Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 15, 2015

The Senate has proposed a tandem of bills that, combined, would transform Florida’s mental health and substance abuse laws as well as increase the amount of federal Medicaid money used fund the programs. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human services will discuss two bills — released late Friday — at its March 16 […]

James CallMarch 12, 2015

A Florida TaxWatch study finds the state’s network of nonprofit mental health providers is doing such a good job it deserves more money. Florida provides substance abuse and other services to the uninsured through seven regional Behavioral Health Managing Entities. The network enables services to be tailored to the community needs. TaxWatch found the model […]

Ryan RayFebruary 25, 2015

Democratic Rep. Lori Berman of Lantana recently filed a mental health crisis prevention bill in the Florida House designed to increase preventative mental health care, a social service offered on a very limited basis if at all by Florida’s lean state government. “While the Mental Health First Aid Act is only a small step towards improving our […]

Ryan RayFebruary 25, 2015

Democratic Rep. Lori Berman of Lantana recently filed a mental health crisis prevention bill in the Florida House designed to increase preventative mental health care, a social service offered on a very limited basis if at all by Florida’s lean state government. “While the Mental Health First Aid Act is only a small step towards improving our […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 9, 2015

When Chet Bell started in the mental health arena 35 years ago the work, he said, was more akin with the justice system than the health-care arena. That has slowly changed, said Bell, now a management consultant with Stewart Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare, with locations throughout central Florida, including Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, DeLand, DeBary and […]

Christine Jordan SextonJanuary 5, 2015

There will be a push in 2015 to increase the amount of money Florida spends on community-based mental health and substance abuse services. Specifically, the Florida Council for Community Mental Health will ask members of the Legislature to increase their reimbursement rates by $44.5 million in state dollars. Because that money is eligible for matching […]

Tag: mental health

Senate bill seeks additional federal Medicaid dollars for mental health and substance abuse programs

Florida TaxWatch: Mental health providers do good job, deserve more money

Lori Berman files “Mental Health First Aid” bill

Lori Berman files "Mental Health First Aid" bill

Florida needs to spend more money on mental health and substance abuse, provider says

Community-based providers push for more mental health funding