January 2023
E-News

401.726.2285
In This Issue:
  • MHARI's 2022 Annual Report
  • MHARI In Action: 2023 Community Organizing to Create Positive Change
  • Cost Savings for Patients
  • Join our Team!
  • First Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Internship Stipends Awarded
  • From the Desk of RIParity: Federal Omnibus Expands Access and Investments in Behavioral Health
  • Congratulations to New Mental Health First Aiders
  • Reserve Your 2023 May is Mental Health Month Sponsorship
  • Public Meetings, Webinars and Events
MHARI's 2022 Annual Report
2022 was a productive year for MHARI, with decisive victories on some important legislative issues and the recognition of MHARI via appointment to policy advisory boards and regulatory committees. During the year MHARI conducted significant research and launched the new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion project. Perhaps our most exciting accomplishment is that Governor McKee will establish an Olmstead Plan. Get a full review, simply click to read the MHARI 2022 Annual Report.
2023 -- Community Organizing to Create Positive Change!
The Rhode Island General Assembly’s session has begun, and MHARI continues to organize a broad coalition of stakeholders poised to take action. The coalition – which includes patients, providers and advocates – has been preparing for this moment since September. We are ready to continue the fight to increase access to treatment for every Rhode Islander. 

Right now, there are waitlists for every level of care. As patients languish on waitlists, their conditions worsen. Patients are discharged from Emergency Departments and inpatient facilities without any step-down services. Imagine if you or your child had a life-threatening crisis and was sent home from the hospital without any further support. Lack of transitional services set patients up for relapse, and relapse can be devastating. 

Unfair insurance reimbursement rates make it difficult for providers to stay in business. Some will move their practices to neighboring states where the rates are higher, while others will close their offices. Some change professions altogether, which is truly unfortunate. MHARI and our coalition are drafting legislation to require insurers to raise reimbursement rates for certain services. We see this as a stop-gap measure until OHIC’s rate review study is complete. We are also organizing to ensure the state provides adequate funding to sustain the 988 behavioral health crisis line and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. 

We need voters to join this fight, especially if you or your loved one has had difficulty finding behavioral health professionals.

Keep up-to-date with our action alerts -- including an invitation to join an upcoming ADVOCACY 101 training scheduled for late February -- email riparity@mhari.org and use the subject line: Send Action Alerts!
Cost Savings for Patients
Did you know there are tons of patient assistance resources to reduce your healthcare costs?

In this video, Laurie speaks with Carla Dellaporta who teaches us how to find patient assistance resources, including discounts and coupons for prescription medications, on www.needymeds.org. NeedyMeds is a 501(c)(3) national non-profit that connects people to programs that will help them afford their medications and other healthcare costs. Visit www.needymeds.org to learn more. Click here to view the video.
Like what we're doing?
MHARI is hiring a part-time Community Liaison. To see details, click here. 

MHARI’s Board of Directors is seeking new members. Stay tuned for more information. Applications will be accepted starting in mid February. Inquiries can be sent to mhariboard@mhari.org. 
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First MHARI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Internship Stipend Awardees Named!
Erinn Reilly
Clinical Mental Health Counseling


Stephanie Centeio
Social Work
Erinn Reilly, a clinical mental health counseling student at Rhode Island College, and Stephanie Centeio, a student in the college’s School of Social Work, have been named the first recipients of MHARI’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Behavioral Healthcare Internship Stipend Program. Each will receive a stipend award of $7,500.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Internship and Scholarship Program is a partnership between MHARI, the United Way, and Rhode Island College to help increase the availability of mental health providers from diverse backgrounds practicing in Rhode Island. The first scholarship awardees were announced in Fall 2022.
 
On being named an awardee, Erinn Reilly stated, “I am honored to be a recipient of the MHARI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Internship Stipend. I chose to become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor because I hoped to provide an equitable and safe therapeutic environment. Despite the stigma it received in my community, I was fortunate to have access to mental health care as it enhanced my personal development and my ability to cope with the world around me. As a clinician-in-training, I use my privileges to break barriers to care, de-colonize the therapeutic space, and create a therapeutic relationship based on cultural humility. I hope to represent identities that are typically marginalized from engaging in therapy. The stipend secures my ability to graduate and to serve my diverse and unique client population."
 
