NAMI Ohio’s Quest to Ensure Access to Mental Health Medications

By Betsy Johnson

We partnered

with pharmaceutical

companies.

Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Association of OhioAmerican Academy of Pediatrics - Ohio Chapter

Buckeye Art Therapy Association, Inc.Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Ohio

District 1199 SEIU - AFL/CIOFamily Service Council of Ohio

US Psychiatric Rehabilitation AssociationMental Health Advocacy Coalition

Mental Health America Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence

NAMI OhioNational Association of Social Workers - Ohio Chapter

Ohio Advocates for Mental HealthOhio Alcohol and Drug Policy Alliance

Ohio Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare AssociationOhio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities

Ohio Association of Child Caring AgenciesOhio Association of Residential Recovery ServicesOhio Citizen Advocates for Chemical Dependency

Prevention and TreatmentOhio Council of Behavioral Healthcare Providers

Ohio Counseling AssociationOhio Federation for Children's Mental HealthOhio Mental Health Counselors Association

Ohio Nurses AssociationOhio Psychiatric Association

Ohio Psychological AssociationOhio School Psychologists Association

Ohio State Medical AssociationOhio Suicide Prevention Foundation

Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio

We partnered with the

Coalition for Healthy

Communities and created the

Access to Medication

Crisis Committee.

We asked for money and were

able to secure $60,000.

We agreed on a theme.

We agreed on the language to include in the O.R.C.

We agreed on a strategy.• Develop and disseminate brochure

• Develop and widely distribute a brochure.

• Provide advocacy training for consumer and family members

• Organize a “Day at the Statehouse” for advocates to meet with their legislators

• Enlist a small group of NAMI members to host events in legislative districts of key lawmakers

• Hold a Press Conference

• Hold a Call-In Day to the Governor

We developed a brochure.

We hosted a training across the street

from the Statehouse.

NAMI members visited their respective legislators.

We dropped off packets and medicine bottles to all legislators.

We borrowed 3 virtual hallucination

machines from Janssen and set them up at the entrance of the

Statehouse.

NAMI Affiliates hosted local events.

NAMI Ohio Executive Director, Jim Mauro, and other advocates testified before the House and Senate

Finance Committees.

We engaged the Media.

• Wrote letters to the editor.

• Invited media to attend local events.

• Held a press conference in the Statehouse.

We ran into hurdles.

• Coalition members concerned about interference with budget message.

• Pharmaceutical companies viewed as big business by key staffers in new Administration.

• ODJFS estimated provision would cost $47 million largely due to Risperdal going generic and Invega coming on the market.

• Throughout the process there has been a looming concern that Governor Strickland will veto the language.

We’re overcoming the hurdles one at a time. Only one or two to go!

• House included a provision in it’s version of the budget.

• Senate included provision in it’s version of the budget.

• Conference Committee scheduled to meet week of June 18th. Both Houses to vote on final package.

• Bill goes to the Governor. Will he sign?

Stay tuned.

To find out how the story ends, next week, go to:

www.namiohio.com

Questions?

.