Executive Summary
Access to Permanent, Safe and Affordable Housing with Appropriate
Community-Based Services
- NAMI North Carolina will work with allied organizations to develop
legislation to allow individuals who qualify for Special Assistance to use
these funds to maintain their own residence.
NAMI North Carolina will support the Coalition 2001 budget request to
increase funding to the MH/DD/SA Trust Fund to support the development of
housing options, provide bridge funding for start up costs for new community
support services, and provide ongoing funding to expand community services.
NAMI North Carolina will support the Coalition 2001 budget request to increase
funding to the MH/DD/SA Trust Fund to support the development of housing
options, and provide bridge funding for start up costs. But there also is a
need to provide ongoing state support for community based services. Current
levels of state funding cannot be reduced any further and, in fact, support
needs to grow substantially if services are to be offered to those who are
waiting for help. NAMI North Carolina supports the Coalition 2001 request to
increase state funds for community services.
While NAMI North Carolina supports the action taken by the state of North
Carolina to assess individuals living in state facilities and developing
service plans for these individuals, we will monitor Olmstead
implementation of these plans to ensure that individuals are not discharged
from institutions without services being available in the community at the
time of discharge and that individuals currently in the community are not
displaced from or lose access to services in order to accommodate the needs of
individuals with Olmstead service plans. Services must be expanded to meet the
needs of all.
Access to Newer Medications
- We believe that individuals with mental illness must have access to
treatments that have been recognized as effective by the FDA and/or NIMH and
opposes measures that limit the availability of "new generation"
medications. Professional judgment and informed consumer choice should
determine the choice of medications based on knowledge of the effectiveness
and side effects of the medication and consistent with treatment guidelines.
We support the state’s efforts to manage the Medicaid pharmacy budget
through physician education on medication effectiveness and prescribing
guidelines. We oppose any efforts to impose a restricted formulary or a
"fail-first" policy that requires trials of older, less expensive
medications before prescribing newer medications.
Consumer and Family Member Participation in Mental Illness Service Planning
- NAMI North Carolina will work with the Division of MH/DD/SA to make changes
in the State Plan to clarify and support the role of families and consumers in
local service planning and monitoring. The State must identify criteria
for local programs in the operating and support of these committees and
develop procedures to monitor compliance.
Assertive Community Treatment
- NAMI North Carolina will continue its leadership role in advocating for the
adoption of best practice services in North Carolina. This includes not only
defining these services, but providing training, adequate funding, and
monitoring to ensure fidelity to best practice standards.
Reduction in Life-threatening and Harmful Actions/ Support of Client Rights
- NAMI North Carolina advocates that the rules to implement the seclusion and
restraint legislation be implemented on schedule and we will monitor the
implementation process. We urge that the Department fully support
implementation through training activities and other communication with
providers impacted by the rules. NAMI North Carolina will monitor the
activities of the General Assembly to ensure support of the rules and
legislation.
- NAMI North Carolina urges that the Division accept and implement the
committee recommendations for a uniform appeals process. NAMI North Carolina
will continue to advocate for the establishment of a strong and comprehensive
client rights system as an integral part of reform efforts.
Equitable Healthcare Coverage—Mental Health Insurance Parity
- NAMI North Carolina will support parity legislation if it is introduced into
the North Carolina General Assembly. We also will work to support federal
legislation to require insurance parity for mental health benefits.
Reduction in the Criminalization of Persons with Severe Mental Illness
- While the state’s current budget situation makes it unlikely that any new
programs will be established, a review should be done to determine how to use
current resources and federal grant funds to provide training to police and
court personnel and to support the expansion of jail diversion and mental
health court programs.
Work Incentives for Persons with Severe Mental Illness
- NAMI North Carolina will monitor the implementation of Ticket to Work to
ensure that consumers are offered an informed choice of service providers and
that quality of services and employment outcomes improve. While the state’s
current budget situation makes it unlikely that legislators will support the
expansion of benefits and programs, NAMI North Carolina will continue to
advocate that the state take advantage of the Medicaid options offered through
the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act to allow individuals to
work without losing Medicaid benefits. Taking advantage of these options
supports recovery and, in the long run, will likely save the state money as
individuals are able to return to productive work.