nami smarts for...mi smarts for advocacy workshop, medication: protecting choice, part of nami’s...
TRANSCRIPT
@
NAMI SMARTSfor
ADVOCACY
TEACHER MANUAL
Volume II
INSERT TAB: module 4 Script
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 1
© 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
No.
of w
orks
hop
slid
es:
37
Wor
ksho
p to
tal t
ime:
90
min
utes
(at a
bris
k pa
ce)
slid
e 1
App
rox.
2 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pts
In
trodu
ctio
n an
d go
al
A
ffirm
par
ticip
ants
’re
adin
ess
to b
egin
wor
ksho
p
E
valu
atio
n fo
rm
Hel
lo e
very
one.
Wel
com
e to
the
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y w
orks
hop,
M
edic
atio
n: P
rote
ctin
g C
hoic
e, p
art o
f NA
MI’s
gra
ssro
ots
advo
cacy
se
ries.
My
nam
e is
[nam
e] a
nd I
will
be fa
cilit
atin
g yo
ur le
arni
ng to
day.
A
nd h
elpi
ng u
s to
day
is [n
ame]
.
Dur
ing
this
wor
ksho
p, w
e'll
talk
abo
ut m
enta
l hea
lth m
edic
atio
ns a
s an
im
porta
nt p
art o
f man
y pe
ople
’s re
cove
ry. W
e’ll
also
dis
cuss
the
pow
er o
f yo
ur s
tory
to im
pact
a p
erso
n’s
abilit
y to
get
the
med
icat
ion
they
nee
d. A
s pa
rt of
this
wor
ksho
p, w
e'll
guid
e yo
u th
roug
h w
ritin
g yo
ur s
tory
in s
even
sh
ort s
teps
.
Med
icat
ions
may
not
hav
e w
orke
d w
ell f
or y
ou o
r you
may
not
cho
ose
to
take
them
. If t
hat’s
the
case
, you
can
stil
l use
you
r liv
ed e
xper
ienc
e—yo
ur
stor
y—to
sup
port
othe
r peo
ple
havi
ng c
hoic
es, i
nclu
ding
new
opt
ions
that
m
ay w
ork
bette
r or h
ave
few
er s
ide
effe
cts.
Whe
n yo
u co
mpl
ete
this
wor
ksho
p, o
ur g
oal i
s th
at y
ou ta
ke w
ith y
ou a
ve
rsio
n of
you
r sto
ry th
at y
ou c
an u
se to
rais
e aw
aren
ess,
insp
ire o
ther
s an
d in
fluen
ce d
ecis
ion
mak
ers.
We
hope
you
’re e
xcite
d. A
re y
ou re
ady
to s
tart
? [W
ait f
or a
resp
onse
, if
appr
opria
te] G
reat
, we’
ll ge
t sta
rted.
To b
egin
, ple
ase
take
out
you
r eva
luat
ion
form
and
fill
out t
he fi
rst
colu
mn
for q
uest
ion
one
and
two
only
. You
will
fill o
ut th
e re
st o
f the
ev
alua
tion
form
at t
he e
nd o
f the
wor
ksho
p.
[Giv
e pa
rtici
pant
s ab
out h
alf a
min
. to
fill o
ut th
e fir
st tw
o qu
estio
ns.]
Star
t the
wor
ksho
p on
tim
e
Han
dout
: Ev
alua
tion
Form
Hel
per o
r Fa
cilit
ator
:
Hel
p pa
rtici
pant
sge
t sea
ted
A
dvan
ceP
ower
Poi
nt s
lides
H
elp
parti
cipa
nts
find
eval
uatio
nfo
rm a
nd fi
ll in
first
col
umn
for
ques
tion
1 an
d 2
Cau
tion:
P
eopl
e w
ho’v
e ex
perie
nced
a
prof
ound
loss
or
even
t(s) m
ay fi
nd
that
writ
ing
thei
r st
ory
trigg
ers
grie
f or
over
whe
lms.
If th
is
happ
ens,
be
prep
ared
to a
ssis
t yo
ur p
artic
ipan
t(s) i
n sa
ving
sto
ry-w
ritin
g fo
r ano
ther
tim
e.
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 2
© 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
2 A
ppro
x. 1
min
C
ore
Con
cept
s
Wor
ksho
p fo
rmat
Med
icat
ion
Pro
tect
ing
Cho
ice
is fo
rmat
ted
to b
uild
on
wha
t res
earc
h sh
ows
help
s pe
ople
lear
n:
Firs
t, yo
u w
ill le
arn
why
tellin
g yo
ur s
tory
abo
ut m
edic
atio
ns is
im
porta
nt
N
ext,
you’
ll he
ar ti
ps fo
r tel
ling
your
sto
ry e
ffect
ivel
y
List
en to
an
exam
ple
D
isco
ver w
hat m
akes
a s
tory
wor
k
Writ
e yo
ur o
wn
stor
y an
d
Prac
tice
shar
ing
it.
H
ow d
oes
this
sou
nd to
you
? [W
ait f
or g
roup
to re
spon
d.]
Aga
in, t
oday
’s w
orks
hop
is fo
cuse
d on
usi
ng y
our s
tory
to h
elp
peop
le g
et
the
right
men
tal h
ealth
med
icat
ions
eas
ily.
sl
ide
3
App
rox.
1 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
T
urn
off e
lect
roni
c de
vice
s
P
artic
ipat
e fu
lly
H
old
ques
tions
Can
not p
rovi
de m
edic
atio
n ad
vice
This
wor
ksho
p co
vers
a lo
t of g
roun
d in
a s
hort
am
ount
of t
ime.
In
orde
r for
eve
ryon
e to
get
the
mos
t out
of t
his
sess
ion,
I’d
like
to a
sk y
ou
to a
gree
to th
e fo
llow
ing
basi
c gr
ound
rule
s:
Tu
rn o
ff yo
ur e
lect
roni
c de
vice
s un
less
abs
olut
ely
nece
ssar
y
P
artic
ipat
e fu
lly—
be w
illing
to d
o ea
ch o
f the
act
iviti
es a
nd to
sta
y fo
cuse
d
B
ecau
se o
ur ti
me
is li
mite
d, p
leas
e ke
ep q
uest
ions
and
com
men
ts
very
brie
f
Th
is is
not
“Ask
the
doct
or,”
so if
you
hav
e qu
estio
ns a
bout
spe
cific
m
edic
atio
ns, p
leas
e fo
llow
up
with
a p
resc
riber
To
kee
p us
on
time,
I’ll
be s
igna
ling
you
whe
n w
e ne
ed to
sto
p an
act
ivity
. I’l
l let
you
kno
w b
y [in
dica
te h
ow y
ou’ll
sign
al p
artic
ipan
ts—
voic
e, h
and,
ch
ime,
etc
.] P
leas
e be
willi
ng to
sto
p ev
en if
you
are
not
fini
shed
. If
you
have
que
stio
ns o
r com
men
ts th
at a
ren’
t ans
wer
ed d
urin
g th
e w
orks
hop,
feel
free
to a
sk th
em w
hen
the
wor
ksho
p is
ove
r.
Are
you
will
ing
to fo
llow
thes
e gr
ound
rule
s? [W
ait f
or re
spon
se]
Than
k yo
u!
Prep
: D
ecid
e ho
w y
ou w
ill si
gnal
par
ticip
ants
du
ring
the
wor
ksho
p (e
.g.,
by v
oice
, rai
sed
hand
, chi
me,
etc
.)
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 3
© 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
4
App
rox.
3 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pts
W
hy th
is w
orks
hop?
Med
icat
ion
is a
reco
very
tool
, th
ough
not
for e
very
one
I
ndiv
idua
l res
pons
e va
ries
We’
d lik
e to
say
a w
ord
abou
t why
this
wor
ksho
p is
par
t of N
AM
I Sm
arts
fo
r Adv
ocac
y. N
AM
I see
ks to
bui
ld b
ette
r liv
es fo
r all
who
are
affe
cted
by
men
tal i
llnes
s or
men
tal h
ealth
con
ditio
ns.
We
know
that
med
icat
ion
can
be a
val
uabl
e to
ol in
a p
erso
n’s
reco
very
. W
e al
so k
now
that
not
eve
ryon
e ta
kes
med
icat
ion
as p
art o
f men
tal
heal
th tr
eatm
ent.
B
ut fo
r tho
se w
ho d
o, w
e kn
ow th
at o
ne s
ize
does
not
fit a
ll be
caus
e m
enta
l hea
lth m
edic
atio
ns a
ffect
peo
ple
in d
iffer
ent w
ays.
Med
icat
ions
th
at w
ork
for o
ne p
erso
n m
ay n
ot w
ork
for a
noth
er. A
nd, i
f sid
e ef
fect
s ca
use
prob
lem
s an
othe
r med
icat
ion,
or c
ombi
natio
n of
med
icat
ions
, may
w
ork
bette
r.
That
’s w
hy y
our l
ived
exp
erie
nce
is s
o va
luab
le to
info
rm th
e de
cisi
on
mak
ers
char
ged
with
dec
idin
g w
ho c
an g
et w
hat k
ind
of m
enta
l hea
lth
med
icat
ion.
E
ven
if m
edic
atio
n is
not
par
t of t
reat
men
t for
you
rsel
f or s
omeo
ne y
ou
care
abo
ut, y
ou c
an s
uppo
rt ch
oice
for o
ther
s.
sl
ide
5
App
rox.
3 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pts
H
ow h
as m
edic
atio
n he
lped
?
W
hat d
id it
take
to g
et th
e rig
ht m
edic
atio
n?
To s
tart,
let’s
thin
k ab
out t
he ro
le m
edic
atio
n ha
s pl
ayed
in y
our r
ecov
ery
or th
e re
cove
ry o
f som
eone
you
kno
w. W
hat h
as it
take
n to
get
the
right
m
edic
atio
n? H
ave
you
had
med
icat
ions
that
did
n’t w
ork
for y
ou o
r had
pr
oble
ms
getti
ng th
e m
edic
atio
n yo
u ne
ed?
I’l
l rea
d th
e fir
st q
uest
ion,
then
the
seco
nd. I
f you
’d li
ke to
sha
re, r
aise
yo
ur h
and.
Let
’s tr
y fo
r a c
oupl
e of
resp
onse
s to
eac
h qu
estio
n.
Brie
fly, h
ow h
as m
edic
atio
n he
lped
with
you
r rec
over
y or
the
reco
very
of s
omeo
ne y
ou c
are
abou
t? [T
ake
2 br
ief r
espo
nses
) B
riefly
, wha
t did
it ta
ke to
get
the
right
med
icat
ion?
Any
cha
lleng
es?
[Tak
e 2
brie
f res
pons
es, t
hen
than
k re
spon
dent
s fo
r sha
ring]
A
s w
e st
art e
xplo
ring
wha
t can
get
in th
e w
ay o
f peo
ple
getti
ng th
e m
edic
atio
n th
ey n
eed,
thin
k ab
out t
he ro
le m
edic
atio
n pl
ays
in re
cove
ry
and
wha
t it c
an ta
ke to
get
the
right
med
icat
ion.
Not
e:
Slid
e ha
s au
tom
atio
n—qu
estio
ns w
ill fa
de in
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 4
© 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
6
App
rox.
1.5
min
C
ore
Con
cept
s
Hea
lth p
lans
sho
uld
help
pe
ople
get
the
right
m
edic
atio
n
Man
y pe
ople
get
thei
r med
icat
ion
thro
ugh
a he
alth
pla
n. A
hea
lth p
lan
can
be a
:
Com
mer
cial
hea
lth in
sura
nce
plan
, lik
e B
lueC
ross
or A
etna
H
ealth
insu
ranc
e fo
r the
milit
ary,
like
TR
ICA
RE
G
over
nmen
t-fun
ded
heal
th p
lan,
like
Med
icai
d, w
hich
cov
ers
low
-in
com
e A
mer
ican
s, o
r Med
icar
e P
art D
pla
ns, w
hich
cov
er
med
icat
ions
for o
lder
Am
eric
ans
and
peop
le w
ith d
isab
ilitie
s
Thro
ugho
ut th
is w
orks
hop,
we’
ll us
e th
e te
rm h
ealth
pla
ns to
mea
n an
y ki
nd o
f priv
ate
or g
over
nmen
t hea
lth in
sura
nce
or h
ealth
cov
erag
e.
Hea
lth p
lans
hav
e to
bal
ance
…
H
ow m
uch
they
cha
rge
for a
pla
n (th
e in
sura
nce
prem
ium
) or t
he
fund
ing
they
rece
ive
with
…
W
hat i
t cos
ts to
pro
vide
qua
lity
care
, inc
ludi
ng m
edic
atio
n, fo
r the
ir m
embe
rs
A
s pa
rt of
man
agin
g bo
th c
ost a
nd q
ualit
y, N
AM
I bel
ieve
s th
at h
ealth
pl
ans
shou
ld h
elp
peop
le g
et th
e rig
ht m
edic
atio
n to
aid
in th
eir r
ecov
ery.
W
ithou
t the
righ
t med
icat
ion,
peo
ple
may
exp
erie
nce
poor
hea
lth
outc
omes
—an
d ne
ed m
ore
cost
ly c
are,
like
hos
pita
lizat
ion.
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 5
© 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
7
App
rox.
.5 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
H
ealth
pla
ns m
ay m
ake
it di
fficu
lt to
get
the
right
m
edic
atio
n
Yet
eve
n th
ough
the
right
med
icat
ion
may
hel
p w
ith y
our r
ecov
ery,
hea
lth
plan
s m
ay m
ake
it di
fficu
lt to
get
the
right
med
icat
ion.
H
ealth
pla
ns tr
y to
hel
p pe
ople
reco
ver a
nd s
tay
wel
l whi
le m
anag
ing
cost
s. B
ut h
ow a
hea
lth p
lan
man
ages
ben
efits
can
affe
ct w
heth
er it
is
easy
or d
iffic
ult f
or p
eopl
e to
get
the
med
icat
ion
that
’s ri
ght f
or th
em.
sl
ide
8
App
rox.
1 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
H
ealth
pla
ns m
ay li
mit
choi
ces
of m
edic
atio
ns o
n its
form
ular
y
One
of t
he m
ost c
omm
on w
ays
heal
th p
lans
may
mak
e it
hard
er fo
r pe
ople
to g
et th
e rig
ht m
edic
atio
n is
by
limiti
ng y
our c
hoic
e of
cov
ered
m
edic
atio
ns.
Hea
lth p
lans
als
o ty
pica
lly c
hang
e th
eir l
ist o
f cov
ered
med
icat
ions
on
e or
mor
e tim
es a
yea
r. A
hea
lth p
lan’
s lis
t of c
over
ed m
edic
atio
ns is
cal
led
a fo
rmul
ary
or a
pr
efer
red
drug
list
(PD
L).
We’
re g
oing
to m
entio
n so
me
com
mon
term
s us
ed b
y he
alth
pla
ns to
day,
bu
t you
won
’t ne
ed to
rem
embe
r the
m in
this
wor
ksho
p. W
e’ve
incl
uded
a
glos
sary
of t
he te
rms
we’
re u
sing
in y
our p
acke
t for
you
to re
ad la
ter,
if yo
u lik
e.
Han
dout
: G
loss
ary
Hel
per o
r Fa
cilit
ator
: H
old
up a
cop
y of
the
Glo
ssar
y w
hen
it’s
men
tione
d in
the
scrip
t
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 6
© 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
9
App
rox.
3 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
P
&T
Com
mitt
ees
are
ofte
n th
e de
cisi
on-m
aker
s fo
r pl
an fo
rmul
arie
s
You
may
be
won
derin
g w
ho m
akes
the
deci
sion
s ab
out w
hat m
edic
atio
ns
your
hea
lth p
lan
cove
rs o
r wha
t you
hav
e to
do
to g
et th
em. I
n so
me
case
s, a
hea
lth p
lan’
s ph
arm
acy
dire
ctor
or p
harm
acy
bene
fit m
anag
er, a
co
mpa
ny th
at m
anag
es m
edic
atio
ns fo
r a h
ealth
pla
n, d
ecid
es w
hich
m
edic
atio
ns w
ill be
cov
ered
and
how
. S
ome
plan
s, li
ke M
edic
are
Par
t D a
nd M
edic
aid
plan
s, a
re re
quire
d to
ha
ve a
Pha
rmac
y an
d Th
erap
eutic
s C
omm
ittee
, mor
e co
mm
only
cal
led
a P
&T
Com
mitt
ee. P
&T
Com
mitt
ees
are
mad
e up
of d
octo
rs a
nd o
ther
he
alth
pro
fess
iona
ls a
nd s
omet
imes
hav
e m
embe
r or a
dvoc
ate
repr
esen
tativ
es. I
n 20
17, m
ore
com
mer
cial
hea
lth p
lans
will
be re
quire
d to
hav
e a
P&
T C
omm
ittee
, too
. P
&T
Com
mitt
ees
revi
ew s
cien
tific
evi
denc
e fo
r a m
edic
atio
n’s
effe
ctiv
enes
s, s
afet
y, s
ide
effe
cts,
dru
g in
tera
ctio
ns, c
ost a
nd o
ther
fa
ctor
s. T
he C
omm
ittee
wei
ghs
thes
e fa
ctor
s, a
long
with
sto
ries
or
test
imon
y fro
m th
e pu
blic
, and
then
mak
es a
reco
mm
enda
tion
or d
ecis
ion
for c
over
age
by th
e pl
an.
We
wan
t to
poin
t out
that
hea
lth p
lans
may
mak
e de
cisi
ons
to n
ot c
over
a
med
icat
ion
or to
rest
rict i
ts c
over
age
beca
use
the
med
icat
ion:
May
hav
e da
nger
ous
or s
erio
us s
ide
effe
cts
or in
tera
ctio
ns,
Is
n’t a
ppro
ved
for c
erta
in h
ealth
con
ditio
ns,
M
ay h
ave
limite
d ef
fect
iven
ess
or is
effe
ctiv
e on
ly u
nder
cer
tain
co
nditi
ons
or
E
ffect
iven
ess
or s
afet
y m
ay n
ot b
e w
ell-e
stab
lishe
d or
may
be
in
ques
tion.
Cov
erag
e of
a m
edic
atio
n m
ay a
lso
be li
mite
d be
caus
e:
A
gen
eric
ver
sion
of t
he m
edic
atio
n is
ava
ilabl
e or
The
med
icat
ion
is m
ore
expe
nsiv
e th
an o
ther
med
icat
ions
use
d to
tre
at th
e sa
me
cond
ition
.
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 7
© 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
10
App
rox.
.5 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
M
edic
atio
n co
vera
ge g
ets
mor
e co
mpl
icat
ed
We’
ve m
entio
ned
that
hea
lth p
lans
can
lim
it yo
ur c
hoic
e of
cov
ered
m
edic
atio
ns a
nd c
an c
hang
e th
eir l
ist o
f cov
ered
med
icat
ions
one
or
mor
e tim
es a
yea
r. W
e al
so n
oted
that
, for
man
y pl
ans,
P&
T C
omm
ittee
s ar
e in
fluen
tial o
r dec
isio
n-m
aker
s on
cov
erag
e of
med
icat
ions
. B
ut, i
t get
s ev
en m
ore
com
plic
ated
… [P
ause
for a
mom
ent]
sl
ide
11
App
rox.
2 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
H
ealth
pla
ns m
ay p
ut s
ome
med
icat
ions
in h
ighe
r “tie
rs”
and
char
ge h
ighe
r cos
ts
Ano
ther
way
hea
lth p
lans
may
mak
e it
hard
er fo
r you
to g
et th
e rig
ht
med
icat
ion
is b
y pu
tting
som
e m
edic
atio
ns in
a h
ighe
r “tie
r” or
leve
l on
its
list o
f cov
ered
med
icat
ions
.
Com
mer
cial
hea
lth in
sura
nce
plan
s an
d M
edic
are
Par
t D p
lans
usu
ally
ha
ve ti
ered
dru
g lis
ts. D
rugs
on
the
low
est t
ier h
ave
no o
r low
er o
ut-o
f-po
cket
cos
ts c
ompa
red
to d
rugs
on
high
er ti
ers.
O
ut-o
f-poc
ket c
osts
may
take
the
form
of c
opay
s (a
set
am
ount
you
hav
e to
pay
), co
insu
ranc
e (a
per
cent
age
of th
e to
tal d
rug
cost
) or a
de
duct
ible
(an
amou
nt y
ou h
ave
to p
ay b
efor
e co
vera
ge w
ill be
gin
or
resu
me)
. Th
e tie
r lev
el o
f a m
edic
atio
n is
ofte
n lis
ted
on a
pla
n’s
drug
list
. How
ever
, th
e lis
t mig
ht n
ot te
ll yo
u w
hat t
he o
ut-o
f-poc
ket c
ost w
ill be
for d
rugs
on
diffe
rent
tier
s.
Hav
e yo
u ev
er h
ad a
cop
ay o
r coi
nsur
ance
that
mad
e yo
ur
med
icat
ion
unaf
ford
able
? [T
ake
a qu
ick
resp
onse
or t
wo]
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 8
© 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
12
App
rox.
1 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
H
ealth
pla
ns m
ay li
st
med
icat
ions
as
“non
-pr
efer
red”
and
cha
rge
mor
e
Hea
lth p
lans
may
als
o lis
t som
e m
edic
atio
ns a
s “p
refe
rred”
and
oth
ers
as
“non
-pre
ferre
d.” P
refe
rred
med
icat
ions
are
cov
ered
by
the
plan
. Non
-pr
efer
red
med
icat
ions
may
be
avai
labl
e at
a h
ighe
r cos
t—or
may
not
be
cove
red
at a
ll.
A p
lan
may
mak
e a
med
icat
ion
“pre
ferr
ed” b
ecau
se it
is s
afer
or m
ore
effe
ctiv
e th
an a
sim
ilar m
edic
atio
n, b
ut a
med
icat
ion
may
als
o be
pr
efer
red
beca
use
it is
less
exp
ensi
ve to
the
plan
than
an
alte
rnat
ive
med
icat
ion.
H
ave
you
ever
nee
ded
a m
edic
atio
n th
at w
as “
non-
pref
erre
d” o
n yo
ur h
ealth
pla
n? [T
ake
a qu
ick
resp
onse
or t
wo]
sl
ide
13
App
rox.
1 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
H
ealth
pla
ns m
ay re
quire
“p
rior a
utho
rizat
ion”
You
may
als
o ha
ve p
robl
ems
getti
ng th
e rig
ht m
edic
atio
n if
your
pla
n re
quire
s “p
rior a
utho
rizat
ion”
or p
rior a
ppro
val.
Prio
r aut
horiz
atio
n m
eans
th
at y
our d
octo
r mus
t con
tact
you
r hea
lth p
lan
and
requ
est c
over
age
of
the
med
icat
ion.
