Mental Health for 2012 budget got $249,300,000 which is almost $7,000,000 more than this current fiscal year.

Need to watch where they spend it. A big push should be for home and community services and treatment. Let’s see if director puts any of funds towards the ID/DD waiver to address the waiting list of over 2,500????

NO MORE INSTITUTIONS!

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has reached a settlement with Inova Health System to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing in the provision of medical services. The agreement, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act, resolves a complaint that Inova failed to provide sign language interpreters to an expectant mother and others who are deaf and need interpreters to communicate effectively with health care providers.

The department’s lawsuit, filed yesterday with a consent decree in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleged that Inova Health System violated the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act by failing to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including sign language interpreter services, to deaf individuals at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Because of the hospital’s failure to provide sign language interpreter services, deaf individuals were denied the benefit of effective communication with hospital staff, the opportunity to effectively participate in medical treatment decisions, and the full benefit of health care services provided by Inova Fairfax Hospital, according to the complaint.

“The ADA protects the right of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to be able to access medical services, and this settlement is the latest example of the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to enforcing the ADA,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “This settlement also demonstrates Inova Health System’s commitment to provide effective communication to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.”

“This settlement shows that Inova and the government share the same goal – making sure that deaf and hard of hearing patients can communicate with their doctors, especially at critical moments in their medical care,” said Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The consent decree, which must be approved by the district court, requires Inova Health System to pay $95,000 to aggrieved individuals and a $25,000 civil penalty; provide training to hospital staff on the requirements of the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act; and adopt specific policies and procedures to ensure that auxiliary aids and services are promptly provided to patients or companions who are deaf or hard of hearing. Inova Health System has also separately agreed to pay a total of $25,000 to two other aggrieved individuals.

The ADA and Rehabilitation Act prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities by hospitals. Among other things, the ADA requires doctors, hospitals and other health care providers to provide equal access to patients and companions who are deaf or hard of hearing. When medical services involve important, lengthy or complex oral communications with patients or companions, hospitals are generally required to provide qualified sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids, free of charge, to individuals who are deaf, are hard of hearing or have speech disabilities. The appropriate auxiliary aid to be provided depends on a variety of factors, including the nature, length and importance of the communication; the communication skills and knowledge of the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing; and the individual’s stated need for a particular type of auxiliary aid.

Those interested in finding out more about this settlement or hospitals’ effective communication obligations under the ADA may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov <http://www.ada.gov/> . ADA complaints may be filed by email to ada.complaint@usdoj.gov.

Legislative Update, March 29, 2011

Special Education:

Senate Bill 2433

The procedural safeguards rights of parents who have children receiving special education services as stated in IDEA 2004.

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2011/pdf/history/SB/SB2433.xml

Senate Conferees Named: Carmichael, Burton, Blount

House Conferees Named: Brown, Broomfield,Gardner

S) Conference Report Filed

03/27 (H) Conference Report Filed

03/28 (H) Conference Report Adopted

03/28 (S) Conference Report Adopted

Conference Report

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2011/pdf/cr/SB2433CR.pdf

Senate Bill 2362

Students with disabilities; revise civil action time limitation.

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2011/pdf/history/SB/SB2362.xml

Approved by Governor

House Bill 1144

Exceptional children requiring inpatient care; clarify eligibility to receive both state and federal funding. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2011/pdf/history/HB/HB1144.xml

House Conferees Named: Brown, Myers,  Whittington

Senate Conferees Named: Carmichael, McDaniel, Davis

(S) Conference Report Filed

03/27 (H) Conference Report Filed

03/28 (H) Conference Report Adopted

03/29 (S) Conference Report Adopted

Conference Report

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2011/pdf/cr/HB1144CR.pdf

House Bill 1177

Joint Education and Mental Health Study Committee; create to study services provided to children with mental disorders. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2011/pdf/history/HB/HB1177.xml

House Conferees Named:  Brown, Clarke, Holland

Senate Conferees Named: Carmichael,Bryan,Harden

03/28 (H) Conference Report Filed

03/28 (S) Conference Report Filed

03/29 (S) Conference Report Adopted

Conference Report

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2011/pdf/cr/HB1177CR.pdf
Senate Bill 2836

Mississippi Mental Health Reform Act of 2011″; enact.

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2011/pdf/history/SB/SB2836.xml

Conference Report Filed

Conference Report Filed

Conference Report Adopted

Conference Report Adopted

Conference Report

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2011/pdf/cr/SB2836CR.pdf

Senate Concurrent Resolution 557

Designate “Mississippi Disability Week.”

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2011/pdf/history/SC/SC0557.xml

Sent to the Governor to sign

Public Meetings and Records

Senate Bill 2554

“Mississippi Accountability and Transparency Act”; define data to be maintained on searchable Web site.

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2011/pdf/history/SB/SB2554.xml

Senate Conferees Named: Brown,Clarke,Collins

House Conferees Named: Stringer,Brown, Dedeaux

(S) Conference Report Filed

Conference Report Filed

Conference Report Adopted

Conference Report Adopted

Conference Report

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2011/pdf/cr/SB2554CR.pdf
Special Olympics Mississippi Team; commend achievements of and extend wishes for success at Special Olympic World Summer Games.

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2011/pdf/history/HR/HR0092.xml

Adopted