What’s Monica been doing?
RECENT ACTIONS
- Legislation filed: 193RD GENERAL COURT (2023-24)
S610 / H989 An Act for supportive care for serious mental illness
Sponsors: Sen Cronin, Rep Decker
Requires health insurers to cover Coordinated Specialty Care and Assertive Community (CSC) Treatment as a benefit reducing the overall cost burden on insurers, while having a much better outcome for the individual, addressing barriers to accessing careHearing held by Joint Committee on Financial Services on June 26, 2023. Replay available. Read Monica’s testimony.
- In addition to personal testimony, Monica supported and arranged for submission of written testimony from fourteen groups – ranging from individuals who have benefited from services and family members, to long time health care operations leaders and providers currently delivering CSC and PACT services.
- Testimony opposing H1694/S980An Act to provide critical community health services, otherwise know as the AOT (Assisted Outpatient Treatment) or OPC (Out Patient Commitment) bills. Monica’s testimony and testimony from many others is available here. Monica helped coordinate and was on a panel with the founders of INSET in New York State. Read more here.
RECENT PRESENTATIONS
- Oct 12, 2023: Presentation to the City of Cambridge Community Safety Department on 988 from a national and Massachusetts perspective.
- Oct 31, 2022: Poster session on 988 for the MAPNET-Step conference and Nov 1 presentation (recording) on funding opportunities for CSC
- Oct 25, 2022: Somerville Police & COHR presented their video. Monica participated on the panel to discuss the opportunities with 988
- Sept 19, 2022: Check out Monica’s discussion with the Mayor of Cambridge (MA) “What is 988 and Who Should Use It?” (passcode: 7=BD@&4B)
- April 5, 2022: Emcee of a robust deep dive into 988 for the NAMI Mass Advocacy Day (recording) including interviews with stakeholders like Tom Insel (former head of NIMH) and Danna Mauch (CEO and President of MAMH) as well as member of the Cambridge Heart Community.