If
prio
r aut
horiz
atio
n, o
r “P
A,”
is g
rant
ed, y
our p
lan
will
cove
r the
dru
g, b
ut
you
may
hav
e an
out
-of-p
ocke
t cos
t. S
ome
plan
s re
quire
a n
ew p
rior
auth
oriz
atio
n ev
ery
year
or e
ven
ever
y tim
e yo
u re
fill y
our m
edic
atio
n.
If pr
ior a
utho
rizat
ion
is n
ot g
rant
ed, y
our p
lan
won
’t co
ver t
he c
ost o
f the
m
edic
atio
n. B
ut, y
ou h
ave
the
right
to a
ppea
l you
r pla
n’s
deci
sion
.
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 9
© 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
14
App
rox.
1 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
H
ealth
pla
ns m
ay re
quire
“s
tep
ther
apy”
Hea
lth p
lans
may
als
o us
e “s
tep
ther
apy”
—re
quiri
ng y
ou to
try
and
fail
on
one
or m
ore
med
icat
ions
bef
ore
they
will
appr
ove
cove
rage
for a
diff
eren
t m
edic
atio
n.
For e
xam
ple,
a p
lan
may
requ
ire y
ou to
try
a ge
neric
ant
ipsy
chot
ic fo
r se
vera
l wee
ks a
nd h
ave
your
doc
tor d
ocum
ent t
hat i
t did
not
wor
k fo
r you
be
fore
aut
horiz
ing
cove
rage
for a
diff
eren
t bra
nd n
ame
antip
sych
otic
. H
ave
you
ever
had
a b
ad e
xper
ienc
e w
ith e
ither
prio
r aut
horiz
atio
n or
ste
p th
erap
y? [T
ake
a co
uple
of b
rief r
espo
nses
]
sl
ide
15
App
rox.
.5 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
F
orm
ular
y re
quire
men
ts
can
keep
you
from
get
ting
the
med
icat
ion
you
need
We’
ve ju
st ta
lked
abo
ut:
Li
mite
d ch
oice
s of
med
icat
ions
on
form
ular
ies,
Tier
ed li
sts
of c
over
ed m
edic
atio
ns w
ith h
ighe
r cos
ts a
t hig
her
tiers
,
Non
-pre
ferr
ed m
edic
atio
ns th
at c
ost m
ore
or a
ren’
t cov
ered
,
Req
uire
men
ts fo
r a d
octo
r to
requ
est “
prio
r aut
horiz
atio
n” a
nd
S
tep
ther
apy
requ
irem
ents
. A
ny o
f the
se m
ay k
eep
you
from
get
ting
the
med
icat
ion
you
need
.
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 1
0 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
16
App
rox.
1 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
N
ot g
ettin
g th
e rig
ht
med
icat
ion
may
put
you
at
high
er ri
sk
Not
get
ting
the
right
med
icat
ion
may
put
you
at h
ighe
r ris
k fo
r em
erge
ncy
room
vis
its, h
ospi
taliz
atio
n or
oth
er p
oor o
utco
mes
. A
ccor
ding
to a
ten-
stat
e st
udy
of M
edic
aid
pres
crip
tion
polic
ies,
re
sear
cher
s fo
und
that
prio
r aut
horiz
atio
n of
med
icat
ions
wer
e as
soci
ated
w
ith p
eopl
e be
ing:
Mor
e th
an tw
ice
as li
kely
to b
e re
port
ed h
omel
ess
and
Thre
e tim
es m
ore
likel
y to
be
hosp
italiz
ed.
Peo
ple
who
dis
cont
inue
d or
tem
pora
rily
stop
ped
thei
r med
icat
ions
due
to
prob
lem
s ge
tting
thei
r med
icat
ions
wer
e m
ore
than
twic
e as
like
ly to
en
d up
in ja
il.
sl
ide
17
App
rox.
.5 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
1
out
of 1
3 E
D v
isits
in
volv
ed m
enta
l illn
ess
Let’s
look
at s
ome
num
bers
for e
mer
genc
y de
partm
ent v
isits
. Acc
ordi
ng
to h
ospi
tal d
ata,
mor
e th
an o
ne o
ut o
f eve
ry 1
3 em
erge
ncy
depa
rtm
ent
visi
ts a
mon
g ad
ults
invo
lved
men
tal i
llnes
s.
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 1
1 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
18
App
rox.
.5 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
M
ood
diso
rder
s a
top
reas
on fo
r hos
pita
l ad
mis
sion
s
For a
dults
, moo
d di
sord
ers
wer
e th
e to
p re
ason
for a
dmis
sion
to a
ho
spita
l afte
r an
emer
genc
y de
partm
ent v
isit
in 2
011.
A
nd m
ood
diso
rder
s w
ere
the
four
th m
ost c
omm
on re
ason
for
hosp
italiz
atio
n of
chi
ldre
n ag
es 0
-17
(exc
ludi
ng h
ospi
tal s
tays
for
youn
g m
oms
and
new
born
s).
sl
ide
19
App
rox.
.5 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
P
sych
otic
dis
orde
rs a
lso
a to
p re
ason
for h
ospi
tal
adm
issi
ons
For a
dults
, psy
chot
ic d
isor
ders
, lik
e sc
hizo
phre
nia,
wer
e th
e fo
urth
m
ost c
omm
on re
ason
for a
hos
pita
l adm
issi
on a
fter a
n em
erge
ncy
depa
rtmen
t vis
it in
201
1.
Whe
n pe
ople
don
’t ge
t the
hea
lth c
are
they
nee
d, in
clud
ing
the
right
m
edic
atio
n, th
ey’re
at h
ighe
r ris
k fo
r poo
r out
com
es li
ke e
mer
genc
y de
part
men
t vis
its a
nd h
ospi
taliz
atio
n.
As
we’
ve ju
st h
eard
, the
re a
re s
erio
us c
onse
quen
ces
whe
n pe
ople
don
’t ge
t the
hel
p th
ey n
eed.
If y
ou’d
like
to re
fer t
o th
ese
fact
s, fi
nd th
e fa
ct
shee
t inc
lude
d in
you
r pac
ket.
Han
dout
: Fa
ct S
heet
H
elpe
r or
Faci
litat
or:
Hol
d up
a c
opy
of th
e Fa
ct S
heet
whe
n it’
s m
entio
ned
in th
e sc
ript
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 1
2 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
20
App
rox.
1 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
A
med
icat
ion
that
wor
ks fo
r on
e pe
rson
may
not
wor
k w
ell f
or a
noth
er
This
quo
te fr
om th
e N
atio
nal I
nstit
ute
of M
enta
l Hea
lth s
ums
up w
hat
man
y pe
ople
hav
e ex
perie
nced
: “A
med
icat
ion
that
wor
ks w
ell f
or o
ne
pers
on w
ith s
chiz
ophr
enia
ofte
n do
esn’
t wor
k w
ell f
or a
noth
er.
Gen
etic
var
iatio
ns a
re th
ough
t to
play
a k
ey ro
le in
this
diff
eren
ce in
re
spon
se. W
hile
pat
ient
s se
arch
for t
he ri
ght m
edic
atio
ns, t
heir
illne
sses
may
wor
sen.
” Th
is is
not
just
true
for s
chiz
ophr
enia
. Man
y pe
ople
with
oth
er m
enta
l illn
esse
s, li
ke b
ipol
ar d
isor
der,
also
find
that
a m
edic
atio
n th
at w
orks
wel
l fo
r oth
ers
does
n’t w
ork
wel
l for
them
. D
o yo
u kn
ow s
omeo
ne th
at h
as d
one
wel
l on
a m
edic
atio
n th
at
does
n’t w
ork
for y
ou o
r oth
ers,
eve
n th
ough
you
hav
e th
e sa
me
diag
nosi
s? [T
ake
a qu
ick
resp
onse
]
sl
ide
21
App
rox.
.5 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
Y
our s
tory
let’s
peo
ple
know
how
the
right
m
edic
atio
n he
lps
We
know
that
it is
n’t a
lway
s ea
sy to
get
the
right
med
icat
ion
and
we
know
w
hat c
an h
appe
n w
hen
peop
le d
on’t
get t
he m
edic
atio
n th
ey n
eed.
Tha
t’s
why
it’s
impo
rtant
to s
peak
up.
You
r sto
ry is
a w
ay to
let p
eopl
e kn
ow
how
the
right
med
icat
ion
mak
es a
big
diff
eren
ce in
not
just
you
r re
cove
ry o
r tha
t of s
omeo
ne y
ou lo
ve, b
ut a
lso
the
reco
very
of o
ther
pe
ople
who
live
with
men
tal i
llnes
s.
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 1
3 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
22
App
rox.
1 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pts
Y
our s
tory
is a
lway
s rig
ht
Y
our l
ived
exp
erie
nce
has
valu
e an
d m
eani
ng
Y
ou d
on’t
have
to h
ave
all
the
answ
ers—
just
a c
lear
“a
sk”
Res
earc
h sh
ows
that
sto
ries
that
evo
ke e
mot
ion
and
empa
thy
are
far
mor
e po
wer
ful t
han
fact
s an
d fig
ures
in s
hapi
ng th
e op
inio
ns o
f oth
ers.
H
earin
g re
al s
torie
s is
one
of t
he b
est w
ays
to c
hang
e ho
w h
ealth
pla
ns
cove
r med
icat
ions
for p
eopl
e liv
ing
with
men
tal i
llnes
s.
Bes
t of a
ll: [P
ause
slig
htly
afte
r eac
h of
thes
e co
ncep
ts to
let p
eopl
e pr
oces
s]
1. Y
our s
tory
is a
lway
s rig
ht
2. Y
our l
ived
exp
erie
nce
has
valu
e an
d m
eani
ng
3. Y
ou d
on't
have
to h
ave
all t
he a
nsw
ers-
-just
a c
lear
"as
k" o
f yo
ur li
sten
ers
If yo
u th
ink
abou
t it,
this
is v
ery
empo
wer
ing
to re
aliz
e.
sl
ide
23
App
rox.
.5 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
H
ow y
ou te
ll yo
ur s
tory
can
af
fect
you
r im
pact
How
ever
, whi
le y
our l
ived
exp
erie
nce
is m
eani
ngfu
l, ho
w y
ou te
ll yo
ur
stor
y af
fect
s yo
ur im
pact
. You
wan
t to
mak
e an
impa
ct, s
o w
e’ll
give
you
so
me
tips
for t
ellin
g yo
ur s
tory
abo
ut y
our e
xper
ienc
e w
ith m
edic
atio
n.
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 1
4 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
24
App
rox.
1 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pts
K
eep
your
sto
ry b
rief
A
im fo
r abo
ut 9
0 se
cond
s;
thin
k of
a m
ovie
trai
ler
The
1st ti
p is
to k
eep
your
sto
ry b
rief.
W
e co
uld
all t
ell v
olum
es a
bout
wha
t has
hap
pene
d to
us.
But
, you
’ll lo
se
your
list
ener
s if
you
spen
d to
o m
uch
time
and
give
too
man
y de
tails
.
Rem
embe
r, w
e liv
e in
a w
orld
of s
ound
bite
s an
d Tw
itter
feed
s. K
eep
your
sto
ry s
hort.
Aim
for a
bout
90
seco
nds.
Th
ink
abou
t a m
ovie
trai
ler—
in 3
0 se
c. y
ou g
et th
e hi
ghlig
hts
and
wan
t to
see
mor
e. T
hat i
s w
hat y
ou w
ant t
o ac
hiev
e w
ith y
our s
tory
—gi
ve ju
st th
e hi
ghlig
hts
abou
t how
med
icat
ion
has
mad
e a
diffe
renc
e in
you
r rec
over
y an
d le
ave
your
list
ener
s ea
ger t
o kn
ow m
ore.
sl
ide
25
App
rox.
1 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
H
ope
is a
pow
erfu
l m
otiv
ator
T
hink
abo
ut h
ow g
ettin
g th
e rig
ht m
edic
atio
n he
lped
or
wou
ld h
elp
with
you
r re
cove
ry
Our
2nd
tip
is to
mot
ivat
e yo
ur li
sten
er b
y us
ing
posi
tive
conc
epts
like
ho
pe a
nd re
cove
ry w
hene
ver p
ossi
ble.
H
ope
is a
pow
erfu
l mot
ivat
or fo
r dec
isio
n m
aker
s. P
eopl
e lik
e to
root
for
thos
e w
ho m
ake
it th
roug
h ad
vers
ity—
use
this
to y
our a
dvan
tage
. If
you
stru
ggle
to th
ink
of y
our s
tory
as
hope
ful,
thin
k ab
out w
hat y
ou
hope
for o
r how
get
ting
the
right
med
icat
ion
wou
ld h
elp
with
you
r re
cove
ry o
r wou
ld h
elp
othe
rs in
thei
r rec
over
y.
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 1
5 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
26
App
rox.
1 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pts
M
ake
an “a
sk”
Her
e's
our l
ast t
ip:
Mak
e an
“as
k” o
f you
r lis
tene
r. Th
is is
ofte
n fo
rgot
ten
whe
n pe
ople
tell
thei
r sto
ries.
But
as
the
sayi
ng g
oes,
“If y
ou d
on’t
ask,
yo
u do
n’t g
et.”
Bes
ides
, dec
isio
n m
aker
s w
ant t
o kn
ow w
hat y
ou w
ant t
hem
to d
o, e
ven
if th
ey d
isag
ree.
If y
ou a
re ta
lkin
g to
dec
isio
n m
aker
s, le
t the
m k
now
wha
t w
ould
hel
p yo
u or
oth
ers
get (
or k
eep
getti
ng) t
he ri
ght m
edic
atio
n to
su
ppor
t rec
over
y.
You
've
just
hea
rd o
ur th
ree
tips.
Wha
t was
the
mos
t mea
ning
ful t
hing
yo
u've
hea
rd s
o fa
r? [
Take
two
quic
k re
spon
ses]
sl
ide
27
App
rox.
5 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pts
S
hare
a s
ampl
e st
ory
S
tory
form
at is
ada
ptab
le
L
iste
n an
d no
tice
your
re
actio
ns
Now
that
we’
ve g
one
thro
ugh
our t
ips,
I'm
goi
ng to
sha
re a
sam
ple
stor
y fr
om th
e pe
rspe
ctiv
e of
[cho
ose
the
sam
ple
stor
y yo
u w
ill re
ad].
You
r m
ater
ials
incl
ude
two
sam
ple
stor
ies—
one
from
the
poin
t of v
iew
of a
pe
er a
nd o
ne fr
om th
e po
int o
f vie
w o
f a fa
mily
mem
ber.
You
r ow
n pe
rspe
ctiv
e is
uni
que
and
you
may
or m
ay n
ot re
late
to th
ese
sam
ple
stor
ies.
Th
is s
tory
is b
eing
told
as
if th
e pe
rson
wer
e ta
lkin
g to
a P
harm
acy
&
Ther
apeu
tics
(P&
T) C
omm
ittee
. How
ever
, thi
s st
ory
form
at is
like
a b
asic
re
cipe
; it c
an b
e ea
sily
ada
pted
to fi
t oth
er s
ituat
ions
or a
udie
nces
. Fo
r now
, I’d
like
you
to k
eep
an o
pen
min
d an
d no
tice
your
reac
tions
an
d w
hat m
oves
you
or h
as im
pact
for y
ou.
R
ead
the
sam
ple
stor
y w
ith e
xpre
ssio
n [y
ou o
r, id
eally
, you
r Hel
per]
W
hat h
ad im
pact
for y
ou o
r cau
ght y
our a
ttent
ion?
[Tak
e tw
o to
four
re
spon
ses]
Prep
: D
ecid
e w
hich
sam
ple
stor
y yo
u w
ill us
e be
fore
the
wor
ksho
p H
elpe
r or
Faci
litat
or:
Prac
tice
the
sam
ple
stor
y ou
t lou
d se
vera
l tim
es b
efor
e th
e w
orks
hop
until
yo
u ca
n re
ad it
sm
ooth
ly a
nd w
ith
expr
essi
on
Han
dout
: Sa
mpl
e St
orie
s
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 1
6 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
28
App
rox.
15
min
C
ore
Con
cept
Com
pare
Sev
en S
teps
C
heck
list t
o sa
mpl
e st
ory
Now
that
you
've
liste
ned
to o
ur s
ampl
e st
ory
and
notic
ed it
s im
pact
, you
'll ne
ed y
our S
ampl
e St
orie
s (p
ages
3-4
), yo
ur S
even
Ste
ps C
heck
list
(pag
e 5)
and
you
r Sto
ry P
ract
ice
Shee
ts (p
ages
7-8
).
The
Che
cklis
t lis
ts th
e el
emen
ts o
f a b
rief,
effe
ctiv
e st
ory.
We'
re g
oing
to
revi
ew th
ese
seve
n el
emen
ts, o
r ste
ps, a
nd c
ompa
re th
em w
ith th
e sa
mpl
e st
ory
you
just
hea
rd. T
hen,
you
'll us
e th
ese
step
s to
writ
e yo
ur
own
stor
y.
Not
e: M
ark
the
sent
ence
s in
you
r sam
ple
stor
y th
at y
ou w
ant p
eopl
e to
m
entio
n w
hen
answ
erin
g th
e qu
estio
ns.
Han
dout
s:
Sam
ple
Stor
ies
Se
ven
Step
s C
heck
list
Stor
y Pr
actic
e Sh
eets
H
elpe
r: H
elp
peop
le
find
wor
kshe
ets
as
need
ed
Dis
cuss
1st
ste
p
Int
rodu
ce w
ho y
ou a
re a
nd
whe
re y
ou’re
from
S
hare
how
you
are
affe
cted
by
men
tal i
llnes
s
Sta
te y
our p
urpo
se—
wha
t ac
tion
or d
ecis
ion
you
wan
t
The
1st s
tep
of a
n ef
fect
ive
stor
y is
to in
trodu
ce y
ours
elf a
nd w
hy y
ou
are
spea
king
or w
ritin
g.
1.
You
r int
rodu
ctio
n sh
ould
beg
in b
y le
tting
you
r aud
ienc
e kn
ow y
our
nam
e an
d w
hat c
ity o
r tow
n yo
u liv
e in
. 2.
S
hare
how
you
are
affe
cted
by
men
tal i
llnes
s, w
heth
er y
ou li
ve w
ith
men
tal i
llnes
s, a
re a
fam
ily m
embe
r, ca
regi
ver,
frien
d or
pro
fess
iona
l. Th
is e
stab
lishe
s yo
ur c
redi
bilit
y th
roug
h liv
ed e
xper
ienc
e.
3.
Last
ly, l
et y
our l
iste
ner k
now
that
you
wou
ld li
ke to
sha
re y
our s
tory
an
d st
ate
your
pur
pose
—w
hat a
ctio
n or
dec
isio
n yo
u w
ant f
rom
them
. Th
is h
elps
you
r aud
ienc
e fo
cus
and
be m
ore
resp
onsi
ve.
Tak
e a
mom
ent t
o m
ark
the
phra
se in
the
sam
ple
stor
y th
at le
ts y
ou
know
the
purp
ose
of th
e sp
eake
r's s
tory
. W
ho w
ould
like
to re
ad th
e ph
rase
that
lets
list
ener
s kn
ow th
e sp
eake
r’s p
urpo
se?
[Pic
k a
volu
ntee
r and
ask
them
to re
ad th
e ph
rase
th
ey th
ink
answ
ers
the
ques
tion]
Han
dout
s:
Sam
ple
Stor
ies
Se
ven
Step
s C
heck
list
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 1
7 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
Dis
cuss
2nd
ste
p
Wha
t hap
pene
d be
fore
you
re
ceiv
ed h
elp?
S
houl
d be
brie
f, bu
t viv
id
The
2nd s
tep
of a
n ef
fect
ive
stor
y is
to d
escr
ibe
wha
t hap
pene
d be
fore
yo
u go
t the
righ
t med
icat
ion
(or w
hat y
ou a
re g
oing
thro
ugh
now
).
Kee
p th
is v
ery
brie
f--th
ink
abou
t the
mai
n hi
ghlig
hts
or m
ost i
mpo
rtant
th
ing
your
list
ener
sho
uld
know
abo
ut y
our s
ituat
ion.
V
ivid
lang
uage
in th
is d
escr
iptio
n he
lps
your
aud
ienc
e un
ders
tand
wha
t yo
u w
ent t
hrou
gh (o
r are
goi
ng th
roug
h).
T
ake
a m
omen
t to
mar
k a
line
or w
ords
in th
e sa
mpl
e st
ory
that
m
oved
you
or h
elpe
d yo
u un
ders
tand
wha
t hap
pene
d to
the
spea
ker.
Who
wou
ld li
ke to
read
a li
ne in
the
seco
nd s
ectio
n th
at m
oved
you
or
hel
ped
you
unde
rsta
nd w
hat h
appe
ned?
[Pic
k a
volu
ntee
r to
read
th
e ph
rase
they
thin
k an
swer
s th
e qu
estio
n]
Did
som
eone
els
e m
ark
a di
ffere
nt p
hras
e? [P
ick
a vo
lunt
eer t
o re
ad a
ph
rase
] Y
our l
iste
ners
will
vary
in w
hat m
oves
them
. And
, diff
eren
t sto
ries
will
mov
e di
ffere
nt p
eopl
e. T
his
is w
hy it
hel
ps fo
r mul
tiple
peo
ple
to s
hare
th
eir s
torie
s.
Han
dout
s:
Sam
ple
Stor
ies
Se
ven
Step
s C
heck
list
Dis
cuss
3rd
ste
p
Wha
t hel
ped
in y
our
reco
very
or w
hat w
ould
he
lp?
T
ells
the
liste
ner w
hat
mak
es a
diff
eren
ce
The
3rd s
tep
is to
des
crib
e w
hat h
elpe
d in
you
r rec
over
y (o
r for
so
meo
ne y
ou c
are
abou
t) or
wha
t wou
ld h
elp.
By
focu
sing
on
help
ed o
r w
hat w
ould
hel
p yo
u or
oth
ers,
you
cre
ate
a se
nse
of h
ope
and
help
you
r lis
tene
r kno
w w
hat m
akes
a d
iffer
ence
.
T
ake
a m
omen
t to
mar
k a
line
in th
e sa
mpl
e st
ory
that
hel
ped
you
real
ize
wha
t hel
ped.
W
ho w
ould
like
to s
hare
the
line
that
str
uck
you
in th
e th
ird s
tep?
[P
ick
a vo
lunt
eer t
o re
ad w
hat h
elpe
d]
Han
dout
s:
Sam
ple
Stor
ies
Se
ven
Step
s C
heck
list
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 1
8 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
Dis
cuss
4th
ste
p
How
are
you
diff
eren
t to
day?
