Advocacy E-News June 17, 2019
June 17, 2019
COURT NEEDS TO ‘IMMEDIATELY INTERVENE’ AT GREYSTONE READS INJUNCTION
The courts should “immediately intervene” at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital “to halt unlawful and unconstitutional actions by the state that are placing patients’ lives at risk,” reads a class-action lawsuit preliminary injunction filed by the state’s Office of the Public Defender on Thursday. The motion for injunctive relief, filed in federal District Court in Newark, is supported by six sworn statements by four current and two former Greystone employees, including five doctors and a former safety official.
STRONG SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION IN NJ SCHOOLS
The Assembly Education Committee voted unanimously Monday in favor of legislation designed to create a mental health curriculum for public schools that would begin in kindergarten and run through high school. The Senate approved the proposal 34-0 in March; the Democratic-sponsored measure now heads to the full Assembly for a final vote.
COMPANY SUED OVER SALES OF SKIMPY HEALTH PLANS
Two policyholders have filed a lawsuit in federal court against Health Insurance Innovations, based in Tampa, Fla., accusing the company of misleading them about the kind of policy they were buying. Critics of the government’s decision, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness, are also suing the Trump administration over relaxation of rules for these plans. California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York — have largely banned the sale of these products.
N.J. DEMOCRATS SCRAP MURPHY’S MILLIONAIRES TAX IN BUDGET, SETTING UP SHOWDOWN AND POSSIBLE SHUTDOWN
Democratic lawmakers will introduce their own state budget Monday that ditches Gov. Phil Murphy’s long-sought proposal to raise tax increases on millionaires in New Jersey, setting up a showdown with the progressive Democratic governor in the coming days. The Legislature’s budget cuts more than $300 million in spending from Murphy’s budget proposal.
WATCHDOG: ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN NURSING FACILITIES UNREPORTED
Nursing facilities have failed to report thousands of serious cases of potential neglect and abuse of seniors on Medicare even though it’s a federal requirement for them to do so, according to a watchdog report released Wednesday that calls for a new focus on protecting frail patients. Neglect and abuse of elderly patients can be difficult to uncover. Investigators say many cases are not reported because vulnerable older people may be afraid to tell even friends and relatives much less the authorities.
FIND YOUR LOCAL NAMI
