Legislative Update — Ariel Cohen, MA, LMFT

CAMFT Facebook Page Legislative Updates
June, July and August 2019

8/2/19

CAMFT released a public statement and a letter to the Department of Homeland Security today denouncing the current border policies that continue to cause long-term psychological harm to immigrant children and families.

“Children who experience difficult life events such as being suddenly and unexpectedly separated from their parents show increased incidents of chronic disease, academic struggle, incarceration, homelessness and substance abuse throughout their lifetimes. These lingering trauma symptoms hamper the trajectory of their economic success and stability.”

Access the full press release here: http://bit.ly/CAMFTPressRel
Read the letter from CAMFT Executive Director Nabil El-Ghoroury, PhD, CAE, to the Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kevin McAleenan, here: http://bit.ly/CAMFTLettertoDHS

7/5/19

CAMFT is proud to announce AARP's support of the bipartisan Mental Health Access Improvement Act (H.R. 945), which would allow MFT’s to become Medicare providers. AARP writes in their letter to Representative Mike Thompson and Representative John Katko, “Improving access to mental health services is especially important as mental and behavioral health issues are becoming an increasing problem for older Americans – a problem that will only escalate further as the population ages.”

6/20/19

CA Legislators Seek to Hold Opioid Manufacturers Accountable: State Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced earlier this month that he is seeking to hold Purdue and Sackler financially responsible for driving up sales, marketing and distribution of OxyContin despite knowing that people were getting hooked and dying. The complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Purdue, which is controlled by the billionaire Sackler family, sought to profit from an epidemic that it helped create.

At least 45 states have now filed lawsuits against Purdue Pharma. States, counties, cities and tribes across the country are waging legal battles against opioid manufacturers for aggressively marketing OxyContin and other painkillers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the opioid epidemic has killed more than 200,000 Americans from 1999 to 2017.

6/17/19

Legislation Update: The Senate Finance Committee is expected to soon unveil bipartisan legislation aimed at lowering drug prices, according to Chairman Chuck Grassley. The proposal, which Grassley is negotiating with ranking member Ron Wyden from Oregon, has not been finalized but is likely to include reforms affecting Medicare Parts B and D, as well as Medicaid, according to committee aides.

Grassley said he's hoping the bill will be ready by June 19, though that remains a tentative target. CAMFT will be keeping an eye on this legislation. #mft #lmft #mentalhealthmatters

Ariel maintains a full-time practice at Teen Therapy Center in Woodland Hills, CA. He works with children, teens, and families, with an emphasis on supporting the special needs community. He can be contacted at 818.674.9834 or ariel@teentherapycenter.com.