2008 Regular Session
Legislative Update
SB 228 - Crisis Receiving Centers
Crisis Receiving Centers are effective and cost-efficient and will relieve the burden on hospital emergency rooms. Crisis Receiving Centers will help to keep consumers and our communities safe. Status: Mental Health America of Louisiana supports SB228
SB 535 - Insurance Parity
Without Parity, Louisiana will CONTINUE to pay a HIGH price for Untreated Mental Illness and Addiction Disorders. SB 535 indicates that increases in policy premiums shall not exceed more than one and one half percent of the total policy premium from the previous year. The low cost of adopting parity allows employers to keep health care contributions at the same level they were before parity. Status: Mental Health America of Louisiana supports SB535
SB 182 - (Nicola's Law) Assistive Outpatient Placement
Mental Health advocates and others share different positions on this bill. However, what is consistent among ALL advocates is the fact that in order for Assistive Outpatient Placement to work, at a minimum, targeted or intensive case management services MUST be available and provided to consumers. The Mental Health Advocacy Service and Mental Health America of Louisiana worked closely with DHH to craft amendments to Nicola's Law that would protect the rights of consumers. Status: Mental Health America of Louisiana supports SB182 with suggested amendments
HB 653 - Telemedicine Utilizing Video Conferencing
Allows the actual examination of a patient conducted by a psychiatrist to be conducted by telemedicine utilizing video conferencing technology.
Status: Mental Health America of Louisiana does not support SB653.
HB 76 - Firearm Background Checks and Reporting
Provides relative to firearm background checks and reporting of certain information to the FBI. Anybody court ordered for mental health treatment will have to report that information to be prohibited from purchasing a firearm.
Status: Mental Health America of Louisiana is neutral, pending amendments