-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | CULT ABUSE POLICY & RESEARCH | | Policy Representation of Cult Victims' Unmet Needs | | at the Federal Level | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Vol. 1, No. 1 Newsletter December 1993 | | *** Online Version *** | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ CAN, AFF WEIGH IN ON MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTH CARE REFORM by David J. Bardin, Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn Washington Counsel for American Family Foundation (AFF) and Cult Awareness Network (CAN) Copyright (c) 1993 David J. Bardin. Permission to copy with attribution is hereby granted. Since early 1993, CAN and AFF have been working to represent cult victim needs in health reform. Mental health coverage is a major issue in the health reform debate. CAN and AFF care because good mental health cov- erage can be extremely important to ex-cult members, many of whom lack any medical or mental health insurance today. Two fundamental issues as to mental health coverage in the final health care bill Congress expects to enact in 1994 are: * Will health care include mental health coverage at all? * Will health care benefits discriminate against mental health? CAN and AFF are working with other national organizations in the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG), a Washington-based advocacy coalition of mental health users and providers. They argue for strong mental health benefits. So does Tipper Gore, wife of the Vice President, who is one of Washington's staunchest advocates of caring for America's mental health needs. Some health plans differentiate between mental health needs and medical needs, others do not. Discrimination may take the form of denying any +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | SINGER-CLINTON EXCHANGE | | | | Prof. Margaret T. Singer wrote Hillary Rodham Clinton last March | | about the "thousands of people who exit from destructive cult groups | | each year" as people likely to have medical and mental health needs | | but lacking health insurance. Mrs. Clinton promptly directed the | | Health Care Task Force to include in its considerations Dr. Singer's | | "experiences in working with cult veterans and your concern about | | the unique problems they face regarding health care." | | | | In later statements to help Congress define a health benefits pack- | | age, AFF President Herbert Rosedale and CAN President Patricia Ryan | | stressed importance "to the well-being of these former cult members | | that there be programs to cover their emotional and mental rehabili- | | tation needs, as well as medical needs of all kinds." [Copy of Mrs. | | Clinton's letter is attached.] | | | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Cult Abuse Policy & Research Newsletter | | December 1993, Vol. 1, No. 1 Online Version Page 2 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ mental health coverage whatsoever, or it may arbitrarily limit the amount of mental health care available in contrast to other care. Dis- crimination will come up as an issue before Congress as it considers health care reform proposals. Clinton compromise The Clinton Administration's health reform proposal covers mental health but compromises on differentiation. For the first two-year "phase-in" period, the Administration would arbitrarily limit mental health bene- fits where it does not limit medical benefits. For example, during the first two years, a patient whose doctor prescribed admission to a hospi- tal mental health care unit could be denied benefits that automatically apply to a patient whose doctor prescribed admission to a medical care unit in the same hospital. In the third year (2001) the plan would end such discrimination. Mental health coverage in dispute The Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a Church of Scientology affili- ate, has written to every member of Congress urging them to eliminate all mental health coverage. Responding, the American Psychiatric Asso- ciation (APA) and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) wrote every Senator and Representative: "You have recently received a diatribe against inclusion of mental health treatment within health care reform and also against psychiatry from . . . an arm of the Church of Scientology." APA and NAMI urged rejection of these "malicious anti- medical attacks" and support for "non-discriminatory coverage of treat- ment for mental illness." [The APA-NAMI letter is attached.] The National Association of Manufacturers has also advocated stripping away all mental health benefits -- as a cost-cutting measure. Yet Amer- ican companies that offer mental health benefits to their employees find that such benefits can actually reduce needs for other medical services and help cut costs. The MHLG told Congress, in testimony endorsed by CAN and AFF, studies show that "Good mental health care . . . can help reduce other physical health care costs" -- not to mention reduced pain and suffering. CAN and AFF call for non-discriminatory mental health component CAN and AFF endorse the Clinton Administration's inclusion of mental health benefits in health care reform but call for starting the health program on a non-discriminatory, non-arbitrary basis from the outset. Write your Congressman and Senators to express your views. +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | ADVISORY COMMITTEE | | The Cult Abuse Policy & Research project is in the process of | | forming its advisory committee, to be listed in future issues. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Send communications to David J. Bardin * Fax: 202/857-6395 | | * Internet: DJB%Arent_Fox@mcimail.com * Phone: 202/857-6089 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Cult Abuse Policy & Research Newsletter | | December 1993, Vol. 1, No. 1 Online Version Page 3 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ {{ Attachment }} THE WHITE HOUSE March 24, 1993 Margaret T. Singer 17 El Camino Real Berkeley, California 94705 Dear Dr. Singer: Thank you for your letter forwarded to me by David J. Bardin, in which you enclosed your statement sharing experiences in working with cult veterans and your concern about the unique problems they face regarding health care. I appreciate your calling this to my attention and am directing it to the Task Force for inclusion in its consider- ations. President Clinton is committed to reforming our nation's health care system -- controlling runaway costs and providing security to every American family. It won't be easy and it won't happen overnight, but we can bring costs under control while maintaining quality medical care and preserving the choice so important to us all. Thank you again for your views and for your support as we seek solu- tions to this incredibly complex issue. Sincerely yours, /s/ _Hillary_ Hillary Rodham Clinton cc: David J. Bardin +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Cult Abuse Policy & Research Newsletter | | December 1993, Vol. 1, No. 1 Online Version Page 4 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ {{ Attachment }} September 28, 1993 The Honorable Daniel K. Akaka United States Senate 720 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Akaka: As the Congress considers the President's health care reform pro- posal, you will have an opportunity to end the historic injustice against persons suffering with mental illness (including substance abuse) by voting to ensure that psychiatric treatment is covered the same as any other medical disorder. We urge you to support non- discriminatory coverage of treatment for mental illness. You may recently have received a diatribe against the inclusion of mental illness treatment within health care reform and also against psy- chiatry from the Citizens Commission on Human Rights. _The_Citizens_ _Commission_is_an_arm_of_the_Church_of_Scientology_, an organization which for many years has had as its objective the eradication of psy- chiatric treatment. Our two organizations are dedicated to advancing the cause of treat- ment for persons with mental illness, and to support for the families of patients. We sincerely hope you will reject the malicious anti-medical attacks of the Citizens Commission. Instead, we urge you to support legislation which provides non-discriminatory coverage of treatment for mental illness. _For_further_information_about_the_Church_of_Scientology_or_the_ _Citizens_Commission_on_Human_Rights,_we_suggest_that_you_contact_the_ _Cult_Awareness_Network,_(312)267-7777,_or_write_to_the_Cult_Awareness_ _Network_at_2421_West_Pratt_Boulevard,_Suite_1173,_Chicago,_IL__60645._ Sincerely, /s/ _Melvin_Sabshin_ /s/ _Laurie_M._Flynn_ Melvin Sabshin, M.D. Laurie M. Flynn Medical Director Executive Director American Psychiatric Association National Alliance for the Mentally Ill -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGPfreeware 6.5.8 for non-commercial use iQA/AwUBOrOCYDL5APkWv2amEQJRmgCgvTIgeebPLx8H9a/USwg2u5JQBb8AmgLu XUmypH8C0rI6fgwcMnG8v4K0 =al8e -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----