May 2, 2001
MAADAC Announcements:
hMAADAC Website: http://www.- ma.org
hMAADAC Golf Fundraiser, July
23rd. Shaun Kelly in charge!
hMAADAC President will be
Russell Viveiros, July 1st
hMAADAC Legislative Chair will be Tom Delaney, July
1st
NAADAC News:
hNAADAC enlists
MA’s John Avery, as Government Relation Director. Great News!
hNAADAC Conference 2000----Portland, Oregon, May 23rd-
26th- Don’t miss it!
hNAADAC Conference 2001----Boston, MA RVP Mary Woods & Jim Gorske chair!
Career Posting:
Brandon
Treatment Center, Natick, MA
Full-time and Part-time Child and Youth Care Worker positions are available to
work with children and adolescents in
seven residences located within Metro-West
Benefits, Bonus Referral Program and Education Reimbursement. Program available.
Please contact: Marilyn Feldman, mfeld@onebox.com – email, (781) 266-2112
x1027.
National Legislative
Proposals:
Fairness In Treatment Act filed by Senators Wellstone, Daschle, Rep Ramstad!
Senator Paul
Wellstone (D-MN) and Congressman Jim Ramstad, (R-MN) were joined by Minority
Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) and a bipartisan group of members in both chambers,
to take important first steps to introduce
legislation that would offer addiction treatment benefits in the same manner as all other medical and
surgical conditions currently covered under private health plans. (Join
Together Direct- March 25, 2001)
The
postponed Public Health Council
deliberation has not yet been rescheduled. The CORI outcome lies with Executive
Office of Health and Human Services.
The Licensure
for Alcohol and Drug Counselor regulation
process calls for a Department of Public Health Council Hearing review. Pending outcome, two regional public
hearings are scheduled.
MA Legislation
Proposals:
H2191 An Act Authorizing Certain
Licensed Alcohol and Drug
Counselors To
Receive Certain Insurance Payments, Rep. Kevin Fitzgerald and others
Insurance Committee Hearing
held April 11th on H2191
Please know
that all legislative proposals, (bills), must go through a State House
committee hearing process. This bill went before The Insurance Committee.
Testimony
was given. Now….it needs a favorable report before it can go to either the
House
or Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Please Help: Ask your elected rep or senator for H2191 support
and make it known to
Insurance Committee Chairs, Sen. Therese Murray and Rep. Ronald
Mariano.
Send letters to The State House, Boston, MA 02133. Call legislators,
617-722-2000.
Note:
S763/H2544 An
Act to Provide Equitable Coverage for Substance Abuse,
also, went before the
Insurance Committee. It requires the same support as above.
Info: David Matteodo, MA Association of Behavioral Health Systems, 617-855-3520.
House Rejects BSAS Line
Item Increase- Your Advocacy Needed for Senate
Amendment to
increase Bureau of Substance Abuse Services Line item 4512-0200- by $3 million
for 3 family treatment residences with childcare, expand transitional support
services and expand residential or recovery home services was rejected. Next step is the Senate. Your
calls to your senator are important. If
passed, the move goes to Conference
Committee between the House and Senate, which means the legislators agree to a
compromise. Effort developed by SA Budget Coalition. Call: MHSACM,
508-647-8385.
Other Legislation
H3948, Expansion of Scope of
Commonwealth’s Drug Treatment Program funded
by
fines and forfeitures relative to Drug
Offenses,(Rep. Kevin
Fitzgerald). Expands drug treatment diversion under the 1981 Drug Dependent Persons
Act. Judiciary Committee Hearing May 10th, Room 136, The State
House. Chairs are Representative David
Donnelly and Senator Robert Creedon. Please call: Rob Stewart, 617-330-8777.
S611 A Health Protection Fund-
(Senator Marian Walsh) taxes alcohol, funds treatment- Taxation Committee
Hearing, May 22nd, 10 AM, Gardner Auditorium.
Senator Walsh is Chair, as is
Representative Paul Casey.
Removal of TANF and Food Stamp Disqualification for Persons with Drug
Felony Info:
Call MA Law Reform Institute: 617-357-0700
MAADAC News Report is now becoming statewide. Your interests
are important! Please call Linda Mullis (W MA) 413 –536-8200, Tom Crowley
(Central) – 508-531-7552 or Jim Gorske 508-752-7313, Russ Viveiros (Northeast)
978-458-4544 ,
Joe Kelleher (East) 617-332-8118. What are your
needs, concerns, and views?
All are invited
to participate in MOAR Recovery Month
Planning meetings---
Begin
Wednesday, June 6th, 3:30 PM, Atrium II, Faulkner Hospital
Sincerely Yours- Maryanne Frangules-
617-298-1262