Legislative

The Senate Finance Committee's paper Expanding Health Care Coverage: Proposals to Provide Affordable Coverage to All Americans, released on May 14, specifically mentions mental health and substance use disorders. The paper included suggested minimum standards for all health insurance options, and states that all plans offered would be required to include "mental health and substance abuse services, which at least meet minimum standards set by federal and state laws." Read the paper (PDF file)

The President's budget outline submitted to Congress included several items related to behavioral health:

• $59 million increase in funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) including increases for drug treatment courts, offender-reentry programs, Children's Mental Health, and expands outreach to homeless individuals who are suffering from mental illness. The budget for SAMHSA also includes decreases for mental health and substance abuse programs of regional and national significance and data evaluation.

• Increase of funds for the National Institutes on Drug Abuse, Mental Health, and Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

• Expand mental health screening and treatment services offered by Veterans' Affairs and increase the number of Vet Centers and mobile health clinics to expand access to services and treatment in rural areas.

President Obama's budget outline has been passed by Congress and budget committees in both the House and the Senate have begun drafting their own budget plans. To find the Administration's proposed funding levels for additional mental health and addiction programs, click here (PDF file) to see the budget chart the National Council has compiled.

Issues & Events

A new report reveals that 8.2% (2 million) youths aged 12 to 17 experienced at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. Only about two-fifths (38.9%) of these adolescents received treatment during this period according to the report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Full Story

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides almost $200 million for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayment program (LRP). This new money could potentially double the number of clinicians eligible for NHSC loan repayment, adding an additional 4,000 clinicians to underserved areas. Visit the NHSC website to see more information on eligibility.

For patients with a severe mental disorder, their physical health often suffers, too. But a new collaborative effort in Akron, OH is providing comprehensive services to care for their bodies as well as their minds. Community Support Services in Akron recently opened the Margaret Clark Morgan Integrated Care Clinic. The goal of the initiative is to provide needed health services under one roof, said Terry Dalton, president and chief executive of Community Support Services. With the new integrated clinic, the agency now can offer primary-care services, which are provided by a nurse practitioner and students from the University of Akron School of Nursing, along with doctors from Summa Health System's Summa Physicians Inc, reported The Akron Beacon Journal. Full Story

FDA has broadened the approval of the antipsychotic agent, Risperdal Consta, for the treatment of bipolar I disorder. The drug, which has already been approved as a treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar mania, was approved as a stand-alone therapy and in addition to lithium or valproate, the current standard of care, according to a Reuters report. Full Story

Policy

At a speech before the United Nurses of America's 12th National Nurses Congress, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius discussed two new HHS reports on the quality of health care in America. Published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the annual 2008 National Healthcare Quality Report and 2008 National Healthcare Disparities Report indicate that patient safety measures have worsened and that a substantial number of Americans do not receive recommended care. Among the findings - seven out of ten adults with mood, anxiety, or impulse disorders received inadequate treatment or no treatment at all. Full Story

APNA Highlights

Two Weeks Left to Apply for the 2009 APNA-Janssen Student Scholarship
Graduate and undergraduate nursing students who are interested in psychiatric mental health nursing are invited to apply for the APNA Janssen Student Scholarship Program. The APNA-Janssen Student Scholarship Program includes registration, travel and lodging expenses to attend the APNA 23rd Annual Conference, October 7-10, 2009, in Charleston, South Carolina. A stipend for meals and expenses is also provided. In addition, winners will receive one year complimentary membership in the APNA. Scholarship recipients and their schools receive national recognition via the web and through the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA). Click here for more information.

Early Bird Deadline Approaching - Save $50
APNA 7th Annual CPI Conference, June 26-28, 2009, Reston, VA
Join us for the 7th Annual Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute at the Hyatt Regency in the Reston Town Center area of Reston, VA. With your conference registration, you have access to:

• Opportunities to network with your colleagues
• Up to 23.5 continuing nursing education contact hours in pharmacology
• 6 plated meals (breakfast and lunch each day)
• Case study sessions where you can discuss practice tips and methods with conference presenters and other attendees
• 13 sessions with challenging and innovative content, using state-of-the-art science with clinical implications

REGISTER BY JUNE 5 TO SAVE

Tobacco Dependence Information Center Online
Have you checked out the Tobacco Dependence Information Center on APNA.org? The numerous resources can be accessed by clicking here.