NCPA's 'FACTUAL INFORMATION' re: their efforts associated w/ NC Mental Health Reform

I have been assigned to Dave Weisner, recently the president of NC Psychological Association. Like the pope, he is supposed to be my go-between associated with getting answers (my! I could get answers!) on matters impacting providers and clients in western NC pertaining to NC mental health reform problems.

Well, we keep missing each other via the phone; so I have not gotten any answers. He did leave me a message and tell me that I could submit 'facts' as associated with a newsletter article-----
'not emotional'----which is a prety amazing thing associated with the practice of psychology given that we see and hear people crying, moaning, and ranting every working day.

What would I like answers to has very much to do with what NCPA could do.

The lack of standardization of the Utilization Review Departments within the LME's is a matter to be tackled by a professional organization.

Basically, my problem w/ NCPA is associated with the lack of detail or ability to see 'inside' their processes and the demand that I use the pope to get to God.

Specifically, as associated with the Public Sector psychologists, no e mail has ever been answered and in keeping w/ the closed door to the membership of NCPA, is the below following statement:

NCPA's public Sector Committee held a retreat this summer and recently released a new Position Statement on Mental Health Reform that was sent to key state legislators.

WHERE is that Position Statement?

There is nothing at the NCPA website: http://www.ncpsychology.com/

Google pulls up nothing when using the descriptor: 'position statement Public

Sector NCPA'

I have sent an e mail to Dr. Weisner and Verla Insko, co-chair of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee, NC STate Legislature ("Verla Insklo" and her assistant re: mental health reform matters ("Rennie Hobby" ) to try and turn up the 'position statement' which, to my mind, should have been posted at the NCPA website.

The following is an outline of what NCPA has stated it has done re: NC MH reform, as stated by Annette r. Perot, PhD, President, NCPA, as copied exactly from the WNCPA newsletter, September, 2008:

"Dear WNCPA Members:

I am writing to provide factual information about NCPA's activities in response to recent comments in the last issue of your newsletter.....

In terms of state mental health reform:

From the beginning of reform in 2001, NCPA commented on the state auditor's report, and later on the hired consultant group's recommendations, as well as on numerous versios of the Department of Health and Human Services STate Plans. Some of these comments resulted in changes to policy.

NCPA has been involved in, participated with, and monitored the established Legislative Oversight Committee, giving testimony when appropriate.

NCPA's lobbying team has had numerous contacts with key legislators and DHHS staff on issues involving mental health reform.

NCPA lobbied successfully for full inclusion of psychologists as directly enrolled providcers in Medicaid. Prior to this inclusion psychologists were not recognized as independent providers by DMA.

NCPA has written several letters of concern, with recommendations about the reform process, to the Division of MH/DD/SA and the Department of Health and Human Services.

NCPA leadership has met with and has been involved with Secretary Benton concerning MH reform.

NCPA worked to get a psychologist on Secretary Benton's panel looking at planning for state psychiatric hospitals.

NCPA has worked on various committees to express concern and provider expertise regarding specifics of the state's reform plan (e.g., services definitions, definitions of target populatikons,etc._)

There have been several articles in various issu of The North Carolina Psychologist about various aspects of mental health reform.

NCPA's public Sector Committee held a retreat this summer and recently released a new Position Statement on Mental Health Reform that was sent to key state legislators. ..."

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"Chapter Five : “Feed the Backlash” from, Taking on the System: Rules for Radical Change in a Digital Era, by Markos Moulitsas Zúniga (2008, Celebra):

“When your enemies (wish they were friends) begin to notice you – and attack you – you have arrived. Instead of avoiding confrontation with gatekeepers and opponents, embrace it and feed it. ..."