Sheldon Whitehouse Focuses on Mental Health
From the Whitehouse press office:
Washington, DC – Today, President Obama hosted a National Conference on Mental Health at the White House to discuss ways to help the millions of Americans who struggle with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a strong advocate for legislation to improve care coordination for mental health patients, was with former Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) among the invited guests at today’s conference.
“For too long, Americans suffering from mental-health conditions have been misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and poorly treated,” said Whitehouse. “We’ve made great strides to improve care for these individuals in recent years, particularly through the mental health parity law championed by Congressman Kennedy, but there is still more we can do. I look forward to working with President Obama and his Administration on this important issue.”
Over the past several years, Senator Whitehouse has emerged as one of the leaders in Congress on mental health issues. He strongly supported Congressman Kennedy’s Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act in 2008, and in 2010 Whitehouse and Kennedy teamed up to introduce the Health Information Technology (HIT) Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act. That bill would have made federal HIT incentives available to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse treatment providers who are currently ineligible to receive incentives available to a majority of medical professionals and facilities. Whitehouse has continued working on that legislation since Kennedy’s retirement, and plans to reintroduce an updated version of it later this year.
Senator Whitehouse has also been working to amend the Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education Program to enable federal support for the training of mental health providers at children’s psychiatric hospitals, like Bradley Hospital in Rhode Island.
Today’s conference at the White House featured appearances by President Obama, Vice President Biden, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, as well as mental health advocates, educators, health care providers, faith leaders, and individuals who have struggled with mental health conditions. Actors Glenn Close and Bradley Cooper also participated.
The event was a part of the Administration’s effort to launch a national conversation to increase understanding and awareness of mental health.
Bleak House 2005 with Tulkinghorn and Esther Summerson
My husband and I watched this over the course of a week. It was quite riveting. The characters have a wonderful timelessness, and the portrayal of the time is also well done. Some critics say Bleak House is Dickens’ best novel. I may now even read it — how 19th century of me!
Bleak House 2005 TV serial – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Wisconsin Hospitals Make Cuts Due to Sequestration, High Deductible Health Plans
Just pointing out the obvious here: when people don’t seek health care because their deductible is too high, they are effectively blocked from getting the care they need. And also, the economy suffers.
Rhode Island becomes 10th state with gay marriage – seattlepi.com
The news of Li’l Rhody’s marriage equality victory ricochets from coast to coast.
Rhode Island becomes 10th state with gay marriage – seattlepi.com.
Researchers: Jamestown settlers resorted to cannibalism – CNN.com
This is rather freaky. It just wouldn’t fit into a “Liberty’s Kids” episode very well.
Researchers: Jamestown settlers resorted to cannibalism – CNN.com.
Medical: High-deductible health plans don’t spur bargain shopping
High-deductible health plans: putting more cost on the consumer for less care.
Medical: High-deductible health plans don’t spur bargain shopping.
At least 2 dead, dozens injured after two bombs explode at Boston Marathon | Fox News
Another day of terror in New England.
At least 2 dead, dozens injured after two bombs explode at Boston Marathon | Fox News.
The Adjuncts, United, Will Never be Defeated
I have a soft spot for adjuncts, because more than a few of my friends are in the awkward position of being rich intellectually but poor financially. What does it say about our priorities when we cannot pay our higher education professionals a living wage?
Breaking News: Providence Students Win Major Victory!
Congratulations to the Providence Student Union, which exposed the inadequacy of the NECAP (New England Common Assessment Program) as a high school graduation test. As a result of their activism, the Boston Globe today opposed the use of NECAP for that purpose.
Instead of just protesting or writing letters to the editor or to elected officials, the PSU engaged in political theater.
Lt. Gov. Roberts: Planning a New Way to Pay for Health Care | Rhode Island Public Radio
Looking forward to hearing more about the new way we will pay for health care in Rhode Island. There is lots of room for improvement. I also hope there is going to be something done about high deductible health plans which are leading to more uncompensated care at hospitals, clinics, and private practices.
Lt. Gov. Roberts: Planning a New Way to Pay for Health Care | Rhode Island Public Radio.
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