Welcome to ISPN’s Legislative Updates

January 2006 Legislative Update
To check on a bill of interest to you, go to the THOMAS Legislative Information Website at http://Thomas.loc.gov and type in the bill number or title. You will find bill summary and co-sponsors and the status of the bill at that website.

The following are ISPN updates on legislative issues and bills of interest to members. Many are being sponsored by our organization.

Keeping Families Together Act (S.1152.IS and H.R. 823. IH) was introduced into the House and Senate this past year. It addressed the problem that families have when they are forced to relinquish their children to the care of the state in order to receive needed psychiatric services. This happens due to the families' inability to pay for needed services. The Bill amends this process to make it possible for the child to stay in the parental home and receive the needed services. ISPN, APNA and ACAPN signed a letter of support drafted by Anne Toro from the American Psychological Association's public policy office.

Medicare Mental Health Co payment Equity Act of 2005 was endorsed by ISPN and APNA this year also. This bill will reduce the current discriminatory coinsurance requirement from 50 to 20 percent for medicare outpatient mental health visits.

Children's Mental Health Workforce Bill was endorsed by ISPN and APNA also. This bill aims to address the national shortage of children's mental health professionals by encouraging individuals to enter the field through the creation of education incentives.

Other bills that our membership will want to follow are:

Eating Disorders Awareness, Prevention and Education Act of 2005 (H.R. 49.IH)

Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2005 (S.1152.IS and H.R. 1125. IH)

Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Act of 2005 (S. 1592.IS)

We invite all of our members to contact the Legislative Council with any questions. Let your voice be heard individually and contact us if you want a more collective voice.

Noreen Thompson MSN, ARNP, BC
nthomps2@kumc.edu