S
hare
pos
itive
not
e ab
out
reco
very
The
four
th s
tep
is to
des
crib
e ho
w y
ou a
re d
iffer
ent t
oday
. S
hare
w
hat i
s go
ing
right
in y
our l
ife (o
r in
the
life
of s
omeo
ne y
ou c
are
abou
t) or
ho
w y
ou a
re e
xper
ienc
ing
reco
very
. Thi
s is
how
you
r sto
ry in
spire
s.
Wha
t lan
guag
e in
the
four
th s
tep
of th
e st
ory
left
you
feel
ing
hope
ful
or in
spire
d? [
Ask
a v
olun
teer
to re
ad th
e ph
rase
in th
e fo
urth
sec
tion
of
the
stor
y th
at m
entio
ns h
ow th
e w
riter
is d
iffer
ent t
oday
.]
Han
dout
s:
Sam
ple
Stor
ies
Se
ven
Step
s C
heck
list
Dis
cuss
5th
and
6th
ste
p
Wha
t will
help
oth
ers?
T
rans
ition
s fro
m p
erso
nal
to o
ther
s
H
elps
dec
isio
n m
aker
s m
ake
polic
ies
that
affe
ct
man
y pe
ople
In th
e 5th
and
6th
ste
ps, d
escr
ibe
wha
t is
the
need
or p
robl
em a
nd
wha
t will
hel
p ot
hers
. In
step
five
, tra
nsiti
on a
way
from
you
r ow
n co
ncer
n to
wha
t oth
er p
eopl
e ne
ed o
r the
cha
lleng
e th
ey fa
ce th
at is
si
mila
r to
your
ow
n.
In s
tep
six,
des
crib
e w
hat w
ill he
lp o
r cou
ld h
elp
othe
rs. T
his
shou
ld b
e w
hat y
ou w
ant a
dec
isio
n m
aker
to d
o or
dec
ide.
Th
ese
step
s ta
ke y
ou fr
om y
our p
erso
nal s
tory
to a
mes
sage
that
abo
ut
othe
r peo
ple.
Thi
s he
lps
deci
sion
mak
ers
who
will
take
act
ions
or d
ecid
e on
pol
icie
s th
at w
ill af
fect
man
y pe
ople
. W
ho w
ould
like
to s
hare
the
line
that
hel
ped
you
sens
e th
e tr
ansi
tion?
[P
ick
a vo
lunt
eer t
o sh
are
the
line
they
mar
ked.
]
Han
dout
s:
Sam
ple
Stor
ies
Se
ven
Step
s C
heck
list
Dis
cuss
7th
ste
p
Mak
e yo
ur “a
sk”
D
on’t
take
no
or
nonc
omm
ittal
resp
onse
pe
rson
ally
In th
e 7th
and
last
ste
p, m
ake
your
"as
k."
Thi
s is
a c
ritic
al s
tep
that
m
any
advo
cate
s he
sita
te o
r for
get t
o do
. Tha
nk y
our a
udie
nce
for
liste
ning
. The
n, le
t the
m k
now
wha
t act
ion
or d
ecis
ion
you
wan
t the
m to
m
ake
on y
our i
ssue
. If
your
aud
ienc
e gi
ves
you
a po
sitiv
e re
spon
se, t
hank
them
for t
heir
supp
ort.
If
your
aud
ienc
e gi
ves
you
a ne
gativ
e or
non
com
mitt
al re
spon
se, d
on’t
take
it p
erso
nally
. Tha
nk th
em, a
gain
, and
let t
hem
kno
w y
ou’d
like
to
serv
e as
a re
sour
ce o
n m
enta
l illn
ess.
Tak
e a
mom
ent t
o m
ark
a lin
e in
the
sam
ple
stor
y th
at m
ade
an a
sk.
Wha
t str
ikes
you
abo
ut th
e "a
sk"
in th
e sa
mpl
e st
ory?
W
hat d
o yo
u fin
d he
lpfu
l abo
ut th
e ch
eckl
ist?
[Tak
e 1
to 2
resp
onse
s]
Han
dout
s:
Sam
ple
Stor
ies
Se
ven
Step
s C
heck
list
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 1
9 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
s
lide
29
App
rox.
19
min
C
ore
Con
cept
s
Writ
e yo
ur s
tory
usi
ng
prac
tice
shee
ts
1
5 m
in to
writ
e
War
n w
hen
5 m
in le
ft
W
arn
whe
n 2
min
left
Now
that
you
’ve
hear
d a
sam
ple
stor
y an
d co
mpa
red
it to
the
Sev
en
Ste
ps C
heck
list,
you'
re re
ady
to fi
nd y
our S
tory
Pra
ctic
e Sh
eets
(pag
es
7-8)
and
sta
rt w
ritin
g yo
ur o
wn
stor
y.
For h
elp,
use
you
r Sev
en S
teps
Che
cklis
t and
the
sam
ple
stor
y—or
ask
a
ques
tion.
Rem
embe
r, th
e be
st p
repa
ratio
n fo
r tel
ling
an e
ffect
ive
stor
y is
to
kno
w y
our p
urpo
se a
nd y
our “
ask.
”
Her
e’s
the
scen
ario
to u
se fo
r you
r sto
ry. P
leas
e pr
eten
d yo
u ar
e te
lling
your
sto
ry to
urg
e de
cisi
on m
aker
s to
mak
e it
easi
er fo
r peo
ple
to g
et th
e rig
ht m
edic
atio
n, ju
st li
ke in
our
sam
ple
stor
ies.
You
r “as
k” c
an b
e th
e sa
me
as in
a s
ampl
e st
ory
or y
ou c
an u
se y
our o
wn
wor
ds.
You'
ll ha
ve a
bout
15
min
utes
to w
rite
your
sto
ry o
n yo
ur p
ract
ice
shee
t. I’
ll le
t you
kno
w w
hen
you
have
a fe
w m
in. l
eft t
o fin
ish
up.
If yo
u do
n’t f
inis
h, d
on’t
wor
ry. T
his
is ju
st a
pra
ctic
e. Y
ou c
an fi
nish
it o
n yo
ur o
wn
time
or m
ake
edits
late
r. If
it’s
eas
ier f
or y
ou, f
eel f
ree
to w
rite
your
sto
ry in
“bul
let p
oint
s” in
stea
d of
full
sent
ence
s.
If yo
u fin
ish
early
, pra
ctic
e re
adin
g yo
ur s
tory
sile
ntly
.
C
ircul
ate:
Whi
le p
artic
ipan
ts a
re w
ritin
g, w
alk
arou
nd th
e ro
om.
If pa
rtici
pant
s fin
ish
early
, ask
if th
ey a
re w
illing
to le
t you
read
thei
r sto
ry
sile
ntly
. Le
t the
m k
now
wha
t phr
ases
are
stro
ng. K
eep
in m
ind
part
icip
ants
who
hav
e st
rong
sto
ries.
W
arn
part
icip
ants
5 m
in. b
efor
e en
d an
d 2
min
. bef
ore
time
is u
p.
[Use
you
r chi
me,
bel
l or o
ther
pre
arra
nged
sig
nal]
Stop
par
ticip
ants
afte
r 15
min
. If
you
didn
't fin
ish
your
sto
ry, f
eel f
ree
to fi
nish
in y
our f
ree
time.
Wha
t did
yo
u le
arn
abou
t writ
ing
your
sto
ry?
[Tak
e on
e or
two
resp
onse
s]
Han
dout
s:
Stor
y Pr
actic
e Sh
eets
Sev
en S
teps
C
heck
list
Hel
per:
Hel
p pe
ople
fin
d w
orks
heet
s an
d pa
rtici
pant
s w
ith
ques
tions
or
stru
ggle
s (th
is w
ill fre
e up
Fa
cilit
ator
to c
ircul
ate
and
man
age
time)
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 2
0 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
30
App
rox.
15
min
C
ore
Con
cept
s
P
ract
ice
tellin
g yo
ur s
tory
in
unde
r tw
o m
in w
ith a
pa
rtner
Fee
dbac
k fo
r thr
ee m
in
L
iste
ner—
use
Con
stru
ctiv
e Fe
edba
ck F
orm
and
kee
p tim
e
You
all
have
a g
ood
star
t on
your
sto
ry. N
ow, w
e’ll
prac
tice
shar
ing
and
givi
ng c
onst
ruct
ive
feed
back
. H
old
onto
you
r sto
ry a
nd ta
ke o
ut y
our C
onst
ruct
ive
Feed
back
For
m.
The
form
has
a s
cale
, fro
m o
ne to
five
, for
eac
h st
ep o
f a s
tory
. A “
one”
in
dica
tes
an a
rea
that
cou
ld b
e st
reng
then
ed; “
thre
e” in
dica
tes
an
area
that
wor
ks fi
ne a
nd a
“fiv
e” in
dica
tes
an a
rea
that
is p
artic
ular
ly
stro
ng o
r im
pact
ful.
P
leas
e fin
d a
partn
er a
nd w
ait f
or o
ur p
ract
ice
inst
ruct
ions
. [W
ait f
or
partn
ers
to fo
rm]
Her
e ar
e th
e in
stru
ctio
ns. I
n th
e ne
xt te
n m
inut
es, w
e’ll
have
two
five-
min
ute
roun
ds o
f sto
ry-s
harin
g. A
s a
rem
inde
r, I’l
l let
you
kno
w w
hen
five
min
utes
has
pas
sed
with
[Ind
icat
e ch
ime,
bel
l or o
ther
sig
nal].
Dur
ing
each
roun
d:
O
ne p
erso
n w
ill sh
are
thei
r sto
ry in
two
min
utes
or l
ess.
O
ne p
erso
n w
ill ke
ep ti
me
and
stop
the
stor
ytel
ler a
fter t
wo
min
utes
. U
se a
sto
pwat
ch fu
nctio
n on
a c
ell p
hone
, if a
vaila
ble.
Ti
mek
eepe
r sho
uld
also
list
en a
ttent
ivel
y an
d, if
pos
sibl
e, fi
ll ou
t the
C
onst
ruct
ive
Feed
back
For
m to
reco
rd im
pres
sion
s.
A
fter t
he s
tory
telle
r’s tw
o m
inut
es is
up,
pro
vide
con
stru
ctiv
e fe
edba
ck—
spec
ific
info
rmat
ion
abou
t wha
t wor
ked
wel
l or w
orke
d fin
e an
d w
hat c
ould
be
stre
ngth
ened
and
how
. R
emem
ber t
hat
cons
truct
ive
feed
back
is n
ot in
tend
ed to
be
judg
men
tal—
it is
inte
nded
to
hel
p yo
u se
e th
e st
reng
ths
of y
our s
tory
and
how
you
cou
ld m
ake
it ev
en m
ore
impa
ctfu
l. Pl
ease
beg
in.
Sign
al e
nd o
f rou
nd 1
afte
r 5 m
in.
It’s
time
to tr
ade
role
s if
you
have
n’t a
lread
y.
Sign
al e
nd o
f rou
nd 2
afte
r 5 m
in.
How
’d th
at g
o fo
r eve
ryon
e? W
hat d
id y
ou le
arn
abou
t tel
ling
your
st
ory?
[Tak
e 2
to 3
qui
ck re
spon
ses]
Han
dout
s:
Stor
y Pr
actic
e Sh
eets
C
onst
ruct
ive
Feed
back
For
m
Hel
per a
nd
Faci
litat
or: H
elp
peop
le fi
nd a
par
tner
(m
ay b
e on
e tri
o or
H
elpe
r may
fill
in a
s a
partn
er)
Hel
per:
Hel
p gr
oups
yo
u ne
ed a
ssis
tanc
e or
hav
e qu
estio
ns
Faci
litat
or: C
ircul
ate
and
liste
n fo
r in
divi
dual
s w
ith
stro
ng s
torie
s
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 2
1 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
31
App
rox.
5 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pts
B
asic
sto
ry is
writ
ten
and
can
serv
e as
bas
is o
f ad
voca
cy
S
tory
can
be
mod
ified
to
use
with
diff
eren
t au
dien
ces
and
issu
es
A
sk fo
r a v
olun
teer
to s
hare
thei
r sto
ry.
Cal
l on
a pe
rson
who
m y
ou
thin
k m
ay h
ave
a go
od s
tory
bas
ed o
n w
hat y
ou h
eard
or r
ead
earli
er.
Than
k yo
u so
muc
h fo
r sha
ring
your
sto
ry.
Now
, as
liste
ners
, wha
t w
as e
ffect
ive
for y
ou a
nd w
hy?
[Tak
e tw
o or
thre
e re
spon
ses]
N
ote:
You
may
ask
for a
noth
er v
olun
teer
if y
ou li
ke.
You
hav
e al
l acc
ompl
ishe
d a
lot i
n ju
st a
sho
rt tim
e. Y
ou’v
e w
ritte
n yo
ur
stor
y an
d pr
actic
ed it
. Now
, you
can
use
you
r sto
ry to
hel
p m
ake
posi
tive
chan
ges
for p
eopl
e liv
ing
with
men
tal i
llnes
s.
Bes
t of a
ll, th
e st
ory
you
wro
te is
bas
ed o
n a
basi
c st
ruct
ure,
or r
ecip
e.
That
mea
ns y
ou c
an m
ake
just
a fe
w c
hang
es in
det
ails
and
the
purp
ose
and
“ask
” and
use
it fo
r man
y di
ffere
nt is
sues
and
aud
ienc
es.
Let’s
lear
n to
geth
er—
wha
t mak
es a
sto
ry re
ally
effe
ctiv
e?
Wha
t was
mos
t hel
pful
or i
mpa
ctfu
l for
you
?
[Tak
e a
coup
le re
spon
ses
to e
ach
ques
tion]
sl
ide
32
App
rox.
.5 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
Y
our s
tory
and
act
ions
can
m
ake
a di
ffere
nce
This
quo
te, “
Act
as
if w
hat y
ou d
o m
akes
a d
iffer
ence
. It d
oes.
” is
a re
min
der t
hat y
our s
tory
can
—an
d do
es—
influ
ence
oth
ers.
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 2
2 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
33
App
rox.
.5 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
Y
our s
tory
can
hel
p pr
otec
t ch
oice
of m
edic
atio
ns
Your
sto
ry c
an m
ake
a re
al d
iffer
ence
. It c
an h
elp
prot
ect c
hoic
e of
m
edic
atio
ns.
sl
ide
34
App
rox.
1 m
in
Cor
e C
once
pt
S
hare
you
r sto
ry w
ith P
&T
Com
mitt
ees,
pha
rmac
y di
rect
ors,
Med
icai
d an
d in
sura
nce
agen
cies
and
el
ecte
d of
ficia
ls
One
way
to m
ake
an im
pact
is to
sha
re y
our s
tory
with
peo
ple
who
can
influ
ence
m
edic
atio
n ch
oice
s, s
uch
as:
H
ealth
pla
n P
harm
acy
& T
hera
peut
ics
(P&
T) C
omm
ittee
s
Hea
lth p
lan
phar
mac
y di
rect
ors
S
tate
Med
icai
d ag
enci
es
S
tate
insu
ranc
e ag
enci
es
S
tate
and
Fed
eral
ele
cted
offi
cial
s Y
ou c
an u
se y
our s
tory
to w
rite
a le
tter o
r mak
e a
call
or, f
or th
e m
ost i
mpa
ct,
mee
t in
pers
on w
ith a
P&
T C
omm
ittee
or o
ther
s w
ho a
re d
ecid
ing
on c
over
age
of m
edic
atio
ns. Y
our s
torie
s w
ill h
elp
deci
sion
-mak
ers
unde
rsta
nd th
e re
al li
fe
impa
cts
of m
edic
atio
ns a
nd h
ow th
ey a
re c
over
ed.
NA
MI w
ill h
elp
keep
you
info
rmed
of o
ppor
tuni
ties
to u
se y
our s
tory
—an
d w
e ho
pe y
ou’ll
thin
k of
you
r ow
n op
portu
nitie
s, a
s w
ell.
[O
ptio
nal:
If ho
st k
now
s of
an
oppo
rtuni
ty, m
entio
n B
e H
eard
! han
dout
and
any
in
stru
ctio
ns]
Prep
: If t
here
is a
n op
portu
nity
to te
stify
or
shar
e st
orie
s, fi
ll ou
t Be
Hea
rd! h
ando
ut in
ad
vanc
e, p
rint a
nd
incl
ude
in p
artic
ipan
t pa
cket
H
ando
ut:
Be
Hea
rd! (
optio
nal)
Not
e: If
ther
e ar
e pa
rtici
pant
s w
ith
rele
vant
and
co
mpe
lling
sto
ries,
ask
if
they
’d b
e w
illin
g to
te
stify
(sha
re th
eir
stor
y) a
t an
upco
min
g op
portu
nity
Faci
litat
or S
crip
t for N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y, M
edication: Protecting Ch
oice
Dec. 2
016
NAM
I Sm
arts fo
r Adv
ocac
y • Medication: Protecting Ch
oice F
acili
tato
r Scr
ipt
Page 2
3 © 2
015
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
35
App
rox.
.5 m
in
W
hat m
ade
an im
pact
?
Wha
t did
you
take
aw
ay fr
om th
is e
xper
ienc
e to
day?
Wha
t mad
e an
im
pact
on
you?
[Tak
e th
ree
resp
onse
s]
Hel
per a
nd
Faci
litat
or:
If po
ssib
le, b
ring
a po
rtabl
e co
pier
or
scan
ner a
nd
scan
/cop
y st
orie
s of
pa
rtici
pant
s w
ho a
re
willi
ng fo
r you
to d
o so
.
Con
side
r tak
ing
a pi
ctur
e of
the
clas
s.
sl
ide
36
App
rox.
1 m
in
T
hank
you
and
Eva
luat
ion
Than
k yo
u al
l for
giv
ing
your
tim
e an
d en
ergy
to th
is w
orks
hop.
Ple
ase
give
you
rsel
ves
a ro
und
of a
ppla
use
for e
very
thin
g yo
u've
ac
com
plis
hed
toda
y. [W
ait f
or a
ppla
use]
B
efor
e yo
u go
, ple
ase
take
hal
f a m
inut
e to
fill
out t
he re
mai
nder
of y
our
Eval
uatio
n Fo
rm a
nd tu
rn it
in to
[nam
e lo
catio
n or
per
son]
. We
valu
e yo
ur fe
edba
ck a
nd w
ould
like
to k
now
if th
is w
orks
hop
was
hel
pful
to y
ou.
Prep
: P
repa
re a
con
tain
er
or p
lace
for
eval
uatio
n fo
rms
and/
or h
ave
Hel
per
colle
ct.
Han
dout
: Ev
alua
tion
Form
INSERT TAB: Module 4 worksheets
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Medication: Protecting Choice
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy • Medication: Protecting Choice Page 1 © 2015 NAMI, Inc.
Evaluation FormFacilitator’s name: _______________________________________ Date: ____________
Location of workshop (City & State): ____________________________________________
My name (optional, but preferred): ____________________________________________
1. Overall, my knowledge and skill level in telling my story about medications is...
Before the training: (Circle your rating) After the training: (Circle your rating)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
None Some Good Excellent 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
None Some Good Excellent
2. Overall, my level of confidence in telling my story is...
Before the training: (Circle your rating) After the training: (Circle your rating)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
None Some Good Excellent 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
None Some Good Excellent
3. What did you learn that was most meaningful or helpful to you today?
4. Where do you plan to use your medication story?
5. What comments, if any, do you have about this workshop?
6. NAMI seeks to support the entire community.To help us track how we are doing,please check all that apply. I am:
American Indian or Alaska Native Asian American Black or African American Hispanic or Latino Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander White Multiracial Other: _____________________
Person living with a mental illness Family of adult living with a mental illness Parent or guardian of minor child living with a mental
illness Mental health provider, including peer provider Other mental health advocate Military service member, veteran or military family
member Other: ________________________
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Medication: Protecting Choice
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy • Medication: Protecting Choice Page 2 © 2015 NAMI, Inc.
Leave page blank
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Medication: Protecting Choice
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy • Medication: Protecting Choice Page 3 © 2015 NAMI, Inc.
Sample Family Member Medication Story 1. My introduction
Hello, I’m Keith Jones from Amity. I’m a member of NAMI Springville, part of America’s largest grassroots mental health organization, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
I have a 25‐year old son who lives with schizophrenia and my family’s experience leads me here to urge you to make all mental health medications easily available.
2. What happened
I can tell you that the right medication can change lives.
When my son was young, he was bright, loving and happy. But as he grew, schizophrenia took away his joy. Despite mental health services, he ended up in and out of psychiatric hospitals and group homes—and even on the streets. I worried about him every day and wondered if he would ever experience a life without fear again.
3. Getting the right medication
Several months ago, Kevin’s doctor finally got approval for him to try a new antipsychotic. It took weeks to start taking effect, but the difference was amazing. It’s the first medication that has really worked for him.
4. How he/she is different today
For the first time in years, Kevin is living without terror. He’s even moved into his own apartment. He has a peer mentor and wants to become one himself. And for the first time in years, we both have hope.
5. What’s keeping people from getting the right medication
My son is proof that the right medication can change a life. But many people don’t get the right medication because it’s not covered or it’s out of reach. 6. What will help people get the right medication
Making all mental health medications readily available will help more people experience a recovery like Kevin’s and avoid hospital stays and living with unimaginable symptoms.
7. My "ask"
Thank you for listening. I hope I can count on you to protect choice of medications—and the hope of recovery for families like mine.
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Medication: Protecting Choice
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy • Medication: Protecting Choice Page 4 © 2015 NAMI, Inc.
Sample Peer Medication Story 1. My introduction
Hello, I’m Cynthia Wood from Bothell. I’m a member of NAMI Springville, part of America’s largest grassroots mental health organization, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
I live with major depression and the right medication is critical to my recovery. I’d like to share my story and ask that you protect choice of medications for people living with mental illness.
2. What happened
I’m a family physician, I’m married and I have two beautiful children. I also live with major depression. When I was first diagnosed in my twenties, I was devastated. I thought I wouldn’t make it through medical school, enjoy a career or raise a family.
3. Getting the right medication
I wanted to get better, but my depression was stubborn. Nothing seemed to work. Finally, my doctor and I found the one medication that works for me. It’s expensive, but with it, I made it through med school, became a successful physician, married and started a family.
4. How I'm different today
My depression is under control and I’m able to take good care of my family and my patients. And knowing about my success helps my patients feel like they can recover, too.
5. What’s keeping people from getting the right medication
I want my patients to have what works for them, but as a doctor, I know that when people can’t get the medication they need easily, they often give up—or suffer serious setbacks.
6. What will help people get the right medication
Having choices helps people get the right help at the right time. More choices of medications mean more opportunities for people, like me, to realize their dreams.
7. My "ask"
Thank you. For everyone who lives with mental illness, please protect choice today.
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Medication: Protecting Choice
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy • Medication: Protecting Choice Page 5 © 2015 NAMI, Inc.
Seven Steps to Telling Your Story about Medication The following seven steps will help you craft a succinct and powerful story.
