79th Street, NYC, (Between Lexington and Park Avenues). Please register by clicking here. If you have any questions, please email or call Yusyin Hsin at yhsin@mhaofnyc.org or (212) 614-6356. The event is free but pre-registration is required.
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May 22, 2008 - Save the Date: 2nd Annual Geriatric Mental Health Alliance Conference
BRIDGES TO BETTER MENTAL HEALTH:
Merging Research and Practice for Improved Integration of Services to Older Adults
Location: Hotel Pennsylvania, 7th Avenue at 33rd Street New York, NY
Keynote: Robert Butler, M.D., Physician, Gerontologist, Psychiatrist, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. President and CEO, International Longevity Center USA, NY; Professor of Geriatrics at the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Founding Chairman, Dept. of Geriatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Founding Director, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Health.
More details to come shortly.
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Alliance Update Report
We are delighted to bring you up-to-date on our progress to improve mental health services and policies for older adults since July 2007. The report includes information on constituency building, state and local advocacy, educational activities, and funding sources.
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NYC DOHMH's Scholarship Program
NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene's has a One Year Residence Scholarship program at the Hunter College School of Social Work for the fall of 2008. Applicants who have demonstrated experience working with underserved minorities, new immigrants, older adults, children and adolescents, the homeless and Iraq war returnees are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have a minimum of 2 years paid experience and have completed a bachelor's degree as of 3/3/06.
The deadline for applications is March 3, 2008. The contact person at DOHMH to receive an application packet is Leslie Brandon at (212) 219- 8243 or lbrandon@health.nyc.gov.
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Federal Legislative Update
From NYS Office for the Aging
STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: President Bush will deliver his State of the Union Address on January 28. He is expected to offer an economic stimulus package to combat an economic recession.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Lawmakers are planning to address Medicare, SCHIP and Medicaid policy changes they had hoped to make last year in new legislation that would stop a 10 percent cut to Medicare physician fees scheduled to take effect June 30. With health care emerging as a top issue with voters, the election year might put increased pressure on lawmakers to present at least a few new health policies, although some proposals could draw veto threats.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) and ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) want to explore Medicare changes that did not make it into last year's physician pay fix bill because time ran out. Those changes include measures supported by the Bush administration, such as health information technology requirements and proposals on mental health parity and genetic nondiscrimination. Committee members also might try to rewrite rules regarding Medicare Advantage plan marketing after the Bush administration last year rejected a proposal that would have given states more flexibility in regulating the plans.
In addition, lawmakers are likely to respond to the administration's latest attempts to stop states from expanding Medicaid eligibility beyond 250% of the federal poverty level. A Baucus aide said the senator is planning to closely watch HHS this year to make sure its actions are consistent with the law.
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), who negotiated SCHIP legislation that President Bush vetoed twice, said she hoped the Bush administration would be more willing to work with Congress this session.
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Other Upcoming Events
February 8, 2008 - Tentative - Town Hall Meeting on Family Caregivers hosted by the NYS Office for the Aging's Family Caregiver Council from 1-4pm at Hudson Valley Community College in Rensselaer County (Troy, NY). Please note: The final date, time, and location have not been confirmed. Individuals caring for someone in the County or organizations involved with services to residents of the County are invited to speak in an informal hearing type format for 3-5 minutes about their experiences with caregiving and recommendations for ways to assist caregivers. We encourage those who can speak to the mental health needs of family caregivers to attend. The listening panel will include SOFA Director, Mike Burgess, Joe Cybulski, Commissioner, Rensselaer County Unified Family Services and members of the NYS Family Caregiver Council. If you are interested in attending, please contact Yusyin at yhsin@mhaofnyc.org or (212) 614-6356 for final date and time.
February 19, 20, 21, 2008 - New York State's Mandated Compliance Programs A specialized training event conducted by Derek Jansen of Practice Management Alternatives, LLC that focuses on training to the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General's guidance on mandatory compliance. Pick any one of these convenient dates and locations. All times 10AM - 2PM:
~ Tuesday, February 19, 2008 (eastern Long Island, TBD)
~ Wednesday, February 20, 2008 (Manhattan, 52 Broadway, 19th Floor, Room 19D)
~ Thursday, February 21, 2008 (Westchester County, TBD)
Cost for Alliance members is $100. You must note your Alliance membership on the registration form in order to receive the 33% discount.
April 12, 2008 - Save the Date: The Paradoxes of Aging: Psychotherapy with Older Adults A conference sponsored by The Met Chapter of the New York State Society of Clinical Social Workers and co- sponsored by the Geriatric Mental Health Alliance and Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service.
June 17-18th, 2008 - Save the Date: 12th Annual Aging Concerns Unite Us Conference at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center, Albany, NY.
Educational Activities for Healthcare Professionals Focusing on Older Adults sponsored by the Consortium of New York Geriatric Education Centers. Programs include reinventing senior centers and senior programs, new trends in discharge planning, falls prevention and more. Programs are from 8:45am -4:30pm and registration is $50.
Educational Seminar Series at Service Program for Older People (SPOP) This training opportunity features SPOP clinicians who have extensive experience with older adults and mental health. It is offered to the professional geriatrics community and all who work with seniors. Each seminar is held at: 302 West 91st Street at West End Avenue, New York, NY. Seminar fee: $15. Discount for 3 or more attendees from the same organization. Space is limited. Please register in advance by mail or online here or call: 212-787-7102 ext.515.
For topics, dates, and registration information, click here.
