Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
August 15, 2003, Vol. 03-71

NEW FREEDOM INITIATIVE OPEN DOOR FORUM

Open Door forums are a series of CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) monthly and bi-monthly audio conferences that focus on issues specific to Medicare and Medicaid.

The next New Freedom Initiative open door forum is scheduled for:

Date: August 27, 2003

Start Time: 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

Topic: CMS Initiatives Related to the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health

Conference Leader(s): Dennis Smith/Rich Lawlor/Joe Tilghman

Special Guest: Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W., Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)

Two Ways to Participate

1. Telephone Participation: (RSVP is not required)
Call-in Phone #: 1-800-837-1935

(Access TTY by dialing 711)

Conference ID: 9828505

Please register for the remaining NFI Open Door Forums through: www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoor/listservs.asp

(The call-in and conference ID numbers for subsequent forums will be made available to individuals who have registered.)

2. "In-person" Participation (RSVP is required)

Location: The Hubert H. Humphrey Building
Room 325A
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

RSVP Instructions:

a. To RSVP, reply to the e-mailed invitation by sending us your name and organization NO LATER THAN MONDAY, August 25, 2003.

b. Please include your first and last name and spell out the name of your organization.

ENCORE (Recording)
This is an audio recording of the conference that is available to you for 3 days, beginning 2 hours after the conference call has ended.

Encore Dial In #:1-800-642-1687
Conference ID #:9828505

For materials to help you prepare for the NFI Open Door Forum please see below or visit the CMS website at www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/

NFI ODF CMS Initiatives Related to the President's Commission on Mental Health

Resource Material:

Please click on the link below for the report by the President's Commission on Mental Health. http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov/reports/Finalreport/FullReport.htm. To assist in your review, the specific items related to CMS may be found on pages 26, 39, 42, 66, and 74 of the full report.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can a State finance evidence-based practices?

2. How can a State finance other peer-delivered services?

3. What might a self-directed demonstration for persons with mental illness look like?

4. What might an IMD demonstration look like?

5. How will SAMHSA and CMS work together to advance mental health issues?