1. Introduce yourself
Give your name and city or town. Include your organization. We encourage you to describe yourself as “a member of [NAMI State Org or NAMI Affiliate], part of America’s largest grassroots mental health organization, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.”
Share how you are affected by mental illness. Are you living with mental illness, a family member, a caregiver? This gives you credibility.
State the position or action you want your listener(s) to take.
2. What happened?
What happened before you received the medication you needed? Keep this brief‐‐think about the most important thing you’d like your listener to know.
3. Getting the right medication
Describe how you got the right medication. Keep this brief—and add how medication helped in your recovery (or would have helped). If you had problems getting the right medication, share the challenges and the effect on you.
4. How are you different today?
Share what is going right in your life or how you are experiencing recovery. Inspire your audience by sharing the gains you’ve made or what your goals are.
5. What’s keeping people from getting the right medication?
Mention the challenges that keep people from getting the right medication. Think about your listeners and focus on the challenges that are within their influence, like a health plan’s list of covered drugs.
6. What will help people get the right medication?
Talk about what will help people get the right medication. It’s helpful to add why it’s important for people to get the medication they need.
7. Make your "ask"
Ask your listener(s) to take the position or action you want. Thank your audience for listening, then make your “ask.” Feel free to be direct and specific
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Medication: Protecting Choice
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy • Medication: Protecting Choice Page 6 © 2015 NAMI, Inc.
Leave page blank
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Medication: Protecting Choice
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy • Medication: Protecting Choice Page 7 © 2015 NAMI, Inc.
Story Practice Sheet Please refer to your Seven Steps Checklist for additional information.
1. My introduction Include your name and city and organization, if applicable. Add how you are affected by mental illness and the position or action you want your listener(s) to take.
2. What happened Aim for 3‐5 sentences. Briefly describe the most important and compelling thing(s) about your situation.
3. Getting the right medication
Aim for 2‐4 sentences. Briefly describe how you got the right medication and how it helped in your recovery. If you had problems getting the right medication, share the challenges and the effect on you.
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Medication: Protecting Choice
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy • Medication: Protecting Choice Page 8 © 2015 NAMI, Inc.
4. How I'm different today
Aim for 1‐3 sentences. Share what is going right in your life or how you are experiencing recovery. Inspire by sharing the gains you’ve made or what your goals are.
5. What’s keeping people from getting the right medication
Aim for 1‐3 sentences. Mention the challenges that keep people from getting the right medication. Focus on challenges within the influence of your listeners.
6. What will help people get the right medication
Aim for 1‐2 sentences. Talk about what will help people get the right medication. It’s helpful to add why it’s important for people to get the medication they need.
7. My "ask"
Aim for 1‐2 sentences. Thank your listener for listening to you. Then, ask your listener(s) to take the position or action you want. Feel free to be direct and specific.
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Medication: Protecting Choice
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy • Medication: Protecting Choice Page 1 © 2015 NAMI, Inc.
Constructive Feedback Form In the space below each scale, identify where the story was strong or impactful or what would strengthen the story.
Introduction
1 2 3 4 5 Would benefit from strengthening Works fine Very strong
What happened?
1 2 3 4 5 Would benefit from strengthening Works fine Very strong
Getting the right medication
1 2 3 4 5 Would benefit from strengthening Works fine Very strong
How are you different today?
1 2 3 4 5 Would benefit from strengthening Works fine Very strong
What’s keeping people from getting the right medication?
1 2 3 4 5 Would benefit from strengthening Works fine Very strong
What will help people get the right medication?
1 2 3 4 5 Would benefit from strengthening Works fine Very strong
Make your "ask"
1 2 3 4 5 Would benefit from strengthening Works fine Very strong
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Medication: Protecting Choice
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy • Medication: Protecting Choice Page 10 © 2015 NAMI, Inc.
Leave page blank
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Medication: Protecting Choice
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy • Medication: Protecting Choice Page 11 © 2015 NAMI, Inc.
Glossary
KEY TYPES OF HEALTH PLANS
COMMERCIAL OR PRIVATE INSURANCE/HEALTH PLAN: Coverage for certain health care costs in exchange for premiums paid for by you, your family or an employer.
MEDICAID: A health care coverage program for low‐income families, children, pregnant women, seniors and people with disabilities. Medicaid typically covers a wider range of benefits and has lower out‐of‐pocket costs than Medicare or commercial health insurance.
MEDICARE: A federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older and for younger people with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Disability Income (SSDI). Medicare Part A and Part B cover hospital and outpatient care.
MEDICARE PART D: Part D is Medicare coverage for medications. BRAND NAME DRUG: A medication developed by a pharmaceutical company and sold under a brand name. When a brand name drug’s patent expires, generic versions of the medication may be sold.
COINSURANCE: A percentage you must pay of the cost of your medication or health care (for example, your plan may pay 80 percent and you pay 20 percent coinsurance).
COPAYMENT OR COPAY: A fixed amount (for example, $20) you pay for covered medication or health care.
COST SHARING OR OUT‐OF‐POCKET (OOP) COSTS: Costs that aren’t covered by your health plan, such as premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, copayments and non‐covered services and supplies.
DEDUCTIBLE: The amount you pay in a year before your plan covers costs. For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible, you will pay $1,000 for health care before your plan begins covering any costs in one year.
EXCEPTION FOR PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS: An instance when a health plan approves a member or doctor’s request to provide or cover a medication in a different way than is typical for the plan. Some sample requests are to:
Cover a drug that is not covered on the plan’s formulary or PDL Waive prior authorization or step therapy requirements for a drug that works for you Provide a higher‐tier drug at a lower tier cost because lower tier drugs do not work for you
EXEMPTION FOR PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS: A freedom from requirements, such as prior authorization, step therapy, generic substitution, for one or more types of mental health medications.
FORMULARY: A list of generic and brand name medications covered by your health plan (may also be called a Preferred Drug List or PDL).
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Medication: Protecting Choice
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy • Medication: Protecting Choice Page 12 © 2015 NAMI, Inc.
GENERIC DRUG: A medication with the same active ingredients and in the same amounts as a brand name counterpart. Generics are usually less expensive than a brand name drug, but may have different fillers, additives or different timing of the release of active ingredients.
NON‐PREFERRED: A medication that a health plan may not cover or that has higher cost‐sharing or other requirements.
PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER (PBM): A managed care organization that specializes in providing medications through mail order and/or a network of pharmacies for Medicaid and other health plans.
PREFERRED DRUG LIST (PDL): A list of generic and brand name medications covered by your health plan (may also be called a Preferred Drug List or PDL).
PRIOR AUTHORIZATION: A requirement by your health plan to review a medication request before approving or denying. Your plan may require prior authorization because a medication has dangerous side effects, may interact with other drugs, is often misused or abused or when your plan thinks a different or less expensive drug might work as well or better.
QUANTITY LIMITS: A limit on the amount of a medication your plan will cover over a period of time.
STEP THERAPY: A requirement to try one or more drugs first—sometimes for specific lengths of time—before your plan will cover a certain medication.
TIER: A level of coverage on your health plan’s formulary. Medications on lower tiers have lower cost sharing, while medications on higher tiers have higher costs and may have more restrictions.
UTILIZATION MANAGEMENT (UM): Techniques, such as preferred drug lists, prior authorization, quantity limits, tier levels or step therapy, that may be used to improve safety and/or quality, ensure appropriate use or to control costs.
KEY HEALTH PLAN DECISION‐MAKERSHEALTH PLAN MEDICAL AND PHARMACY DIRECTOR: Executives who oversee medical services and medications for a health plan and who make decisions about coverage and exceptions.
STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER: State official responsible for regulating insurance offered in his/her state, including commercial health insurance plans.
STATE MEDICAID DIRECTOR: State official responsible for the entire Medicaid program in his/her state.
MEDICAID MEDICAL AND PHARMACY DIRECTOR: State officials who oversee medical services and medications for the state Medicaid program and who make decisions about coverage or exceptions.
PHARMACY & THERAPEUTICS COMMITTEE (P&T COMMITTEE): A committee of experts that weighs effectiveness, safety, side effects, costs and other factors in making decisions about medications for a health plan or pharmacy benefit manager.
3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ▪ Arlington, VA ▪ 22203 ▪ 703.524.7600 June 2015
Access to Mental Health Medications
Why NAMI Cares The right medication is a key to recovery for many children and adults with mental health conditions. Yet, in a 2015 study of private health plans, NAMI found that coverage of antipsychotic and antidepressant medications was inadequate.1
People need choices because individuals react differently to different medications and because the effects of not getting the right mental health medication can be costly and dangerous.
Mental health medications are unique. While mental health medications work in similar ways, individual
responses vary greatly.1
− About a third of those with depression improve after treatment with an SSRI antidepressant.Others get better with different or added medication.2 Lack of treatment success with one SSRI does not predict the same effect with another.3
− Effectiveness of medications for ADHD varies markedly between patients depending on such factors as symptoms, presence of other conditions and family situation.4
− An antipsychotic medication that works well for one person with schizophrenia will not necessarily work for another.5
Psychiatric medications differ, even within the same class, with varyingside effects, drug interactions and effectiveness.− Some mental health medications have side effects that may pose serious health risks in
persons with common chronic disorders such as heart disease or obesity.
− Some children may only be able to tolerate a long‐acting or liquid form of ADHD medication.
− An antipsychotic that is sedating may help an agitated or sleepless person, but not someone who is withdrawn and lacks energy.
− Some antipsychotics have significantly shorter half‐lives (a few hours), which means symptoms may return quickly with a skipped dose.
People with mental health conditions are at high risk. More than one out of every 13 emergency department visits involves a
mental illness.6
Mood disorders are the top reason adults 18‐64 years old are admitted to ahospital after an emergency department visit and psychotic disorders are thefourth most common reason.7
Two out of three Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities who have commonchronic conditions also have a mental illness. The hospital admission rates forthose with mental illness are 46% to 70% higher than for those without.8
3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ▪ Arlington, VA ▪ 22203 ▪ 703.524.7600 June 2015
Restricting medications shifts costs to the wrong places. Preferred drug lists, prior authorization and other restrictions pose substantial risks for people with serious mental health conditions. Medication failures can lead to emergency department visits, hospitalization, school failure, job loss‐‐even incarceration or suicide.
In a 2009 ten‐state study of Medicaid prescription drug policies, priorauthorization requirements were associated with people being 2.1 timesmore likely to be reported homeless and 3.1 times more likely to behospitalized.9
Preferred drug lists were associated with 1.8 times higher rates of emergencydepartment visits and 2.3 times higher rates of hospitalization.10
People who stopped taking medications because of access problems weremore than twice as likely to end up in jail.11
Preserving choice can achieve better outcomes and cost savings. Preserving choice in medications can achieve better health outcomes through more effective care and cost savings by reducing unavoidable emergency department visits and hospital stays.
Five percent of Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities account for more than50 percent of overall Medicaid costs. In this highest‐cost group, mental illnessis in three of the top five most prevalent pairs of diseases.12
According to a 2015 research study, better adherence to antipsychotics alonecould yield an annual net savings of $3.2 billion to states, an average of $1,580per enrollee per year.13
1 Honberg, R; Diehl, S; Douglas, D (2015) A Long Road Ahead: Achieving True Parity in Mental Health and Substance Use Care. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Arlington, VA. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. 4 Arnold EL; Hodgkins P; Caci, H; et al; (2015) Effect of Treatment Modality on Long‐Term Outcomes in Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review. PLOSone. Accessed 6/24/15. http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0116407&representation=PDF 5 National Institute of Mental Health, Science Update, Ethnicity Predicts How Gene Variations Affect Response to Schizophrenia Medications, January 02, 2008. 6 Statistical Brief #92, Mental Health and Substance Abuse‐Related Emergency Department Visits among Adults, 2007. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). June 2014. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. 7 Statistical Brief #174, Overview of Emergency Department Visits in the United States, 2011. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). June 2014. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. 8 Boyd C; Leff B; Weiss C; et al. (Dec. 2010). Clarifying Multimorbidity Patterns to Improve Targeting and Delivery of Clinical Services for Medicaid Populations. Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. 9 West, Joyce C., et al. (May 2009). Medication Prescription Drug Policies and Medication Access and Continuity: Findings From Ten States. Psychiatric Services; Vol. 60, No. 5. 10 Ibid. 11 Ibid. 12 Kronick, Rick, PhD, Bella, Melanie & Gilmer, Todd P., PhD. (October 2009). The Faces of Medicaid III: Refining the Portrait of People with Multiple Chronic Conditions. Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. 13 Predmore ZS; Mattke S; Horvitz‐Lennon M (2015) Improving antipsychotic adherence among patients with schizophrenia: Savings for states. Psychiatric Services; 66(4):343‐345.
Insert Tab: Module 5 Script
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
nR
evis
ed J
une
2017
Slid
eT
ime
Scrip
tH
ando
uts
1
30 s
ecH
ello
eve
ryon
e. W
elco
me
to th
is w
orks
hop
on p
arity
, or f
airn
ess
in h
ealth
insu
ranc
e co
vera
ge fo
r men
tal h
ealth
and
add
ictio
n ca
re. T
his
is p
art
of
NA
MI’s
gras
sroo
ts s
kill-
build
ing
prog
ram
, NA
MI S
ma
rts fo
r A
dvo
ca
cy.
My
nam
e is
[nam
e] a
nd I
will
be y
our f
acilit
ator
. And
hel
ping
us
toda
y is
[nam
e].
Nex
t slid
e1
min
Dur
ing
this
wor
ksho
p, w
e'll
defin
e th
e te
rm, ‘
men
tal h
ealth
and
add
ictio
n pa
rity’
.W
e’ll
ta
lk a
bou
t the
law
s th
at re
quire
insu
ranc
e co
mpa
nies
to p
rovi
de fa
ir m
enta
lhe
alth
cov
erag
e an
d ho
w to
spo
t pro
blem
s in
you
r hea
lth p
lan.
Yo
u’ll
lea
rn h
ow
an
d w
here
to fi
le a
com
plai
nt. T
he
n w
e’ll
sh
are
so
me
sto
rie
s t
o h
elp
yo
u le
arn
ho
w to
iden
tify
poss
ible
par
ity is
sues
. Fin
ally
, we
’ll p
ractice c
ompl
etin
g a
com
plai
nt fo
rm to
sho
w y
ou h
ow s
impl
e it
can
be to
sta
rt th
e pr
oces
s fo
r you
rsel
for
som
eone
you
car
e ab
out.
Are
you
read
y to
sta
rt? [W
ait f
or re
spon
se] G
reat
![S
kip
if pa
rt o
f a lo
nger
trai
ning
:]B
efor
e w
e be
gin,
ple
ase
look
at t
he fi
rst t
wo
ques
tions
on
your
eva
luat
ion
form
.Ta
ke h
alf a
min
ute
to c
ircle
the
num
ber i
n th
e le
ft-ha
nd c
olum
n fo
r que
stio
ns 1
and
2 th
at b
est m
atch
es y
our l
evel
of k
now
ledg
e ab
out p
arity
and
con
fiden
ce in
asse
rting
you
r par
ity ri
ghts
.
N
ext s
lide
Eval
uatio
n
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
2
1 m
in
This
trai
ning
cov
ers
a lo
t of g
roun
d in
a s
hort
am
ount
of t
ime.
To
help
e
ve
ryo
ne
ge
t th
e m
ost o
ut of
this
tra
inin
g,
I’d lik
e t
o a
sk y
ou
to
agre
e to
the
fo
llow
ing
basi
c gr
ound
rule
s:
•
Par
ticip
ate
fully
•
Kee
p us
on
time
(avo
id g
ettin
g si
de-tr
acke
d or
invo
lved
in c
onve
rsat
ions
) •
And
turn
off
your
cel
l pho
nes.
By “
pa
rtic
ipa
te fu
lly,”
we m
ea
n b
ein
g w
illin
g t
o d
o e
ach o
f th
e a
ctivitie
s.
It a
lso
m
eans
put
ting
away
dis
tract
ions
so
you
can
be fo
cuse
d an
d ta
ke in
this
trai
ning
. T
o k
eep
us o
n tim
e,
I’ll
be
sig
na
ling y
ou
wh
en w
e n
ee
d to
sto
p a
n a
ctivity.
[in
dic
ate
ho
w y
ou
’ll s
ign
al pa
rtici
pant
s—vo
ice,
han
d, c
him
e] P
leas
e be
willi
ng to
st
op e
ven
if yo
u ar
e no
t fin
ishe
d.
We
enco
urag
e co
mm
ents
at t
imes
dur
ing
the
train
ing.
Tha
t sai
d, w
e as
k yo
u to
ho
ld lo
nger
or u
nrel
ated
com
men
ts, q
uest
ions
or o
pini
ons
until
afte
r the
trai
ning
.
Are
yo
u w
illi
ng
to
fo
llo
w t
he
se
gro
un
d r
ule
s?
[Ask
for a
sho
w o
f han
ds.]
[E
nd o
f del
etio
n if
part
of a
long
er tr
aini
ng]
N
ext s
lide
1 m
in
We’ll
sta
rt b
y d
efinin
g th
e te
rm,
‘men
tal h
ea
lth a
nd a
ddic
tion
pa
rity
’ als
o kn
own
as ‘m
en
tal h
ea
lth
an
d s
ubst
ance
use
pa
rity
.’ E
ith
er
wa
y,
it’s
qui
te a
mou
thfu
l, bu
t th
e ba
sic
idea
is s
impl
y th
at h
ealth
insu
ranc
e pl
ans
mus
t cov
er m
enta
l hea
lth
and
addi
ctio
n ca
re a
t the
sam
e le
vel a
s ot
her m
edic
al c
ondi
tions
. Th
is in
clud
es tr
eatm
ent l
imits
suc
h as
the
num
ber o
f tre
atm
ent v
isits
or h
ospi
tal
days
, out
of p
ocke
t cos
ts, a
nd th
e w
ay tr
eatm
ent r
eque
sts
are
revi
ewed
. Th
e re
ason
we
need
to k
now
abo
ut m
enta
l hea
lth p
arity
is th
at m
enta
l hea
lth a
nd
subs
tanc
e ab
use
care
has
long
bee
n sh
ortc
hang
ed b
y th
e he
alth
insu
ranc
e in
dust
ry. I
n th
e pa
st, i
f hea
lth p
lans
cov
ered
men
tal h
ealth
car
e at
all:
•
men
tal h
ealth
vis
its w
ere
mor
e lim
ited,
•
out o
f poc
ket c
osts
wer
e hi
gher
, •
care
was
den
ied
mor
e fre
quen
tly, a
nd
•
plan
s w
ere
canc
elle
d w
hen
peop
le u
sed
high
cos
t car
e lik
e ps
ychi
atric
ho
spita
l or i
nten
sive
out
patie
nt tr
eatm
ent.
N
ext s
lide
Parit
y O
verv
iew
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
3
30 s
ec
Bec
ause
of t
his
hist
ory
of in
equa
lity,
thre
e fe
dera
l law
s w
ere
pass
ed re
quiri
ng
mos
t hea
lth p
lans
to m
ust c
over
men
tal h
ealth
con
ditio
ns a
nd a
ddic
tion
the
sam
e w
ay th
ey c
over
oth
er m
edic
al c
ondi
tions
.
The
info
rmat
ion
I’m
ta
lkin
g a
bo
ut
is in
clud
ed o
n th
e Pa
rity
Ove
rvie
w
hand
out o
n pa
ge 1
.
We
will
als
o de
fine
som
e in
sura
nce
term
s du
ring
this
wor
ksho
p. T
hey
are
incl
uded
for l
ater
refe
renc
e in
a g
loss
ary
at th
e en
d of
you
r han
dout
s.
N
ext s
lide
Parit
y O
verv
iew
G
loss
ary
30 s
ec
Now
, bac
k to
par
ity la
ws:
Th
e Pa
ul W
ells
tone
and
Pet
e D
omen
ici M
enta
l Hea
lth P
arity
and
Add
ictio
n E
quity
Act
, or M
HP
AEA
[meh
-PEE
-ah]
, pas
sed
in 2
008.
Th
e Pa
tient
Pro
tect
ion
and
Affo
rdab
le C
are
Act o
f 201
0, o
r the
AC
A. T
his
is a
he
alth
insu
ranc
e re
form
law
that
als
o st
reng
then
s th
e pa
rity
requ
irem
ents
of
MH
PA
EA
. Th
e 21
st C
entu
ry C
ures
Act
of 2
016,
whi
ch is
a b
road
hea
lth s
ervi
ce a
nd
rese
arch
law
that
has
som
e pa
rity
prov
isio
ns.
Le
t’s ta
ke
a c
lose
r lo
ok a
t th
ese
law
s.
N
ext s
lide
Parit
y O
verv
iew
30 s
ec
The
Paul
Wel
lsto
ne a
nd P
ete
Dom
enic
i Men
tal H
ealth
Par
ity a
nd A
ddic
tion
Equ
ity A
ct o
f 200
8, o
r MH
PA
EA
, app
lies
to h
ealth
pla
ns fr
om la
rge
empl
oyer
s an
d M
edic
aid
man
aged
car
e pl
ans
(whi
ch is
mos
t Med
icai
d pl
ans)
.
MH
PA
EA
doe
s no
t requ
ire
hea
lth p
lans
to p
rovi
de m
enta
l hea
lth o
r add
ictio
n be
nefit
s, b
ut if
they
do,
trea
tmen
t lim
its a
nd o
ut o
f poc
ket c
osts
mus
t be
at th
e sa
me
leve
l as
othe
r typ
es o
f med
ical
car
e.
N
ext s
lide
Parit
y O
verv
iew
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
4
3 m
in
The
Patie
nt P
rote
ctio
n an
d Af
ford
able
Car
e Ac
t of 2
010,
or A
CA
is d
esig
ned
to
refo
rm h
ealth
insu
ranc
e. T
his
law
hel
ps p
eopl
e w
ho n
eed
men
tal h
ealth
or
subs
tanc
e ab
use
care
in s
ever
al w
ays.
It
sets
con
sum
er p
rote
ctio
n st
anda
rds.
For
exa
mpl
e, u
nder
this
law
hea
lth p
lans
ca
n no
long
er tu
rn p
eopl
e do
wn
or c
harg
e m
ore
for h
avin
g a
long
term
con
ditio
n su
ch a
s m
enta
l illn
ess.
The
law
als
o ba
rs h
ealth
pla
ns fr
om h
avin
g lif
etim
e or
an
nual
lim
its fo
r add
ictio
n tre
atm
ent o
r men
tal h
ealth
car
e.
The
AC
A a
llow
s st
ates
to e
nrol
l any
one
in M
edic
aid
who
se in
com
e is
at o
r bel
ow
138%
of t
he fe
dera
l pov
erty
leve
l - a
bout
$16
,400
per
yea
r for
one
per
son.
Ove
r ha
lf of
the
stat
es h
ave
expa
nded
Med
icai
d.