Stephanie Centeio, a student at Rhode Island College’s School of Social Work, also shared, “I have always been taught to work hard for everything I want and in return, things will fall into place. Receiving this award has truly made that a reality for me. Growing up, I did not have many role models to look up to. My family grew up in poverty as they migrated from another culture. Culturally, it was not appropriate to seek help outside of the family. I spent much of my days suffering in silence with my own anxiety and depression. I went against the grain by entering this field and it was the best decision of my life. I chose this field for a few reasons. The first is to impact the lives of others in a positive way. The second is to raise awareness on the stigma around mental health and substance use. The final is to acknowledge that the systems we operate in are broken and require improvement. I am happy to be part of the process in creating positive change!"

From the desk of...
Karen Malcolm
Project Manager
Federal Omnibus Expands Access and Investments in Behavioral Health
Several provisions included in the recently passed Federal omnibus spending bill will save lives by improving access to critically needed care for people with mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs). Included are resources to ensure compliance with mental health parity laws; Medicare changes to improve access to behavioral health and substance use disorder services for beneficiaries; and investments in expanding workforce participation in behavioral health and SUD professions; among many other provisions. Some specifics include:

  • Parity Compliance: Eliminates the parity opt-out for non-federal governmental health plans and provides funding that will help our state health insurance regulator -- OHIC --enforce and ensure compliance with the mental health parity law. For more on this form the Kennedy Forum, click here.
  • Certified Behavioral Health Clinics: Increases funding to continue the development of the CCBHC model across the U.S.
  • Collaborative Care Model: Provides grants and technical assistance to primary care practices to implement the evidence-based Collaborative Care Model into their practices for early intervention and prevention of mental health and SUDs.
  • Telehealth: Extends the current public health emergency Medicare telehealth flexibilities and delays the implementation of the in-person requirement for telehealth services for mental health until Dec. 31, 2024.
  • Health Equity: Provides increased authorization and funding for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Minority Fellowship Program and programs to improve maternal health.
  • Behavioral Health Workforce Investments: Increases investments (at least $197 million for fiscal 2023) in the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program and Mental and Behavioral Health graduate education programs. Funding for these behavioral health-specific programs is up 22% compared to fiscal year 2022.
  • Mental Health/SUD Funding: Significantly increases funding for critical mental health and SUD programs under SAMHSA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health, including the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

Read more from the National Council by clicking here.
Congratulations to New
Mental Health First Aiders!
MHARI closed out 2022 by offering two free Mental Health First Aid trainings to a diverse cohort of community members. Special thanks to our trainer, Kim Lafountain, from Lifespan's Bradely Hospital. Each trainee is now certified by the National Mental Health First Aid entity to help identify, understand, and more appropriately respond to signs of addictions and mental illness.
Reserve Your
May is Mental Health Month
Sponsorship Today!
2023 May is Mental Health Month (MIMHM) sponsorship levels will range from $100 to $5,000 and will include benefits that range from supporter logo recognition on the MIMHM web landing page to mentions in the MHARI E-News and social media. Higher levels of sponsorship will also include verbal recognition at events and in pre-event press releases.
And, stay tuned for updates on May is Mental Health Month events!
Upcoming meetings, webinars, special invitations, and events!

The ABCs of CCBHCs
WEBINAR -- January 20, 10-11:00 am
While a wonderful model, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) is not always easy to explain to those not working in the behavioral health field. This training will help participants understand the basics of CCBHC and help with how to message the benefits of the CCBHC model. Trainer: Dawn Allen, Thrive Behavioral Health. Click here to register.

Ongoing trainings for mental health professionals
The Substance Use Mental Health Leadership Council (SUMHLC) offers a number of useful trainings for providers. Click here for a listing of training opportunities available, and check back periodically as new classes are added.

Last chance to join landmark Alzheimer's study
The Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital is putting out a “last call” for participation in the Alzheimer's Association U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER), a landmark two-year clinical trial designed to evaluate whether healthy lifestyle changes can protect memory and other thinking abilities in older adults. Click here to learn more.
The Mission of the
Mental Health Association of RI (MHARI) is to promote and nourish mental health through advocacy, education, and policy development.

Our website is filled with resources to help those living with mental health challenges. Please feel free to visit the site as often as you need. Your shares of relevant pages on your social media could offer just the help that someone needs. Thank You!
The MHARI Team
Laurie-Marie Pisciotta
Executive Director
Karen Malcolm
Project Manager, RI Mental Health Parity Initiative
Eunice David
Bridging the Divide: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Mental Healthcare
Program Coordinator
The Mental Health Association of RI (MHARI) is a private, 501(c)3 non-profit organization and is 100% funded by grants and donations.
Won't you consider supporting MHARI today?