Coalition Goes to Washington

Coalition leaders and staff visited last week with New York City’s Senate and House representatives in DC as well as officials of New York City and New York State. Joining colleagues from across the country at the Hill Day sponsored by the National Council of Behavioral Healthcare, Coalition leaders, Peter Campanelli and Constance Brown (ICL), Sandra Hagan (Child Center of NY), Jonas Waizer (F.E.G.S.), Heather Mermel and Phillip Saperia (Coalition staff) focused their advocacy on key issues facing our sector.

The Coalition delegation articulated arguments for imposing a Congressional moratorium on a package of CMS regulations that would disrupt vital rehabilitation and case management services. We also pushed for a federal parity bill that would provide a minimum of benefits and not preempt any stronger provisions of New York State’s Timothy Law.

Eager to protect funding for addiction treatment and addiction programs and fearing dire consequences for services in New York, the Coalition urged its delegation to oppose the Administration’s proposed cut to the addiction treatment and prevention programs, including the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment block grant.

We added our voices in support of The Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act, promoted by the National Council. This bill would advance policy directions in New York by encouraging integration within the behavioral health sectors and between behavioral and primary health. The coordination of that care would reside within mental health provider agencies, since these agencies have the deepest understanding of people with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders.

2008 Leadership Awards Features Distinguished Honorees

Coalition members, colleagues and friends gathered at Pfizer’s reception facility to celebrate the behavioral health community and to bestow honors on several significant individuals and institutions that have made contributions to the sector.

Receiving the Coalition’s Leadership Awards was Deborah Bachrach, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Health and Insurance Programs and State Medicaid Director who was cited by Coalition’s Executive Director, Phillip A. Saperia, for being a “driven and passionate advocate, consummate political strategist, organizer and issues analyst.”

Also accepting a Leadership award was Dr. Richard Rosenthal, Chair of St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry, on behalf of The Addiction Institute of New York. The Addiction Institute was lauded for becoming “a world renowned center for treatment and service to people who struggle with all kinds of addictions.” Leadership Award winner, Dr. Petros Levounis, renowned Director of The Addiction Institute received his own Coalition Leadership Award from William S. Witherspoon, Director of the Upper Manhattan Mental Health Center and Coalition Board member. Dr. Levounis, who has been an instructor in The Coalition’s Professional Learning Center was celebrated as having “cut an impactful swath through the addictions service world, the academy and the behavioral health sector.”

Alvin H. Perlmutter, President of Alvin H. Perlmutter, Inc. Sunrise Media LLC and Director of the Independent Production Fund, award winning film maker, was recognized for his lifetime of film making that “put your talents to the task of provoking public debate on difficult but significant issues, clarifying values and smashing the idols of superstition.” He was presented his award by Jonas Waizer, Chief Operating Officer for Behavioral and Health Related Services at FEGS and President of The Coalition’s Board of Directors.

Recipient of The Coalition’s Founders Award was our beloved Gayle DeRienzis, longtime Coalition leader and Board member, and recent Associate Director for Government Relations and Public Affairs for Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services of Brooklyn and Queens. Her award was presented by former colleague Coalition founder, Joyce Pilsner. She lauded Gayle with these words: “Every trip to Albany, every trek to city hall—you were there—pushing, engaging and in your disarming and kind personal way, staking out the important positions that would help us make our case. We miss your smile, your point of view, and we miss your caring, compassionate and comforting presence.”

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Read the June 25, 2008 issue of Briefs »