This
law
ext
ends
par
ity re
quire
men
ts to
all
indi
vidu
al a
nd s
mal
l gro
up h
ealth
pl
ans
whe
ther
they
are
sol
d in
the
heal
th in
sura
nce
exch
ange
or n
ot. I
t als
o re
quire
s pa
rity
in p
rivat
e he
alth
pla
ns u
sed
in M
edic
aid
expa
nsio
n an
d C
hild
ren
’s
Hea
lth In
sura
nce
Pla
ns, o
r CH
IP.
The
AC
A s
ets
up h
ealth
insu
ranc
e ex
chan
ges
in e
very
sta
te to
offe
r hea
lth p
lans
th
at m
eet q
ualit
y st
anda
rds.
The
law
pro
vide
s fo
r up-
front
tax
cred
its to
mak
e th
e pl
ans
affo
rdab
le.
Th
e A
CA
als
o re
quire
s al
l ind
ivid
ual a
nd s
mal
l gro
up p
lans
to c
over
10
esse
ntia
l he
alth
ben
efits
, or E
HB
. ‘B
eh
avio
ral h
ea
lth
’ is
one
of th
e E
HB
cat
egor
ies.
It
incl
udes
men
tal h
ealth
and
sub
stan
ce u
se c
are.
E
HB
s m
ust m
ee
t M
HP
AE
A s
tan
da
rds, n
ot o
nly
with
in t
he
‘b
eh
avio
ral h
ea
lth
’ ca
tego
ry, b
ut a
lso
in o
ther
cat
egor
ies
such
as
emer
genc
y ca
re.
S
o, th
e A
CA
requ
ire
s in
sure
rs to
cov
er m
enta
l hea
lth a
nd s
ubst
ance
use
car
e fo
r in
divi
dual
and
sm
all g
roup
pla
ns. T
his
is s
trong
er th
an th
e if/th
en s
tand
ard
of
MH
PA
EA
whi
ch a
pplie
s to
larg
e em
ploy
er-s
pons
ored
pla
ns.
Fina
lly, t
he A
CA
mak
es c
are
mor
e af
ford
able
by
setti
ng li
mits
on
how
muc
h co
nsum
ers
pay
out-o
f-poc
ket (
OO
P) p
er y
ear.
Nex
t slid
e
Parit
y O
verv
iew
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
5
1 m
in
If th
ese
law
s ha
ve b
een
on th
e bo
oks
for y
ears
, why
do
we
still
have
so
man
y pr
oble
ms
with
par
ity?
P
art o
f the
pro
blem
is th
at it
took
ye
ars
to p
rodu
ce th
e ru
les
that
spe
ll ou
t wha
t in
su
rers
mu
st
do
to
com
ply
with
th
e la
w.
The
fin
al ru
les w
ere
n’t issue
d fo
r p
riva
te
insu
rers
unt
il 20
13 a
nd fo
r Med
icai
d an
d C
HIP
unt
il 20
16.
Ano
ther
pro
blem
is th
at th
e di
ffere
nt ty
pes
of h
ealth
pla
ns a
re o
vers
een
by
diffe
rent
sta
te a
nd f
ed
era
l a
ge
ncie
s,
so
it
wa
sn
’t c
lea
r w
hic
h a
ge
ncie
s w
ere
ch
arge
d w
ith e
nfor
cing
the
law
. In
su
rers
ha
ve
n’t h
ad
ince
ntive
to
co
mp
ly w
ith
tho
se la
ws
beca
use
it is
not
bei
ng
mon
itore
d an
d en
forc
ed, s
o un
less
told
oth
erw
ise
they
cut
cos
ts to
turn
a p
rofit
fo
r the
ir sh
areh
olde
rs.
N
ext s
lide
Parit
y O
verv
iew
30 s
ec
The
21st C
entu
ry C
ures
Act
trie
s to
cle
ar u
p w
hat i
s re
quire
d of
hea
lth in
sure
rs
and
sort
out h
ow fe
dera
l and
sta
te g
over
nmen
t age
ncie
s m
ust e
nfor
ce p
arity
. P
arity
is o
nly
a sm
all s
ectio
n of
this
bro
ad la
w b
ut it
stre
ngth
ens
men
tal h
ealth
an
d ad
dict
ion
parit
y in
gen
eral
. 21st
Cen
tury
Cur
es a
lso
has
a se
ctio
n on
eat
ing
diso
rder
s, w
hich
are
ofte
n tre
ated
une
qual
ly.
N
ext s
lide
Parit
y O
verv
iew
1 m
in
So
me
typ
es o
f p
lan
s d
on
’t ha
ve to
follo
w fe
dera
l par
ity la
w. T
ake
a lo
ok a
t you
r ha
ndou
t on
page
2.
Med
icar
e, th
e fe
dera
l hea
lth p
rogr
am fo
r sen
iors
and
peo
ple
with
dis
abilit
ies,
is
not u
nder
par
ity la
w. S
tate
Med
icai
d fe
e-fo
r-serv
ice
pro
gra
ms a
lso d
on
’t h
ave
to
co
mpl
y.
Sm
all s
tate
and
loca
l gov
ernm
ent p
lans
with
50
or
few
er
em
plo
ye
es d
on
’t h
ave
to
follo
w p
arity
, alth
ough
man
y ha
ve c
hose
n to
opt
in.
And
hea
lth p
lans
for
empl
oyee
s of
faith
org
aniz
atio
ns s
uch
as c
hurc
hes,
syn
agog
ues
or m
osqu
es,
can
opt o
ut o
f par
ity.
Fina
lly, s
mal
l gro
up a
nd in
divi
dual
pla
ns p
urch
ased
bef
ore
2010
do
not h
ave
to
com
ply
with
pa
rity
IF
th
e p
lan
ha
sn
’t c
ha
nge
d s
ince
the
AC
A w
as p
asse
d. T
hese
ar
e kn
own
as g
rand
fath
ered
pla
ns a
nd th
ere
are
very
few
left.
Hea
lth P
lans
an
d Fe
dera
l Pa
rity
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
6
The
fact
is th
at m
ost A
mer
ican
s ar
e co
vere
d by
hea
lth p
lans
that
are
und
er o
ne
or m
ore
fede
ral p
arity
law
s.
N
ext s
lide
3 m
in
Fede
ral l
aw p
rote
cts
parit
y in
sev
eral
type
s of
car
e.
Turn
to y
our P
arity
Pro
tect
ions
han
dout
on
page
3.
•
Inpa
tient
or h
ospi
tal c
are
mus
t be
cove
red
equa
lly in
or o
utsi
de th
e he
alth
pl
an n
etw
ork,
•
Out
patie
nt c
are
in a
nd o
ut o
f net
wor
k,
•
Res
iden
tial t
reat
men
t, •
Em
erge
ncy
care
, and
•
Pre
scrip
tion
drug
s.
Par
ity a
lso
appl
ies
to c
ost s
harin
g su
ch a
s co
-pay
s, c
o-in
sura
nce,
ded
uctib
les
and
out-o
f-poc
ket c
ost l
imits
. The
goa
l is
that
con
sum
ers
shou
ld n
ot h
ave
to p
ay
mor
e fo
r men
tal h
ealth
or s
ubst
ance
abu
se c
are
than
for g
ener
al m
edic
al c
are.
H
ealth
pla
ns a
re re
quire
d to
hav
e en
ough
men
tal h
ealth
and
sub
stan
ce u
se
outp
atie
nt p
rovi
ders
and
men
tal h
ealth
hos
pita
ls to
ser
ve m
embe
rs c
lose
to
hom
e. A
nd, p
rovi
der p
aym
ent r
ates
for m
enta
l hea
lth m
ust b
e on
the
sam
e le
vel
as o
ther
type
s of
car
e.
Fina
lly, s
tand
ards
use
d to
app
rove
or d
eny
treat
men
t req
uest
s m
ust b
e no
st
ricte
r for
men
tal h
ealth
and
add
ictio
n th
an fo
r med
ical
or s
urgi
cal c
are.
W
e’v
e ju
st
go
ne
thro
ugh
quite
a b
it of
info
rmat
ion.
Wha
t hav
e yo
u le
arne
d ab
out f
eder
al p
arity
law
that
sta
nds
out f
or y
ou?
[T
ake
a co
uple
of q
uick
resp
onse
s.]
Nex
t slid
e
Parit
y Pr
otec
tions
30 s
ec
You
may
be
won
derin
g ho
w to
tell
whe
ther
a h
ealth
pla
n is
follo
win
g pa
rity
law
. L
et’s g
o th
rou
gh
som
e c
om
mon
wa
rnin
g s
ign
s.
‘
Look
at t
he p
arity
vio
latio
n w
arni
ng s
igns
han
dout
on
page
4.
Nex
t slid
e
War
ning
Sig
ns:
Parit
y Vi
olat
ion?
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
7
30 s
ec
Und
er p
arity
law
, hea
lth p
lans
ca
n’t c
over
few
er v
isits
for m
enta
l hea
lth o
r ad
dict
ion
treat
men
t tha
n fo
r oth
er ty
pes
of c
are.
So,
if th
ere
is n
o lim
it on
the
num
ber o
f vis
its to
an
endo
crin
olog
ist f
or d
iabe
tes,
ther
e sh
ould
be
no li
mits
on
visi
ts to
a p
sych
iatri
st, t
hera
pist
or a
ddic
tion
coun
selo
r.
And
, the
num
ber o
f cov
ered
day
s in
psy
chia
tric
hosp
ital m
ust b
e eq
ual t
o da
ys
for o
ther
kin
ds o
f inp
atie
nt tr
eatm
ent.
T
he
se
are
ca
lled
‘qu
antita
tive
tre
atm
en
t lim
its’ o
r QTL
. H
ealth
pla
ns u
sual
ly
com
ply
with
QTL
s be
caus
e th
ey a
re w
ritte
n in
to th
e he
alth
pla
n pr
opos
als
revi
ewed
by
the
gove
rnm
ent.
N
ext s
lide
War
ning
Sig
ns:
Parit
y Vi
olat
ion?
G
loss
ary
30 s
ec
Bac
k to
sig
ns o
f par
ity is
sues
, a h
ealth
pla
n m
ay b
e vi
olat
ing
parit
y la
w if
it
do
esn
’t c
ove
r re
sid
entia
l tre
atm
ent o
r par
tial h
ospi
taliz
atio
n fo
r men
tal h
ealth
or
addi
ctio
n, b
ut d
oes
cove
r ste
p do
wn
care
in a
ski
lled
nurs
ing
faci
lity
afte
r a
stro
ke o
r hea
rt at
tack
. S
ome
heal
th p
lans
will
not p
ay fo
r men
tal h
ealth
or a
ddic
tion
care
if th
e m
embe
r qu
its b
efor
e th
e tre
atm
ent i
s co
mpl
ete.
Thi
s m
ay b
e a
parit
y vi
olat
ion
if th
e pl
an
do
esn
’t p
lace
the
sam
e r
equ
ire
men
t o
n o
the
r ty
pe
s o
f ca
re.
N
ext s
lide
War
ning
Sig
ns:
Parit
y Vi
olat
ion?
G
loss
ary
2 m
in
Hea
lth p
lans
can
not c
harg
e m
ore
to th
eir m
embe
rs fo
r men
tal h
ealth
or a
ddic
tion
treat
men
t tha
n fo
r med
ical
or s
urgi
cal c
are.
Out
of p
ocke
t cos
ts in
clud
e co
paym
ents
, co-
insu
ranc
e an
d de
duct
ible
s.
A d
educ
tible
is h
ow m
uch
you
have
to p
ay in
med
ical
bills
bef
ore
the
heal
th p
lan
begi
ns to
pay
. Add
ed d
educ
tible
s fo
r men
tal h
ealth
and
add
ictio
n ca
re a
re n
ot
allo
wed
und
er p
arity
law
. A
cop
aym
ent,
or c
opay
, is
a se
t fee
that
hea
lth p
lan
mem
bers
mus
t pay
for e
ach
visi
t. P
arity
law
requ
ires
copa
ys fo
r men
tal h
ealth
or a
ddic
tion
treat
men
t to
be th
e sa
me
as fo
r sim
ilar t
ypes
of c
are
for o
ther
con
ditio
ns.
Be
awar
e th
at c
o-in
sura
nce
and
copa
ymen
ts a
re n
ot th
e sa
me.
Cop
aym
ents
are
a
set f
ee p
er v
isit,
whi
le c
o-in
sura
nce
is a
per
cent
age
of th
e to
tal c
ost o
f the
tre
atm
ent.
Fo
r exa
mpl
e, a
pla
n m
ay h
ave
a $2
0 co
-pa
y f
or
do
cto
r’s a
ppo
intm
ents
, b
ut t
he
phar
mac
y be
nefit
may
requ
ire a
20%
co-
insu
ranc
e. If
the
tota
l cos
t of m
edic
atio
n
War
ning
Sig
ns:
Parit
y Vi
olat
ion?
G
loss
ary
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
8
is $
1,00
0 pe
r mon
th, t
he m
embe
r wou
ld o
we
$200
eve
ry m
on
th. T
ha
t’s b
ig
diffe
ren
ce
fro
m $
20 p
er
vis
it,
so
it
pa
ys t
o lo
ok a
t th
e f
ine
prin
t w
he
n y
ou
’re
bu
ying
hea
lth in
sura
nce.
C
o-in
su
ran
ce
usua
lly in
vo
lve
s le
ve
ls o
r ‘tie
rs’ of
ou
t of
po
cke
t co
sts
. F
or a
ge
neric
med
icat
ion
on ti
er 1
, the
hea
lth p
lan
wou
ld p
ay th
e fu
ll co
st a
nd th
e m
embe
r wo
uld
n’t o
we
an
yth
ing.
Fo
r med
icat
ions
on
tiers
2 –
4 m
embe
rs w
ould
ow
e an
incr
easi
ng p
erce
ntag
e of
the
cost
with
eac
h hi
gher
tier
. P
arity
law
s re
quire
hea
lth p
lans
to c
harg
e no
mor
e in
out
of p
ocke
t for
psy
chia
tric
med
icat
ions
than
for c
ompa
rabl
e m
edic
atio
ns to
trea
t oth
er c
ondi
tions
. Tha
t m
eans
that
a g
ener
ic a
ntid
epre
ssan
t or a
ntip
sych
otic
med
icat
ion
shou
ld b
e on
tie
r 1 o
r 2 w
ith li
ttle
or n
o co
pay.
The
sel
ectio
n of
bra
nd n
ame
med
icat
ion
on
each
tier
sho
uld
be s
imila
r acr
oss
the
vario
us m
edic
al c
ondi
tions
. N
ext s
lide
2 m
in
Ano
ther
type
of t
reat
men
t lim
it in
volv
es h
ow h
ealth
pla
ns re
view
requ
ests
for
men
tal h
ealth
or a
ddic
tion
treat
men
t com
pare
d to
oth
er ty
pes
of c
are.
Tre
atm
ent
revi
ews
are
done
for t
hree
mai
n re
ason
s:
1.
To m
ake
sure
the
best
type
of c
are
is b
eing
pro
vide
d,
2.
To p
reve
nt th
e w
rong
type
of c
are
from
bei
ng p
rovi
ded
and
3.
To r
ed
uce
th
e h
ea
lth
pla
n’s
cos
ts.
Hea
lth p
lans
dec
ide
whe
ther
car
e is
‘med
ica
lly n
eces
sary
,’ w
hen
deci
ding
w
heth
er to
app
rove
or d
eny
care
. Th
ey m
ay d
eny
care
bec
ause
it:
•
Is n
ot a
ppro
ved
for c
erta
in h
ealth
con
ditio
ns;
•
May
onl
y w
ork
unde
r cer
tain
con
ditio
ns;
•
Effe
ctiv
enes
s or
saf
ety
may
be
in q
uest
ion;
•
Or,
the
treat
men
t cos
ts m
ore
than
trea
tmen
ts fo
r the
sam
e co
nditi
on.
Thes
e ty
pes
of li
mita
tions
are
cal
led
Non
-Qua
ntita
tive
Trea
tmen
t Lim
its o
r NQ
TL,
and
this
is w
here
par
ity p
robl
ems
usua
lly a
ppea
r. Th
e w
ay in
sure
rs d
o th
is fo
r be
havi
oral
hea
lth c
are
is o
ften
mor
e st
rict t
han
for o
ther
type
s of
car
e. U
nder
pa
rity
law
hea
lth p
lans
mus
t sha
re th
e st
anda
rds
used
to a
ppro
ve o
r den
y ca
re if
th
e m
embe
r ask
s fo
r the
info
rmat
ion.
The
pla
n m
ust a
lso
shar
e w
ith a
pro
vide
r ac
ting
on b
ehal
f of a
mem
ber.
Nex
t slid
e
War
ning
Sig
ns:
Parit
y Vi
olat
ion?
G
loss
ary
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
9
1 m
in
Prio
r aut
horiz
atio
n an
d st
ep th
erap
y ar
e ot
her e
xam
ples
of n
on-q
uant
itativ
e tre
atm
ent l
imita
tions
(NQ
LT).
P
rior a
utho
rizat
ion
or p
rior a
ppro
val (
PA
) mea
ns th
at th
e m
embe
r or p
rovi
der
mus
t con
tact
the
heal
th p
lan
to re
ques
t cov
erag
e of
trea
tmen
t. If
PA
is g
rant
ed,
the
plan
will
cove
r the
trea
tmen
t, al
thou
gh th
e m
embe
r may
stil
l hav
e an
out
-of-
pock
et c
ost.
Som
e pl
ans
requ
ire a
new
prio
r aut
horiz
atio
n ev
ery
year
or e
very
tim
e a
mem
ber r
each
es a
cer
tain
num
ber o
f vis
its.
If pr
ior a
utho
rizat
ion
is n
ot g
rant
ed, t
he p
lan
wo
n’t p
ay fo
r the
trea
tmen
t.
Ste
p th
erap
y, o
r fai
l firs
t, is
a ty
pe o
f prio
r aut
horiz
atio
n. W
ith s
tep
ther
apy,
the
mem
ber m
ust f
irst t
ry a
mor
e co
mm
on, l
ess
expe
nsiv
e tre
atm
ent o
r med
icat
ion
that
has
bee
n pr
oven
effe
ctiv
e fo
r mos
t peo
ple
with
a g
iven
con
ditio
n be
fore
they
ca
n “
ste
p”
to th
e r
ecom
me
nd
ed
trea
tmen
t.
Nex
t slid
e
War
ning
Sig
ns:
Parit
y Vi
olat
ion?
G
loss
ary
4 m
in
Pro
vide
r cre
dent
ialin
g is
ano
ther
NQ
TL in
whi
ch h
ealth
pla
ns c
ontra
ct w
ith a
lim
ite
d n
um
be
r of
pro
vid
ers
wh
o m
ee
t th
e p
lan
’s q
ua
lity s
tan
da
rds. P
rovi
ders
m
ust g
o th
roug
h a
revi
ew p
roce
ss a
nd m
ay o
r may
not
be
acce
pted
into
a g
iven
he
alth
pla
n ne
twor
k. In
retu
rn fo
r clie
nt re
ferra
ls, t
hese
pro
vide
rs a
gree
to w
ork
for a
redu
ced
rate
and
follo
w p
lan
proc
edur
es. I
f the
insu
rer d
oes
this
diff
eren
tly
for m
enta
l hea
lth th
an o
ther
type
s of
pro
vide
rs, t
hat m
ay b
e a
parit
y vi
olat
ion.
N
arro
w n
etw
orks
allo
w h
ealth
pla
ns to
pay
the
prov
ider
less
per
vis
it be
caus
e th
ey c
an g
uara
ntee
a h
ighe
r num
ber o
f ref
erra
ls to
eac
h pr
ovid
er in
the
netw
ork.
Th
is s
trate
gy a
lso
mak
es it
eas
ier f
or h
ealth
pla
ns to
mon
itor t
he q
ualit
y of
car
e gi
ven
by th
eir p
rovi
ders
.
The
prob
lem
is th
at m
embe
rs o
ften
have
a re
ally
har
d tim
e fin
ding
an
in-n
etw
ork
men
tal h
ealth
or a
ddic
tion
treat
men
t pro
vide
r. H
ealth
pla
n pr
ovid
er d
irect
orie
s m
ay b
e ou
t of d
ate;
eve
n th
ose
that
are
on
line.
The
dire
ctor
y m
ay li
st p
rovi
ders
w
ho
are
no
lo
nge
r p
racticin
g o
r w
ho
are
n’t t
akin
g n
ew
pa
tie
nts
.
And
, it m
ay lo
ok li
ke th
e pl
an h
as a
pro
vide
r in
the
area
, whe
n in
real
ity, t
he
prov
ider
pra
ctic
es a
t a n
umbe
r of c
linic
s an
d on
ly ta
kes
a fe
w h
ealth
pla
n pa
tient
s fro
m a
giv
en to
wn.
War
ning
Sig
ns:
Parit
y Vi
olat
ion?
G
loss
ary
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
10
It is t
rue t
hat
it’s
ha
rd fo
r h
ea
lth
pla
ns to
kee
p di
rect
orie
s up
to d
ate
whe
n pr
ovid
ers
com
e an
d go
qui
ckly
. Th
e he
alth
insu
ranc
e in
dust
ry is
wor
king
on
a te
chni
cal s
olut
ion,
but
it m
ay b
e aw
hile
bef
ore
this
pro
blem
is s
olve
d.
In a
ny c
ase,
nar
row
net
wor
ks m
ean
that
con
sum
ers
pay
high
er o
ut o
f poc
ket
cost
s fo
r out
of n
etw
ork
prov
ider
s. T
his
extra
fina
ncia
l bur
den
may
be
a pa
rity
viol
atio
n. B
ecau
se o
f thi
s, if
no
in-n
etw
ork
prov
ider
s ar
e av
aila
ble
in a
loca
l are
a,
parit
y la
w re
quire
s he
alth
pla
ns to
pay
the
full
cost
for a
n ou
t-of-n
etw
ork
prov
ider
.
Le
t’s
sto
p h
ere
fo
r a
brie
f dis
cuss
ion.
Hav
e yo
u or
som
eone
you
car
e ab
out
expe
rienc
ed a
ny o
f the
se s
ituat
ions
? If
so,
wha
t hap
pene
d?
[Tak
e a
coup
le o
f qui
ck re
spon
ses.
]
Nex
t slid
e
2 m
in
Now
, w
e’d
lik
e t
o t
alk
ab
ou
t w
ha
t to
do
wh
en
yo
u b
elie
ve
a h
ea
lth p
lan
ma
y b
e
out o
f com
plia
nce
with
par
ity la
w.
Look
at y
our h
ando
ut o
n C
ompl
aint
s an
d A
ppea
ls o
n pa
ges
5 an
d 6.
Th
e m
embe
r - o
r the
pro
vide
r on
beha
lf of
the
mem
ber -
has
the
right
com
plai
n a
bou
t a h
ea
lth
pla
n d
ecis
ion
or
to ‘a
pp
ea
l’ a d
en
ial of
ca
re. A
n a
pp
ea
l is
a fo
rma
l w
ritte
n re
ques
t for
a d
iffer
ent d
ecis
ion.
M
embe
rs a
nd p
rovi
ders
hes
itate
to fi
le a
com
plai
nt fo
r fea
r tha
t the
hea
lth p
lan
may
dro
p th
em o
r get
eve
n in
som
e ot
her w
ay. R
est a
ssur
ed th
at is
stri
ctly
ag
ains
t the
law
to re
talia
te, a
nd h
ealth
pla
ns k
now
it. A
lso,
sta
te in
sura
nce
depa
rtmen
ts –
who
rece
ive
mos
t of t
he c
alls
– s
ay th
at c
ompl
aint
s an
d ap
peal
s ar
e fil
ed a
ll th
e tim
e as
a s
tand
ard
part
of th
e in
sura
nce
busi
ness
. C
ompl
aint
s an
d ap
peal
s to
sta
te a
nd fe
dera
l age
ncie
s ar
e im
porta
nt, b
ecau
se
the
gove
rnm
ent b
ases
enf
orce
men
t of p
arity
law
on
the
num
ber a
nd ty
pe o
f co
mpl
aint
s an
d ap
peal
s re
ceiv
ed. S
o, b
y fil
ing
a co
mpl
aint
or a
ppea
l with
the
gove
rnm
ent,
the
mem
ber i
s he
lpin
g t
hem
se
lve
s a
nd
eve
ryo
ne
els
e w
ho
isn
’t
getti
ng th
e ca
re th
ey a
re e
ntitl
ed to
und
er p
arity
law
.
N
ext s
lide
Com
plai
nts
and
Appe
als
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
11
2 m
in
It is
a g
ood
idea
to c
onta
ct th
e st
ate
heal
th in
sura
nce
depa
rtmen
t eve
n if
the
com
plai
nt o
r app
eal n
eeds
to g
o to
a fe
dera
l age
ncy
beca
use
stat
es a
re
resp
onsi
ble
to m
onito
r and
enf
orce
par
ity la
ws.
Thi
s he
lps
them
trac
k th
e nu
mbe
r of
com
plai
nts
and
appe
als
filed
from
peo
ple
in th
e st
ate.
A
nd, s
tate
insu
ranc
e de
partm
ents
hav
e co
nsum
er a
ssis
tanc
e st
aff w
ho w
ork
with
m
embe
rs to
mak
e su
re th
e pa
perw
ork
is c
ompl
eted
and
file
d co
rrect
ly. T
hey
can
also
con
tact
the
heal
th p
lans
on
your
beh
alf t
o re
ques
t a c
hang
e in
the
deci
sion
. L
et’s g
o th
rou
gh
th
e C
om
pla
ints
an
d A
pp
ea
ls h
and
out
to s
ee h
ow
the
pro
ce
ss
wor
ks.
[R
ea
d th
rou
gh
‘H
ow
to
pre
pa
re a
com
pla
int’ a
nd
‘W
ha
t h
ap
pen
s w
hen
a
co
mp
lain
t is
file
d?
’]
W
hat q
uest
ions
do
you
have
abo
ut th
is p
roce
ss?
[T
ake
a co
uple
of q
uick
resp
onse
s.]
N
ext s
lide
Com
plai
nts
and
Appe
als
3 m
in
Bef
ore
filin
g a
com
plai
nt o
r app
eal,
the
mem
ber a
nd th
e pr
ovid
er s
houl
d di
scus
s th
e re
com
men
ded
treat
men
t and
how
the
deni
al o
f car
e af
fect
s th
e m
embe
r. B
e sp
ecifi
c ab
out t
reat
men
t goa
ls. I
f the
hea
lth p
lan
has
prop
osed
an
alte
rnat
ive,
di
scus
s ho
w it
falls
sho
rt an
d w
hy th
e or
igin
al p
resc
ribed
trea
tmen
t is
still
pr
efer
red.
T
he
ne
xt
ste
p is to
com
pla
in t
o th
e h
ea
lth
pla
n’s
con
sum
er
se
rvic
e d
epa
rtm
en
t.
Ofte
n, th
e he
alth
pla
n w
ill c
hang
e th
e de
cisi
on if
the
reas
ons
for t
he c
hang
e ar
e ex
plai
ned
in d
etai
l.
If cu
stom
er s
ervi
ce re
pres
enta
tives
stil
l den
y th
e tre
atm
ent r
eque
st, t
he p
rovi
der
or m
embe
r can
com
plet
e an
d su
bmit
a w
ritte
n ap
peal
form
to th
e in
sura
nce
plan
, u
su
ally
by f
ax o
r em
ail.
Alth
ou
gh
mo
st p
eop
le d
on
’t b
oth
er
to f
ile a
n a
pp
ea
l, it
is
wel
l wor
th th
e tim
e an
d ef
fort
beca
use
heal
th p
lans
usu
ally
dec
ide
appe
als
in
favo
r of t
he m
embe
r.
If t
he
he
alth p
lan d
en
ies t
he
app
ea
l, t
hat’s n
ot th
e e
nd
of
the
sto
ry.
Th
e m
em
be
r or
pro
vide
r can
stil
l app
eal t
o th
e st
ate
insu
ranc
e de
partm
ent a
nd/o
r the
fede
ral
agen
cy in
cha
rge
of th
e pa
rticu
lar t
ype
of p
lan.
Com
plai
nts
and
Appe
als
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
12
Pag
e 6
of th
e C
ompl
aint
s an
d A
ppea
ls h
ando
ut h
as a
cha
rt sh
owin
g w
hich
go
vern
men
t age
ncie
s ha
ndle
app
eals
for d
iffer
ent t
ypes
of h
ealth
pla
ns.
•
The
U.S
. Dep
artm
ent o
f Lab
or is
resp
onsi
ble
for s
elf-i
nsur
ed h
ealth
pla
ns
spon
sore
d by
em
ploy
ers
with
50
or m
ore
wor
kers
. Tha
t mea
ns th
e em
ploy
er c
over
s its
ow
n he
alth
ben
efits
. •
The
stat
e he
alth
insu
ranc
e de
partm
ent h
andl
es c
ompl
aint
s an
d ap
peal
s ab
out p
lans
pur
chas
ed b
y in
divi
dual
s or
sm
all g
roup
s un
der 5
0 pe
ople
, w
heth
er th
e pl
an w
as s
old
insi
de o
r out
side
a s
tate
hea
lth in
sura
nce
exch
ange
or t
he fe
dera
l hea
lth in
sura
nce
mar
ketp
lace
. •
Hea
lth in
sura
nce
exch
ange
pla
ns a
re a
lso
the
resp
onsi
bilit
y of
the
fede
ral
Cen
ters
for M
edic
are
and
Med
icai
d Se
rvic
es, o
r CM
S.
•
App
eals
abo
ut M
edic
aid
man
aged
car
e pl
ans
shou
ld b
e fil
ed w
ith th
e st
ate
Med
icai
d pr
ogra
m a
nd C
MS
.
N
ext s
lide
1 m
in
If yo
u fe
el o
verw
helm
ed b
y ho
w c
ompl
icat
ed th
is is
, you
are
not
alo
ne.
In re
spon
se to
requ
ests
from
peo
ple
acro
ss th
e co
untry
, the
U.S
. Dep
artm
ent o
f H
ealth
and
Hum
an s
ervi
ces
set u
p a
web
-bas
ed c
lear
ingh
ouse
for p
arity
in
form
atio
n an
d co
mpl
aint
s. B
y ch
ecki
ng a
cou
ple
of b
oxes
and
ans
wer
ing
a fe
w
ques
tions
, the
web
site
link
s yo
u to
the
corre
ct g
over
nmen
tal a
genc
y re
spon
sibl
e fo
r the
com
plai
nt o
r app
eal.
H
ave
you
trie
d to
file
a p
arity
com
plai
nt o
r an
appe
al fo
r you
rsel
f or
som
eone
you
car
e ab
out?
How
did
it g
o?
[Tak
e a
coup
le o
f qui
ck re
spon
ses.
]
N
ext s
lide
Com
plai
nts
and
Appe
als
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
13
5 m
in
Now
le
t’s lo
ok a
t th
ree
brie
f sto
rie
s th
at
illustr
ate
ho
w c
om
mo
n p
arity
vio
latio
ns
look
from
the
mem
ber v
iew
poin
t.
In y
our h
ando
uts,
look
at S
ampl
e S
tory
1 o
n pa
ge 7
. [C
o-te
ache
r] w
ill re
ad a
sa
mpl
e st
ory,
then
we
’ll d
iscuss it a
s a
grou
p.
[Tea
cher
s, c
ircul
ate
and
help
par
ticip
ants
find
the
right
pag
es]
Are
you
read
y? G
reat
! [C
o-te
ache
r] pl
ease
read
the
first
sam
ple
stor
y.
[Co-
teac
her r
eads
sam
ple
stor
y.]
Doe
s th
is s
tory
hav
e pa
rity
issu
es?
If so
, wha
t are
they
? [T
ake
a co
uple
of
resp
onse
s. If
not
men
tione
d, g
o th
roug
h th
e fo
llow
ing
poin
ts.]
Ans
wer
s:
•
Ther
e m
ay b
e a
parit
y pr
oble
m w
ith to
prio
r aut
horiz
atio
n be
caus
e m
edic
al
care
is tr
eate
d di
ffere
ntly
. •
Med
ical
nec
essi
ty m
ay o
r may
not
be
a pr
oble
m. W
e ne
ed m
ore
info
rmat
ion
abou
t med
ical
nec
essi
ty c
riter
ia fo
r oth
er c
ondi
tions
. W
hat i
s th
e fir
st s
tep
she
shou
ld ta
ke?
[Wai
t for
a re
spon
se.]
Ans
wer
: Afte
r tal
king
with
her
pro
vide
r, sh
e sh
ould
con
tact
her
hea
lth p
lan.
W
hat g
over
nmen
t age
ncy
shou
ld s
he c
onta
ct?
[Wai
t for
a re
spon
se.]
A
nsw
er: S
he s
houl
d co
ntac
t the
sta
te d
epar
tmen
t of i
nsur
ance
bec
ause
this
is a
sm
all e
mpl
oyer
hea
lth p
lan.
N
ext s
lide
Wor
kshe
et:
Sam
ple
Stor
y 1
Not
e: If
you
are
te
achi
ng p
eopl
e w
ho a
re m
ostly
in
tere
sted
in
addi
ctio
n pa
rity,
su
bstit
ute
the
sam
ple
addi
ctio
n st
orie
s fo
r st
orie
s on
e an
d tw
o.
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
14
5 m
in
Tha
nks e
ve
ryo
ne
. L
et’s g
o o
n to
th
e s
eco
nd
sto
ry.
[Co-
teac
her n
ame]
ple
ase
read
sam
ple
men
tal h
ealth
sto
ry n
umbe
r 2.
[Co-
teac
her r
eads
sam
ple
stor
y.]
Doe
s th
is s
tory
hav
e pa
rity
issu
es?
If so
, wha
t are
they
? [T
ake
a co
uple
of
resp
onse
s. If
not
men
tione
d, g
o th
roug
h th
e fo
llow
ing
poin
ts.]
Ans
wer
s:
•
It m
akes
a d
iffer
ence
whe
ther
the
med
icat
ions
for d
iabe
tes
and
men
tal
heal
th a
re g
ener
ic o
r bra
nd n
ame.
If b
oth
are
bran
d na
me,
ther
e m
ay b
e a
parit
y vi
olat
ion.
If th
e di
abet
es d
rug
is g
ener
ic a
nd th
e m
enta
l hea
lth d
rug
is b
rand
nam
e, th
ere
may
not
be
a pa
rity
issu
e be
caus
e he
alth
pla
ns h
ave
the
optio
n to
pla
ce m
ore
expe
nsiv
e dr
ugs
on h
ighe
r tie
rs.
•
The
step
ther
apy
requ
irem
ent m
ay v
iola
te p
arity
if it
onl
y ap
plie
s to
his
ps
ychi
atric
med
icat
ions
. •
Reg
ardl
ess,
he
wou
ld h
ave
stan
ding
to a
ppea
l the
ste
p th
erap
y re
quire
men
t sin
ce h
e ha
s al
read
y go
ne th
roug
h st
ep th
erap
y tw
ice.
W
hat i
s th
e fir
st s
tep
he s
houl
d ta
ke?
[Wai
t for
a re
spon
se.]
Ans
wer
: Afte
r tal
king
with
his
pro
vide
r, he
or h
is p
rovi
der s
houl
d co
ntac
t his
he
alth
pla
n.
Wha
t gov
ernm
ent a
genc
y, o
r age
ncie
s, s
houl
d he
con
tact
? [W
ait f
or a
re
spon
se.]
A
nsw
er: H
e sh
ould
con
tact
the
stat
e de
partm
ent o
f ins
uran
ce a
nd C
MS
bec
ause
th
is is
an
indi
vidu
al h
ealth
pla
n pu
rcha
sed
on th
e st
ate
exch
ange
.
Nex
t slid
e
Wor
kshe
et:
Sam
ple
Stor
y 2
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
15
5 m
in
Tha
nks e
ve
ryo
ne
. L
et’s g
o o
n to
th
e th
ird
sto
ry.
[Co-
teac
her n
ame]
ple
ase
read
sam
ple
men
tal h
ealth
sto
ry n
umbe
r 3.
[Co-
teac
her r
eads
sam
ple
stor
y.]
Doe
s th
is s
tory
hav
e pa
rity
issu
es?
If so
, wha
t are
they
? [T
ake
a co
uple
of
resp
onse
s. If
not
men
tione
d, g
o th
roug
h th
e fo
llow
ing
poin
ts.]
Ans
wer
:
•
This
app
ears
to b
e a
parit
y is
sue
beca
use
the
psyc
hiat
ric re
side
ntia
l tre
atm
ent w
as re
view
ed m
ore
ofte
n th
an th
e re
hab
faci
lity
for h
er in
jury
. W
hat i
s th
e fir
st s
tep
she
shou
ld ta
ke?
[Wai
t for
a re
spon
se.]
Ans
wer
s:
•
Afte
r tal
king
with
the
prov
ider
, her
dau
ghte
r or t
he p
rovi
der s
houl
d co
ntac
t th
e m
anag
ed c
are
plan
. •
If sh
e ha
s a
med
ical
pow
er o
f atto
rney
or o
ther
lega
l sta
ndin
g to
act
on
beha
lf of
her
dau
ghte
r, sh
e ca
n co
ntac
t the
man
aged
car
e pl
an d
irect
ly.
Wha
t gov
ernm
ent a
genc
y, o
r age
ncie
s, s
houl
d sh
e co
ntac
t? [
Wai
t for
a
resp
onse
.]
Ans
wer
: She
sho
uld
cont
act t
he s
tate
Med
icai
d pr
ogra
m a
nd C
MS
. N
ext s
lide
Wor
kshe
et:
Sam
ple
Stor
y 3
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
16
16 m
in
Now
it’s y
ou
r tu
rn t
o p
ractice
fili
ng a
n ap
peal
. Ple
ase
pair
up w
ith a
noth
er
pers
on. O
ne o
f you
will
pla
y th
e he
alth
pla
n m
embe
r and
the
othe
r will
pla
y th
e m
enta
l hea
lth c
are
prov
ider
.
• H
ere
’s t
he s
ituat
ion:
You
r req
uest
for i
ndiv
idua
l the
rapy
for p
osttr
aum
atic
st
ress
dis
orde
r, or
PTS
D, h
as b
een
deni
ed. T
he h
ealth
pla
n re
quire
s gr
oup
ther
apy
first
, but
the
mem
ber i
s ne
rvou
s ar
ound
stra
nger
s.
• Y
ou
’ll h
ave
15
min
ute
s t
o c
ompl
ete
the
Sam
ple
Stat
e H
ealth
Insu
ranc
e C
ompl
aint
For
m o
n pa
ge 1
0 an
d 11
. When
it’s y
our t
urn
to fi
ll ou
t the
fo
rm, w
rite
your
nam
e an
d co
ntac
t inf
orm
atio
n. P
rete
nd y
ou
’re
the
pe
rson
w
ith P
TSD
.
• W
e w
ill ci
rcul
ate
arou
nd th
e ro
om to
ans
wer
any
que
stio
ns y
ou m
ay h
ave.
• W
e’ll
le
t yo
u k
no
w w
he
n it’s n
ea
rly t
ime
to g
ive y
ou
a c
ha
nce
to w
rap
up.
[B
oth
teac
hers
circ
ulat
e ar
ound
the
room
. Whe
n on
ly 3
min
utes
rem
ain,
tell
pa
rtic
ipa
nts
it’s tim
e to
wra
p u
p.]
T
ha
nk y
ou
, e
ve
ryo
ne
. It’s
tim
e to
la
y y
ou
r p
encils
do
wn
.
N
ext s
lide.
Sam
ple
Con
sum
er
Com
plai
nt
Form
2 m
in
Ple
ase
give
you
rsel
ves
a pa
t on
the
back
for w
orki
ng th
roug
h th
is e
xerc
ise.
Le
t’s
talk
abo
ut th
e ex
perie
nce.
W
hat d
id y
ou le
arn
from
filli
ng o
ut th
is fo
rm?
W
hat w
as m
ost h
elpf
ul fo
r you
?
How
will
you
use
wha
t you
hav
e le
arne
d?
[Tak
e a
few
resp
onse
s to
eac
h qu
estio
n]
Nex
t slid
e
Parit
y: F
airn
ess
in H
ealth
Cov
erag
e N
AMI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y Ve
rsio
n
Rev
ised
Jun
e 20
17
Slid
e T
ime
Scrip
t H
ando
uts
17
30 s
ec
This
web
site
, ww
w.P
arity
Reg
istry
.org
, has
exc
elle
nt in
form
atio
n in
pla
in
lang
uage
to h
elp
you
lear
n m
ore
abou
t par
ity. S
pons
ored
by
the
Ken
nedy
For
um
and
the
Sca
tterg
ood
Foun
datio
n, P
arity
Trac
k is
col
lect
ing
stor
ies
of p
eopl
e w
ho
have
exp
erie
nced
par
ity v
iola
tions
to h
elp
fight
for s
trong
er e
nfor
cem
ent o
f sta
te
and
fede
ral p
arity
law
.
By
subm
ittin
g yo
ur s
tory
on
the
Par
ityTr
ack
web
site
in a
dditi
on to
filin
g w
ith th
e p
rop
er
age
ncy,
yo
u’ll
he
lp t
he
ove
rall
str
uggle
fo
r p
arity
. Y
ou
can
giv
e y
ou
r n
am
e
or
no
t, it’s u
p t
o y
ou
.
Nex
t slid
e
30 s
ec
If yo
u w
ould
like
mor
e in
form
atio
n or
ass
ista
nce,
this
slid
e an
d yo
ur h
ando
uts
incl
ude
som
e he
lpfu
l sta
te a
nd n
atio
nal r
esou
rces
.
Aga
in, w
e re
com
men
d go
ing
to y
our s
tate
dep
artm
ent o
f ins
uran
ce in
add
ition
to
the
othe
r thi
ngs
you
do.
That
will
mak
e su
re y
our p
arity
com
plai
nt is
regi
ster
ed
with
the
stat
e, w
hich
will
hel
p st
reng
then
the
parit
y la
w fo
r eve
ryon
e.
Nex
t slid
e
Res
ourc
es
1 m
in
Than
k yo
u al
l for
giv
ing
your
tim
e an
d en
ergy
to th
is w
orks
hop.
Ple
ase
appl
aud
your
selv
es fo
r eve
ryth
ing
you'
ve a
ccom
plis
hed
toda
y.
Ple
as
e r
em
em
be
r to
fill
ou
t y
ou
r p
ost-
train
ing
ev
alu
ati
on
an
d t
urn
it
in t
o
(na
me
lo
ca
tio
n o
r p
ers
on
).
Nex
t slid
e
Eval
uatio
n
30 s
ec
If yo
u w
ould
like
mor
e in
form
atio
n on
NA
MI S
ma
rts fo
r A
dvo
ca
cy, c
onta
ct y
our
loca
l or s
tate
NA
MI o
rgan
izat
ion.
Insert Tab: Module 5 Worksheets
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
1 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Overview What is parity? Parity means ‘at the same level’. Mental health and addiction treatment parity requires health insurance plans to cover mental health and substance abuse treatment at the same level as other types of medical care.
Why is parity important?Health insurance should help millions of Americans get the mental health or addiction treatment they need, yet too many health plan members face lower visit limits, higher out of pocket costs and stricter rules on how care is reviewed than for medical and surgical benefits.
Federal Parity Laws The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) MHPAEA applies to large group and self-insured health plans and Medicaid managed care plans. MHPAEA does not require health plans to provide mental health or addiction benefits, but if they do, treatment limits and out of pocket costs must be at the same level as medical and surgical care.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA)The ACA strengthens coverage for mental health and addiction through: Consumer protections: Health plans can’t turn people down or charge more for having major
illnesses such as mental health or substance use conditions. The law does not allow lifetime orannual treatment limits. Parents can include adult children on their health plan up to age 26.
Medicaid expansion: States have the choice to expand Medicaid eligibility to any householdwith an income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level ($16,400/year for one person).
Health insurance exchange: Every state must have a state or federally run health insuranceexchange with health plans that meet certain standards. Exchange plan premiums are partlycovered by up-front tax credits up to 400% of the federal poverty level ($97,200 for one person).
Parity in individual and small group plans: Requires all individual and small group healthplans to meet MHPAEA parity requirements whether or not they are sold through an exchange.Requires parity in private health plans that cover people in Medicaid expansion and Children’sHealth Insurance Plans (CHIP).
Essential Health Benefits: All individual and small group plans must cover 10 Essential HealthBenefits (EHB). Behavioral health is one EHB category. EHBs must meet parity standards, notonly within the ‘behavioral health’ category, but also in other categories such as emergency care.
The 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 The parity section of this law requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to:
Issue new guidance on how to comply with federal parity laws Hold a public meeting on state and federal agencies coordination regarding parity Publish a report on federal parity investigations - issued each year for five years
The Government Accountability Office (a federal watchdog) will study enforcement offederal parity law.
New resources are required on eating disorder treatment parity. Health professionals willbe educated about eating disorders and effective treatment.
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
2 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Health Plans and Federal Parity Not all types of health coverage must meet parity requirements, and conditions under which parity applies vary. The following chart shows the types of health plans that must comply with federal parity law and the conditions that apply.
Type of Plan Parity? Notes
Employer Sponsored
Large employer > 50 employees Yes
Not required to provide mental health or addiction benefits, but if they do, coverage must be on par with other medical benefits.
Small employer 2 to 50 employees Depends If created after 3/23/2010, must provide mental health
benefits. Required to follow federal parity law.
Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP) Yes Must provide mental health benefits; required to
follow federal parity law.1
Non-federal government No Some health plans for state or local government workers can opt out of federal parity law.
Faith-based organizations No Plans for employees of faith-based organizations can opt out of federal parity law.
Retiree only No Plans that only cover retirees can opt out of federal parity law.
Government Programs
Medicare No Federal health plan for people who are age 65 or older and people with disabilities. Federal parity law does not apply.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Yes
Government health plan for low to middle income children. Federal parity law applies.
Medicaid Depends
Government health plan for certain low-income children and adults.2 Federal parity law applies to Medicaid managed care plans, but not Medicaid Fee-for-Service (FFS) plans.
TRICARE No Federal health care program for uniformed military service members and their families
Individual Plans
Individual health plans (You buy for self or family) Depends
If created after 3/23/2010 or changed since, must provide mental health benefits; required to follow federal parity law.
1 U.S. Office of Personnel Management, FEHB Program Carrier Letter, No. 2008‐17 (November 10, 2008), https://www.opm.gov/healthcare‐insurance/healthcare/carriers/2008/2008‐17.pdf 2 Federal law restricts the use of Medicaid dollars for service to adults between the ages of 21 and 64 in certain types of free standing psychiatric hospitals and residential facilities. 42 U.S.C. 1369(d).
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
3 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Parity Protections Federal parity law protects health plan members by requiring the same level of coverage for mental health and addiction treatment as for other types of medical and surgical care.
Types of care:
Hospital or residential treatment Outpatient visits Emergency or crisis care Prescription drugs Both in-network and out-of-network
Out-of-Pocket Costs: Costs for mental health or addiction treatment must not be greater than costs for most other medical care
Co-pays: Flat fee per visit or service Co-insurance: Percentage of total service cost Maximum out-of-pocket costs: What you pay before the plan pays 100% Deductibles: What you pay before the plan begins to pay Annual or lifetime dollar limits: The most a plan will pay in a year or lifetime
Treatment limits: The number of visits or days for mental health or addiction treatment must be no less than limits for most other medical care
Number of outpatient visits Number of days in hospital or residential care Limits on prescription medications Excluded types of treatment or situations
Other limits: Other types of limits must not be more restrictive for mental health or addiction treatment than for other types of medical care
Prescription drug costs or requirements Prior-approval requirements Clinical standards used to approve or deny care Availability of providers
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
4 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Warning Signs: Parity Violation? Fewer visits or days for MH/SUD care
Warning sign: The health plan covers fewer office visits or inpatient days for mental health or addiction treatment than for other types of medical care.
MH/SUD residential or partial hospital care not covered
Warning sign: The health plan does not cover residential treatment or partial hospital care for mental health or addiction treatment, but similar care is covered for other medical conditions.
Higher out of pocket costs for mental health/addiction care Warning sign: The health plan charges more for mental health and addiction care:
Added deductible for mental health and substance abuse care Higher copay for services (set fee per visit or prescription) Higher co-insurance (percentage of total cost) Medication or treatment placed on a higher tier (percentage of total cost)
Care denied unequally: Not medically necessary
Warning sign: The health plan reviews requests for mental health or addiction treatment more often or in a stricter way than for other types of care.
Health plans approve or deny requests for care based on medical necessity. A treatment request may be denied because:
It is not approved for certain health conditions The treatment may only work under certain conditions Effectiveness or safety may be in question The cost is higher than other types of care for the same condition
Having to ask permission more for mental health or addiction care
Warning sign: The health plan requires prior approval more often for mental health and addiction treatment than other types of care.
With prior authorization or prior approval (PA) the member or provider must contact the health plan to ask permission before starting treatment. If PA is granted, the plan will pay.
Step therapy means the member must try a common, less expensive treatment or medication that is proven effective for a given condition before “stepping” to the prescribed treatment.
Can’t find in-network mental health or addiction providers 11111 Warning sign: It is hard to find local mental health or addiction treatment providers in the health plan network, but other types are available. Provider directory not up to date.
To keep premiums low, health plans contract with a limited number of providers who meet quality standards. In return for client referrals, providers go through a review process, agree to work for a reduced rate and follow plan procedures. This is called a provider network.
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
5 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Complaints and Appeals When care is denied, a health plan member or provider has the right to complain (about the quality of care or coverage) or to ‘appeal’ (ask for a different decision). Complaints and appeals are a standard part of the insurance business. State and federal agencies need complaints and appeals because they are helpful in finding out where the problems are and making the parity law stick.
How to prepare a complaint: 1. Member and provider discuss the reason for the complaint or appeal. Write down the
details.
2. Member or provider contacts the health plan customer service office to ask for a different decision.
3. If not resolved, the member or provider files a written complaint with the health plan.
4. At the same time, the member or provider contacts the state health insurance department:
For information
For help filing a complaint with the health plan
To file a complaint with the correct government agency.
What happens when a complaint is filed?
1. Fill out a complaint form and attached documents, if any, that provide details.
2. Submit the completed complaint form and attachments by U.S. mail, fax or email.
3. When the state insurance agency receives the form, you will receive a written notice that your complaint has been received. A file number will be assigned which you should use any time you contact them about your complaint.
4. The state insurance agency will forward the complaint to the health insurance company or agent and request a response. The company or agent has a limited time to respond, usually 30 days.
5. When the state receives a response one of the following will happen:
a. If the complaint has been resolved, the file will be closed. You’ll get a letter.
b. If an insurance law has been violated, they will be asked to correct the problem.
c. If the company is not abiding by the policy, they will be asked to correct the problem.
d. If the insurer or agent has not responded to all questions or has not looked into the complaint in detail, they will be required to do so.
e. If no violation is found, you will get a letter explaining why the case is closed.
6. It takes about 45 days from the time a complaint is received to when the problem is solved. A complex complaint could take longer.
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
6 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Complaints and Appeals, continued. This chart shows the government agencies responsible for different types of health plans. If you are not sure where to file a complaint or appeal, visit the HHS parity complaint website shown below. At the same time, contact your state insurance department.
Type of Health Plan Government Agency
Employer-based plans: Large group or self-insured
Department of Labor (DOL)
Individual health plan: Federal Marketplace or State Exchange
State Health Insurance Dept. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Individual or small group Non-exchange plan
State Health Insurance Dept.
Medicaid Managed Care or Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP)
State Medicaid Program CMS
Federal Employee Health Benefit plan (FEHB)
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Not sure where to file?
Federal HHS parity complaint website www.hhs.gov/mental-health-and-addiction-insurance-help
Information Links:
o Federal agencies o State insurance departments
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
7 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Sample Mental Health Story 1: Worksheet
A 38-year-old married woman covered by her husband’s small group employer-sponsored health plan:
Discussion questions:
Does this story have parity issues? If so, what are they? What is the first step she should take? What government agency or agencies should she contact? * TMS: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is used for treatment-resistant depression
“My health plan requires prior authorization for mental health, but not for medical care. The doctor prescribed TMS * for my depression, but my health plan denied the service as ‘not medically necessary’ despite the fact that I’ve tried everything.”
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
8 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Sample Mental Health Story 2: Worksheet
A 59-year-old man with an individual health plan purchased through the state health insurance exchange:
Discussion questions:
Does this story have parity issues? If so, what are they? What is the first step he should take? What government agency or agencies should he contact?
“My brand name diabetes medication is on tier 1 with no coinsurance, but my mental health medications are on tier 3 and I can’t afford $240.00 out of pocket every month.
I have to ‘step up’ by taking less expensive psych meds for 6 weeks. I only get the one I need if the other doesn’t work. I changed health plans twice before and had to ‘step up’ each time. Why can’t they look at my record and approve the right drug from the start?”
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
9 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Sample Mental Health Story 3: Worksheet
A 20-year-old single woman with Medicaid managed care. Her mother is speaking:
Discussion questions:
Does this story have parity issues? If so, what are they? What is the first step she should take? What government agency or agencies should she contact?
“Our Managed Care Organization (MCO) evaluated medical necessity for day hospital treatment almost on a daily basis. That made no sense because the decision to admit our daughter to this type of treatment was based on her receiving residential care for four weeks. Care was denied several times while she was there and it was a constant struggle to extend the stay.
I don’t understand why this is different than her stay in the rehab facility after she broke her leg.”
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
10 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Sample Consumer Complaint Form National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Required fields are marked with an asterisk* Complainant’s information: * First name Middle *Last name
*Address
*City *State *ZIP
County Country International ZIP Email address: Please re-enter email address as verification:
*Phone number: Extension:
*Alternate phone number: Extension: How do you want to be contacted? Insured Information (if different than above)
* First name Middle *Last name Other parties involved in this problem:
* First name Middle *Last name
*Type of Insurance *Reason for Complaint check one or use ctrl key to make multiple selections Annuity Auto Commercial Dental Disability Group health Home Individual Life Long term care Medicare supplement Other Title Workers comp
Agent handling Cancellation Claim delay Claim denial Delays/no response Information requested Misrepresentation Nonrenewal Other Premium & rating Premium notice/billing Premium refund Unsatisfactory settlement offer
Other desc. Other desc.
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
11 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
*Details of complaint
*What do you consider to be a fair resolution?
Maximum fair resolution length: 4,000 characters. Characters left:
Note: After the final submission of this form, you will be provided an opportunity to attach supporting documents. Will you be mailing or attaching additional supporting information? To download form: https://sbs-tn.naic.org/Lion-Web/servlet/org.naic.sbs.ext.onlineComplaint.OnlineComplaintCtrl?spanishVersion=N
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
12 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Resources
State: Dept. of Commerce & Insurance: State insurance agency staffed to answer insurance
questions and assist with complaints and/or appeals. Telephone: ________________ Email: ____________________ Download complaint form: ______________________________________________
Medicaid: • Customer service line: ___________________ • Complaints and Appeals: ________________
State Mental Health Authority: State agency responsible for mental health and addiction services.
Telephone: ________________ Information & Referral, M-F, 8:00am – 4:30pm • Crisis Line: _____________________
Federal: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Parity Portal. Website to file
parity complaints and appeals with the correct government agency. www.hhs.gov/mental-health-and-addiction-insurance-help
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) • EBSA (Employee Benefits Security Administration): Federal agency responsible
for employer sponsored and large self-insured health plans. Phone: 866-444-3272 www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/ask-a-question/ask-ebsa
CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services): Federal agency responsible for Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance exchange or federal Marketplace health plans. • Helpline: 877-267-2323 extension 61565 • [email protected]
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): Federal agency responsible for mental health and substance use services. • Helpline: 800-662-4357
Advocacy Organizations: Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): Organization of individuals and families
affected by mood disorders. Provides help, support, and education. www.dbsalliance.org Mental Health America (MHA): Addresses the needs of people with mental illness and
promotes the mental health of all Americans. http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Organization of individuals and families
affected by mental health conditions. Provides support, education, advocacy, awareness. Helpline: 1-800-950-6264, [email protected] Parity information: www.NAMI.org/parity
ParityTrack: Helps people with mental health and substance use disorders understand and exercise their rights under parity law. www.paritytrack.org
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
13 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Glossary
Appeal: If a health plan will not pay a claim or drops a member from coverage, the member has the right to appeal for a different decision and have it reviewed by a third party. Insurers must explain why the claim has been denied or coverage has been dropped. Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): CHIP provides health coverage for eligible children, through both Medicaid and separate CHIP programs. CHIP is funded with federal and state dollars and operated by states under federal rules.
Co-insurance: The health plan member shares the cost of a covered service. Coinsurance is a percent (for example, 20%) of the allowed cost of service. For example, if the allowed amount for an office visit is $100 and the member has met the deductible, the coinsurance payment of 20% would be $20. The health plan pays the remaining allowed amount.
Complaint: If a health plan member has reason to believe that the plan is not providing benefits as required in the health plan policy or the law, the member can file a complaint with the health plan or the state of federal government agency in charge the plan.
Consumer protections: Health care law offers rights and protections that make coverage more fair and easy to understand. Some protections may apply to plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace, other individual plans, job-based plans, and some apply to all health coverage. Copayment, copay: A fixed amount (Example: $20) the health plan member pays for a covered service, usually at the time of service. The amount can vary by the type of covered health care service.
Credentialing: The process deciding whether a professional will be included in a health plan network. The health plan usually reviews education, clinical privileges, experience, licensure, accreditation, certifications, professional liability insurance, malpractice history and professional competence.
Deductible: How much the member owes for covered health care services before the health insurance begins to pay. The deductible does not apply to preventive services such as annual check-ups or mental health screening, meaning that the plan will pay even before the deductible has been met.
Essential Health Benefits (EHB): Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, all individual and small group health plans (except grandfathered plans) must cover 10 types of care: (1) outpatient services; (2) emergency services; (3) hospital care; (4) maternity and newborn care; (5) behavioral health services; (6) prescription drugs; (7) rehabilitation; (8) lab services; (9) preventive and wellness services; and (10) children’s services, including dental and vision. All EHB must comply with federal parity law.
Formulary: A list of prescription drugs covered by a prescription drug plan or another insurance plan offering prescription drug benefits. Also called a preferred drug list (PDL).
Grandfathered health plan: Health plans that existed on March 23, 2010, and haven’t cut benefits or increased member costs. Grandfathered do not have to offer parity or other protections required under the Affordable Care Act. Insurance companies must notify members who have grandfathered plans.
Individual health plan: Health coverage purchased by an individual for self or family either through a health insurance exchange, or directly from the health insurance company.
Medical necessity, medically necessary: Health care services or supplies needed to prevent, diagnose, or treat a condition, and that meet accepted standards of medicine
Narrow network: To lower costs, health plans contract with a limited number of service providers, hospitals, labs and pharmacies. The monthly premium may be lower, but members pay more if they use out-of-network care.
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
14 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Glossary Out of pocket cost (OOP): The amount owed by a health plan member during a policy period before the health insurance plan begins to pay 100% of the allowed amount. This limit does not include the premium, balance-billed charges or costs for benefits not covered under the plan.
Parity (Mental Health and Addiction): Most health insurance plans are legally required to cover mental health and addiction treatment at the same level as other types of medical care.
Provider Network: Facilities, providers and suppliers contracted with a health plan to provide care to members. The health plan covers more of the cost of care for in-network providers. However, for a given type of care, if no in-network provider is available within a certain distance from the member’s home, the health plan is required to pay for an out of network provider.
Prior authorization, prior approval (PA): A decision by the health plan that a health care service, treatment plan or prescription drug is medically necessary. Sometimes called preauthorization, prior approval or precertification.
Medically necessary, medical necessity: Health care services or supplies needed to prevent, diagnose or treat an illness or condition and that meet accepted standards of medicine.
Non-quantitative treatment limits (NQTL): Standards used to review treatment requests for type and duration of care that do not involve numbers of visits or days. NQTLS include prior approval, step therapy and other techniques to decide whether a service is medically necessary. Under the ACA, an NQTL must not limit mental health or addiction treatment more than medical or surgical care.
Quantitative treatment limits (QTL): Standards that limit the type or duration of benefits that involve a number of visits, days or costs. Examples include the number of visits or inpatient days, copays, coinsurance or annual dollar limits. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), QTL must be no more restrictive for mental health or substance use care than for medical surgical care.
Self-insured/self-funded health plan: A health plan in which the employer assumes the financial risk for providing health care benefits to its employees.
Small group health plan: Employer-sponsored health insurance offered by an employer with 2 to 50 employees.
Step therapy, fail first: A type of prior approval in which the member must try and fail to respond to certain treatments that are less expensive, but effective for most people with a given condition, before they can “step” to a different treatment. For example, the plan may require a generic drug, then a less expensive brand-name drug from its formulary, before covering a similar, more expensive brand-name prescription drug.
Substantially all: If a type of cost requirement or treatment limit applies to substantially all medical/surgical benefits in a class, then that requirement or limit may apply to mental health or substance use disorder benefits if it is on par with two-thirds or more of the medical/surgical benefits for the same class of treatment.
Tier: A level of health coverage for a given type of care. For example, health plan members would pay more out of pocket costs for a prescription drug on tier 3 than for a medication on tier 1.
Utilization management (UM): Array of procedures used by insurers to evaluate whether requested care is medically necessary, efficient and in line with accepted medical practice. Examples of utilization management practices include prior authorization and step therapy.
NAMI Smarts for AdvocacyParity: Fairness in Health Coverage
15 NAMI ● 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 ● Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 524-7600 ● www.nami.org ● www.facebook.com/NAMI
Evaluation Presenter Name: _________________________________________ Date: ____________
Location of Presentation (City & State): __________________________________________
Your Name (optional, but preferred): ____________________________________________
1. Overall, my knowledge and skill level about health insurance parity is...
Before the training: (Circle your rating) After the training: (Circle your rating)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 None Some Good Excellent
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 None Some Good Excellent
2. Overall, my level of confidence about asserting parity rights is...
Before the training: (Circle your rating) After the training: (Circle your rating)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 None Some Good Excellent
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 None Some Good Excellent
3. What did you learn that was most meaningful or helpful to you today?
4. How do you plan to use what you have learned in this training? What will you do differently?
5. What comments, if any, do you have about this training?
6. We seek to support the entire community. To help us track how we are doing,please check all that apply. I am:
American Indian or Alaska Native Asian American Black or African American Hispanic or Latino Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander White or Caucasian Multiracial Other: _____________________
Mental Health
Substance Use
Person with condition Family caregiver of adult Parent/guardian of child or youth Service provider Peer provider Advocate Military, veteran or mil/vet family Other
Insert Tab: Advocacy Day Script
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
eSc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s
Rev
. Mar
. 201
7N
AM
I Sm
arts
for A
dvoc
acy:
Tea
cher
Scr
ipt
Page
1©
201
3 N
AMI,
Inc.
slid
e 1
1 m
in
Wel
com
e to
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: N
AM
I’s g
rassro
ots
ski
ll-bu
ildin
gpr
ogra
m. I
n t
his
wo
rksho
p w
e’ll
hel
p yo
u co
ok d
own
your
live
d ex
perie
nce
into
a p
ower
ful a
dvoc
acy
mes
sage
that
can
be
used
whe
n co
nnec
ting
with
polic
ymak
ers.
We’ll
als
o g
ive
you
som
e tip
s an
d to
ols
to h
ave
an e
ffect
ive
mee
ting
with
you
r leg
isla
tor.
[Tea
cher
s in
trodu
ce th
emse
lves
ver
y br
iefly
.]
Prep
: Hav
e w
orks
hop
hand
outs
, not
epad
s &
penc
ils a
t eac
h pl
ace.
Bef
ore
the
trai
ning
,Pr
actic
e th
e m
eetin
gsc
ript a
nd s
tory
alo
ud.
slid
e 2
1 m
inTo
tal:
2 m
in
This
trai
ning
cov
ers
a lo
t of g
roun
d in
a s
hort
tim
e, s
o to
get
the
mos
t out
of th
is tr
aini
ng, w
e’ll
ask
you
to a
gree
to th
e fo
llow
ing
grou
nd ru
les:
•P
artic
ipat
e fu
lly•
Kee
p us
on
time
•S
ilenc
e yo
ur c
ell p
hone
s.
Do
you
agre
e? [S
how
of h
ands
.] Su
per!
Toda
y w
e’ll
exp
lore
why
adv
ocac
y is
impo
rtant
and
how
it a
ffect
s ou
r liv
es▪
We’ll
ta
lk a
bou
t w
hy y
ou
r sto
ry is a
val
uabl
e to
ol to
cha
nge
min
ds▪
[Nam
e] w
ill te
ll [h
is/h
er] p
ower
ful a
dvoc
acy
stor
y in
less
than
2 m
inut
es.
▪Y
ou
’ll g
et
to jo
t d
ow
n y
our o
wn
stor
y an
d pr
actic
e it
with
a p
artn
er▪
The
n y
ou
’ll s
ee h
ow
to w
ork
it in
to a
legi
slat
ive
mee
ting
▪A
nd w
e’ll
pro
vid
e s
om
e t
oo
ls to
he
lp y
ou
pre
pa
re fo
r the
mee
ting.
We
hope
yo
u’ll
co
me
aw
ay c
onfid
ent a
nd re
ady
to m
eet y
our l
egis
lato
rs.
slid
e 3
30 s
ec.
Tota
l: 2.
5 m
in
We’ll
be
gin
by t
alk
ing a
bo
ut
wh
y a
dvoc
acy
is s
o im
porta
nt. I
t’s b
ecau
se
ev
ery
Am
eric
an w
ith a
men
tal h
ealth
con
ditio
n de
serv
es th
e op
portu
nity
for
reco
very
.
“Re
co
ve
ry,”
do
esn
’t n
ee
d to
mea
n sy
mpt
om-fr
ee. R
athe
r, w
e th
ink
of it
as
the
abilit
y to
man
age
a m
enta
l hea
lth c
ondi
tion
whi
le le
adin
g a
full,
sat
isfy
ing
life.
Ele
cte
d o
ffic
ials
are
face
d w
ith
a h
ost of
issue
s a
nd
in
tere
st
gro
up
s. Y
ou
r p
ers
ona
l re
lation
sh
ip—
an
d a
we
ll-cra
fted
me
ssa
ge
—ca
n m
ake
the
diffe
ren
ce
in t
he
ir a
tten
tio
n t
o a
nd s
up
po
rt o
f m
en
tal h
ea
lth
issue
s.
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
e Sc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s R
ev. M
ar. 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: T
each
er S
crip
t Pa
ge 2
© 2
013
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
4
30 s
ec.
Tot
al: 3
min
Your
sto
ry s
how
s th
at m
enta
l hea
lth c
ondi
tions
are
com
mon
and
re
cove
ry is
pos
sibl
e, e
spec
ially
whe
n ou
r nee
ds a
re m
et a
nd w
e fe
el v
alue
d as
a w
hole
per
son.
Ye
t, to
o fe
w p
eopl
e ge
t the
car
e th
ey n
eed.
Th
ere
is a
n av
erag
e de
lay
of 8
to 1
0 ye
ars
befo
re p
eopl
e ge
t an
accu
rate
di
agno
sis.
And
few
er th
an h
alf o
f chi
ldre
n an
d ad
ults
with
men
tal h
ealth
co
nditi
ons
rece
ive
an
y tr
eatm
ent a
t all.
Fin
ally
, tho
se w
ho d
o re
ceiv
e tr
ea
tme
nt
oft
en d
on
’t g
et
the
typ
es o
f se
rvic
es a
nd
sup
ports
that
are
pro
ven
effe
ctiv
e.
slid
e 5
30 s
ec
Tota
l: 3.
5 m
in
And
with
out m
enta
l hea
lth c
are,
we
all p
ay th
e pr
ice.
O
ne w
ay is
with
sch
ool f
ailu
re. S
tude
nts
with
ser
ious
men
tal h
ealth
co
nditi
ons
have
the
high
est d
ropo
ut ra
te o
f any
dis
abilit
y gr
oup.
W
e al
so p
ay a
hig
h pr
ice
in u
nem
ploy
men
t. V
ery
few
adu
lts w
ith m
enta
l he
alth
con
ditio
ns g
et th
e su
ppor
ts th
ey n
eed
to g
et a
job
and
stay
em
ploy
ed.
In
hom
eles
snes
s. O
ver o
ne in
four
peo
ple
who
are
hom
eles
s ha
s a
men
tal
heal
th c
ondi
tion.
A
nd in
crim
inal
izat
ion.
Unt
reat
ed m
enta
l illn
ess
can
get p
eopl
e in
to tr
oubl
e w
ith th
e la
w. O
ur ja
ils a
re fi
lled
with
peo
ple
who
wou
ld n
ot b
e th
ere
if th
ey
had
the
care
they
nee
d.
La
stly
, with
out m
enta
l hea
lth c
are,
we
sacr
ifice
our
futu
re to
sui
cide
. Eve
ry
thirt
een
min
utes
, we
lose
one
life
to s
uici
de.
slid
e 6
30 s
ec.
Tot
al: 4
min
So
, w
ha
t can
yo
u d
o to c
ha
nge
th
is s
itua
tio
n?
Ta
lk to
yo
ur
legis
lato
r!
Le
gis
lato
rs r
esp
on
d b
est
to p
eop
le th
ey k
no
w w
ho
liv
e in
th
eir d
istr
ict.
Hun
dre
ds o
f b
ills lan
d o
n th
eir d
esk e
ve
ry s
essio
n,
so a
pe
rsona
l sto
ry f
rom
a
co
nstitu
en
t in
cre
ase
s th
e c
ha
nce t
ha
t th
ey w
ill ta
ke
actio
n.
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
e Sc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s R
ev. M
ar. 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: T
each
er S
crip
t Pa
ge 3
© 2
013
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
7 30
sec
.
To
tal:
4.5
min
Bui
ldin
g go
od re
latio
nshi
ps w
ith y
our l
egis
lato
rs is
impo
rtant
bec
ause
they
m
ake
key
deci
sion
s ab
out l
aws
& b
udge
ts th
at c
ontro
l who
can
get
wha
t typ
e of
car
e, fo
r how
long
and
at w
hat c
ost.
sl
ide
8 30
sec
.
To
tal:
5 m
in
So
your
per
sona
l exp
erie
nce,
if b
rief,
focu
sed
and
wel
l tol
d, w
ill su
ppor
t our
le
gis
lative
“a
sk”
wh
ich w
ill s
ave
liv
es a
nd
sa
ve
ta
xp
aye
r d
olla
rs.
sl
ide
9 1
min
Tot
al: 6
min
Now
le
t’s lo
ok a
t th
e v
alua
ble
role
you
can
pla
y as
gra
ssro
ots
advo
cate
s.
One
reas
on p
eo
ple
don
’t c
onta
ct th
eir le
gis
lato
r is
that
the
y d
on
’t th
ink
they
kn
ow e
noug
h. B
ut a
ccor
ding
to re
sear
ch, s
torie
s th
at h
elp
the
liste
ner s
tand
in
you
r sho
es a
re fa
r mor
e po
wer
ful t
han
fact
s an
d fig
ures
.
Any
lobb
yist
will
tell
you
that
real
sto
ries,
if b
rief a
nd s
ince
re, a
re
advo
cacy
gol
d. T
hey
are
one
of th
e su
rest
way
s to
gai
n su
ppor
t for
men
tal
heal
th c
are
and
brea
k th
e st
igm
a of
men
tal h
ealth
con
ditio
ns.
K
eep
thes
e th
ough
ts in
min
d:
1.
Your
sto
ry is
alw
ays
right
2.
Yo
ur li
ved
expe
rienc
e ha
s va
lue
and
mea
ning
3.
You
don
't ha
ve to
hav
e al
l the
ans
wer
s--ju
st a
cle
ar "
ask"
[Pau
se s
light
ly a
fter e
ach
of th
ese
stat
emen
ts to
let p
eopl
e pr
oces
s.]
If yo
u th
ink
abou
t it,
this
is v
ery
empo
wer
ing.
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
e Sc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s R
ev. M
ar. 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: T
each
er S
crip
t Pa
ge 4
© 2
013
NAM
I, In
c.
slid
e 10
30
sec
To
tal:
6.5
min
Her
e ar
e fo
ur ti
ps fo
r tel
ling
a st
ory
that
will
mov
e yo
ur le
gisl
ator
...
The
first
tip
is to
kee
p yo
ur s
tory
brie
f. W
e liv
e in
a w
orld
of s
ound
bite
s an
d te
xt m
essa
ges,
and
legi
slat
ors
are
very
bus
y, s
o ai
m fo
r a m
inut
e or
two.
W
e al
l cou
ld te
ll vo
lum
es a
bout
wha
t has
hap
pene
d to
us,
but
, you
will
lose
yo
ur li
sten
ers
if yo
u gi
ve to
o m
uch
deta
il.
Thin
k ab
out a
mov
ie tr
aile
r—in
30
seco
nds
you
get t
he h
ighl
ight
s an
d w
ant t
o se
e m
ore.
Tha
t is
the
effe
ct y
ou w
ant t
o ac
hiev
e.
slid
e 11
30
sec
Tota
l: 7
min
We
men
tione
d th
at s
torie
s th
at e
voke
em
otio
n ar
e po
wer
ful.
Use
viv
id
lang
uage
to p
lace
the
liste
ner i
n yo
ur s
hoes
. Pai
nt a
pic
ture
of w
hat y
ou w
ent
thro
ugh,
wha
t hel
ped
and
wha
t life
is li
ke n
ow.
How
ever
, if y
our s
tory
cau
ses
you
to c
ry, i
t will
ove
rwhe
lm o
ther
s an
d th
ey
will
shu
t dow
n. B
ut if
you
r sto
ry b
rings
out
em
otio
n—w
ithou
t cau
sing
you
to
tear
up—
you
will
mov
e ot
hers
. If
yo
u f
ind y
ou
r sto
ry h
ittin
g t
oo
clo
se
to
ho
me, fo
cu
s o
n t
he
pa
rts that
don
’t
brin
g up
as
muc
h pa
in o
r use
lang
uage
that
allo
ws
you
to m
aint
ain
com
posu
re. T
he m
ore
you
prac
tice,
the
easi
er it
will
get
.
slid
e 12
30
sec
To
tal:
7.5
min
Ano
ther
tip
is to
use
pos
itive
con
cept
s lik
e ho
pe a
nd re
cove
ry, i
f pos
sibl
e.
If yo
ur s
tory
doe
sn't
have
a h
opef
ul a
spec
t--so
meo
ne o
r som
ethi
ng th
at
help
ed--t
hen
desc
ribe
wha
t wou
ld h
ave
help
ed o
r wha
t cou
ld h
elp
othe
rs.
Hop
e is
a p
ower
ful m
otiv
ator
for p
olic
y m
aker
s. B
ecau
se th
ey w
ant t
o in
vest
ta
xpay
er d
olla
rs e
ffect
ivel
y, th
ey n
eed
to k
now
that
reco
very
is a
real
po
ssib
ility.
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
e Sc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s R
ev. M
ar. 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: T
each
er S
crip
t Pa
ge 5
© 2
013
NAM
I, In
c.
slid
e 13
30
sec
To
tal:
8 m
in
Last
, but
not
leas
t: M
ak
e a
n “
ask
” o
f you
r lis
tene
r. Th
is is
a c
ritic
al s
tep
that
m
any
advo
cate
s le
ave
out.
Than
k yo
ur li
sten
er fo
r hea
ring
your
sto
ry. T
hen,
pu
t the
m o
n th
e ho
ok b
y as
king
if y
ou c
an c
ount
on
them
to s
uppo
rt yo
ur
issu
e.
If y
ou
r lis
ten
er
an
sw
ers
with
a c
lea
r “y
es”,
th
an
k th
em
fo
r th
eir s
up
po
rt.
If
yo
ur
liste
ne
r a
nsw
ers
with
a c
lea
r “n
o”
or
a v
agu
e r
esp
on
se,
tha
nk t
hem
fo
r ta
kin
g t
he t
ime
to m
ee
t w
ith
yo
u a
nd
le
t th
em
kn
ow
yo
u’d
lik
e t
o s
erv
e a
s a
re
sour
ce o
n m
enta
l hea
lth.
Reg
ardl
ess
of th
e re
spon
se, p
lan
on fo
llow
ing
up o
ften
and
to p
olite
ly b
uild
a
rela
tions
hip.
Thi
s w
ill he
lp y
ou g
ently
shi
ft op
inio
ns o
r, in
the
case
of a
su
ppor
ter,
help
them
bec
ome
a le
gisl
ativ
e ch
ampi
on.
slid
e 14
3
min
T
otal
: 11
min
Now
we
’ll s
ho
w y
ou
ho
w t
he
se
tip
s c
an
be
use
d to
te
ll a
po
we
rfu
l sto
ry –
with
an
adv
ocac
y as
k - 2
min
utes
or l
ess.
[Nam
e] w
ill te
ll [h
is/h
er] s
tory
and
I w
ill tra
ck th
e tim
e ju
st to
pro
ve th
at it
can
be
done
. Th
e st
ory
is to
ld a
s if
[he/
she]
wer
e gi
ving
test
imon
y at
a le
gisl
ativ
e he
arin
g.
But
, thi
s ba
sic
form
at c
an b
e ea
sily
ada
pted
to fi
t oth
er s
ituat
ions
. A
s yo
u lis
ten,
kee
p an
ope
n m
ind.
Not
ice
your
reac
tions
, wha
t mov
es y
ou.
[C
o-te
ache
r] te
lls s
tory
with
the
men
tal h
ealth
bud
get a
sk.
[Tea
cher
kee
ps ti
me.
Tha
nks
spea
ker a
nd c
alls
for a
ppla
use.
] W
ha
t la
ng
uag
e m
oved
yo
u?
Wh
at
rea
lly
ca
ug
ht
yo
ur
att
en
tio
n?
[T
ake
one
resp
onse
.]
Han
dout
: Sa
mpl
e St
ory
slid
e 15
4
min
T
otal
: 15
min
Now
that
you
've
liste
ned
to th
e sa
mpl
e st
ory
and
notic
ed it
s im
pact
, loo
k at
th
e Se
ven
Step
s C
heck
list o
n pa
ge 2
, whi
ch s
how
the
parts
of a
brie
f, ef
fect
ive
stor
y. W
e're
goi
ng to
revi
ew th
ese
seve
n st
eps
now
. The
n, y
ou'll
use
them
to d
raft
your
ow
n st
ory.
[T
each
er re
view
s ch
eckl
ist,
refe
rring
to s
ampl
e st
ory.
]
Han
dout
: Se
ven
Step
s C
heck
list
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
e Sc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s R
ev. M
ar. 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: T
each
er S
crip
t Pa
ge 6
© 2
013
NAM
I, In
c.
slid
e 16
17
min
T
otal
: 32
min
Now
you
're re
ady
to u
se y
our S
tory
Pra
ctic
e Sh
eet o
n pa
ges
3 an
d 4
to
star
t writ
ing
your
ow
n st
ory.
Fo
r hel
p, u
se y
our S
even
Ste
ps C
heck
list a
nd th
e sa
mpl
e st
ory.
Rem
embe
r, th
e be
st p
repa
ratio
n fo
r tel
ling
an e
ffect
ive
stor
y is
to k
no
w y
ou
r “a
sk
.”
Here
’s th
e s
ce
na
rio
: Y
ou
’re te
lling
you
r sto
ry to
urg
e yo
ur le
gisl
ator
to s
uppo
rt H
B 3
9 th
e m
enta
l hea
lth b
udge
t.
Yo
ur
“ask”
ca
n b
e t
he
sa
me a
s th
e s
am
ple
sto
ry o
r you
can
put
it in
you
r ow
n w
ords
. Yo
u'll
have
15
min
utes
to fi
ll ou
t you
r sto
ry p
ract
ice
shee
t. I’
ll le
t yo
u
know
whe
n yo
u ha
ve a
few
min
. lef
t to
finis
h up
. If
yo
u d
on
’t f
inis
h,
do
n’t w
orr
y;
this
is just
a p
ractice
and
yo
u c
an
fine
tune
it in
yo
ur o
wn
time.
Als
o,
if it’s e
asie
r, w
rite
in “
bu
llet
po
ints
” in
ste
ad o
f fu
ll se
nten
ces.
If
you
finis
h ea
rly, p
ract
ice
read
ing
your
sto
ry s
ilent
ly.
[C
ircul
ate
whi
le p
artic
ipan
ts a
re w
ritin
g. F
or th
ose
who
fini
sh e
arly
, ask
if
they
wou
ld le
t you
read
thei
r sto
ry. P
rais
e th
em fo
r the
stro
ng p
hras
es.]
W
arn
part
icip
ants
2 m
inut
e be
fore
tim
e is
up.
St
op p
artic
ipan
ts a
t 15
min
. If
you
didn
't fin
ish
your
sto
ry, f
eel f
ree
to fi
nish
in y
our o
wn
time.
W
ha
t d
id y
ou
le
arn
ab
ou
t w
riti
ng
yo
ur
sto
ry?
[Ta
ke o
ne re
spon
se.]
Han
dout
: St
ory
Prac
tice
Shee
t
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
e Sc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s R
ev. M
ar. 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: T
each
er S
crip
t Pa
ge 7
© 2
013
NAM
I, In
c.
slid
e 17
10
min
T
otal
: 42
min
Yo
u h
ave
all
finis
he
d o
r h
ave
a g
oo
d s
tart
on
yo
ur
sto
ry.
No
w,
we
’ll p
ractice
shar
ing
them
and
giv
ing
cons
truct
ive
feed
back
. To
get
read
y, p
leas
e ha
ve y
our S
tory
Pra
ctic
e Sh
eet,
a no
te p
ad a
nd a
pe
ncil.
E
ach
of y
ou w
ill ha
ve a
cha
nce
to s
hare
you
r sto
ry w
ith a
par
tner
. You
will
try
to te
ll yo
ur s
tory
in tw
o m
inut
es o
r les
s.
The
othe
r per
son
will
keep
tim
e an
d st
op th
e st
oryt
elle
r at t
wo
min
utes
. W
hile
you
tim
e, a
lso
liste
n to
the
stor
y.
Not
ice
your
reac
tion
to th
e flo
w, w
ords
or p
hras
es th
at m
ove
you
and
area
s th
at c
ould
be
stre
ngth
ened
. If
you
like,
on
the
note
pad
jot d
own
wha
t cam
e ac
ross
as
stro
ng o
r sug
gest
ions
to m
ake
the
stor
y ev
en s
trong
er.
Afte
r the
sto
ryte
ller’s t
wo
min
ute
s a
re u
p, th
e lis
tene
r sho
uld
prov
ide
brie
f co
nstr
uctive fe
edba
ck. S
ay w
hat w
orke
d in
the
stor
y, a
nd h
ow it
cou
ld b
e im
prov
ed.
Rem
embe
r tha
t con
stru
ctiv
e fe
edba
ck s
houl
d he
lp y
ou s
ee w
hat i
s po
wer
ful
abou
t you
r sto
ry a
nd h
ow y
ou c
ould
mak
e it
even
bet
ter.
Ple
ase
turn
to y
our n
eigh
bor a
nd
le
t m
e k
no
w w
he
n y
ou
’re
re
ady
by
look
ing
at m
e.
[Wai
t unt
il ev
eryo
ne is
in a
pai
r.]
Yo
u’ll
ha
ve
ju
st
4 m
inute
s fo
r eac
h ro
und
for s
tory
tellin
g a
nd
feed
back
, so
use
your
tim
e w
isel
y. If
you
fini
sh e
arly
, tel
l you
r sto
ry a
gain
. St
op ro
und
1 af
ter 4
min
. It
’s tim
e t
o t
rade
ro
les a
nd
be
gin
with
an
oth
er
sto
ryte
ller
an
d fe
ed
back.
Stop
roun
d 2
afte
r 4 m
in.
Ho
w d
id t
ha
t g
o f
or
ev
ery
on
e?
W
ha
t d
id y
ou
le
arn
ab
ou
t te
llin
g y
ou
r s
tory
?
[Tak
e a
resp
onse
or t
wo]
Han
dout
: St
ory
Prac
tice
Shee
t Su
pplie
s:
Not
epad
s Pe
ncils
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
e Sc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s R
ev. M
ar. 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: T
each
er S
crip
t Pa
ge 8
© 2
013
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
18
30 s
ec.
Tota
l: 42
.5 m
in
Now
th
at
yo
u’v
e d
rafte
d yo
ur s
tory
, you
can
pol
ish
it up
and
use
it a
s a
foun
datio
n fo
r adv
ocac
y. A
nd, w
ith ju
st a
few
cha
nges
, you
can
targ
et y
our
stor
y to
diff
eren
t aud
ienc
es a
nd a
rang
e of
issu
es.
Your
sto
ry d
rives
the
poin
t hom
e by
hel
ping
the
legi
slat
or u
nder
stan
d w
hat i
t is
like
to li
ve w
ith a
men
tal h
ealth
con
ditio
n. M
ost i
mpo
rtant
, by
help
ing
an
elec
ted
offic
ial s
ee th
roug
h yo
ur e
yes,
you
r sto
ry b
uild
s a
rela
tions
hip.
A
nd
bu
ildin
g a
co
nne
ction
is f
ar
mo
re im
po
rtan
t th
an
po
we
rin
g t
hro
ugh
a
nu
mb
er
of
pe
op
le o
r po
ints
, b
ecau
se
a g
oo
d r
ela
tio
nsh
ip in
cre
ase
s th
e o
dd
s
tha
t th
e le
gis
lato
r w
ill a
ct
on
yo
ur
requ
ests
in
th
e fu
ture
.
sl
ide
19
1 m
in
To
tal:
43.5
min
How
eve
r, w
e w
ou
ld lik
e o
ur
mee
tin
gs t
o m
ake
as s
tron
g a
n im
pre
ssio
n a
s
po
ssib
le. T
hin
k a
bo
ut a
n e
ffe
ctive
me
etin
g y
ou
’ve
be
en
pa
rt o
f, e
spe
cia
lly
with
a le
gis
lato
r.
In o
ne
wo
rd, w
ho
ca
n d
es
cri
be
wh
at
he
lps
a m
ee
tin
g w
ork
?
Wh
at
ca
n lea
d t
o a
dis
ap
po
inti
ng
me
eti
ng
?
[Ta
ke
on
e r
esp
on
se
to
ea
ch
qu
estio
n. P
ara
phra
se
wh
at
yo
u h
ea
rd.]
G
rea
t re
sp
on
se
! T
ha
nk y
ou
. K
eep
th
ese t
ho
ugh
ts in m
ind
as w
e g
o t
hro
ugh
a
fe
w t
ips a
nd
to
ols
to
str
en
gth
en y
ou
r m
ee
tings.
sl
ide
20
30 s
ec
T
otal
: 44
min
Take
a lo
ok a
t you
r han
dout
, Mak
ing
Your
Cas
e. I
’ll g
o o
ve
r 4
tip
s n
ow
an
d
you
can
revi
ew th
e re
st in
you
r ow
n tim
e.
The
first
tip
is to
kno
w y
our i
ssue
. You
r pol
icym
aker
will
exp
ect y
ou to
be
mee
ting
with
him
or h
er a
bout
an
issu
e—no
t jus
t to
chat
. H
avin
g cl
arity
abo
ut y
our i
ssue
and
wha
t pos
ition
or a
ctio
n yo
u w
ant y
our
legi
slat
or to
take
is v
ital t
o an
effe
ctiv
e m
eetin
g.
Han
dout
: M
akin
g Yo
ur C
ase
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
e Sc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s R
ev. M
ar. 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: T
each
er S
crip
t Pa
ge 9
© 2
013
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
21
1 m
in
T
otal
: 45
min
A b
riefin
g sh
eet h
elp
you
orga
nize
the
basi
c in
form
atio
n on
pag
e [p
age]
.
Wha
t do
you
notic
e ab
out t
he s
ampl
e br
iefin
g sh
eet i
n yo
ur p
acke
t?
[Ta
ke
a c
ou
ple
of
respo
nse
s. P
ara
ph
rase
, th
en
wa
lk th
rou
gh
th
e b
riefing
sh
ee
t.]
We’v
e p
rovid
ed
a b
lank
form
for y
ou to
use
in fu
ture
mee
tings
with
legi
slat
ors
or p
olic
ymak
ers.
Han
dout
: B
riefin
g Sh
eet
sl
ide
22
30 s
ec
Tot
al:4
5.5
min
The
seco
nd ti
p is
to k
now
you
r pol
icym
aker
. Yo
u c
an b
uild
a s
tron
ge
r co
nne
ctio
n (
an
d a
mo
re t
arg
ete
d m
essa
ge
) by k
no
win
g a
nd
un
de
rsta
nd
ing
yo
ur
ele
cte
d o
ffic
ial.
K
no
win
g y
ou
r p
olic
ym
ake
r ca
n h
elp
yo
u c
hoo
se
wh
at
yo
u s
ay a
nd
ho
w y
ou
sa
y it—
an
d m
ay h
elp
yo
u c
ho
ose w
ho
to
bring t
o a
le
gis
lative
vis
it.
Han
dout
M
akin
g Yo
ur C
ase
sl
ide
23
1 m
in
T
otal
: 46
min
We’v
e p
rovid
ed
an
oth
er
too
l, c
alle
d a
Back
gro
un
de
r to
he
lp y
ou
re
se
arc
h
yo
ur
legis
lato
r. A
sim
ple
we
b-s
ea
rch o
n t
he
legis
lato
r’s n
am
e w
ill b
rin
g u
p th
e
info
rma
tio
n y
ou
nee
d. T
he
n y
ou
ca
n ju
st
copy a
nd
pa
ste
into
th
e s
he
et
like
w
e h
ave
do
ne
in
th
is s
am
ple
.
What do
yo
u n
otice
abo
ut
the
ba
ckgro
und
er
tha
t w
ou
ld h
elp
yo
u d
uring t
he
m
eetin
g?
[T
ake
on
e r
esp
on
se
. P
ara
ph
rase
, th
en w
alk
th
rou
gh
the
ba
ckgro
und
er.]
A
nd
aga
in,
the
re is a
te
mp
late
fo
r yo
u t
o u
se.
Han
dout
: B
ackg
roun
der
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
e Sc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s R
ev. M
ar. 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: T
each
er S
crip
t Pa
ge 1
0
© 2
013
NAM
I, In
c.
slid
e 24
30
sec
To
tal:
46.5
min
The
th
ird t
ip is to
pla
n y
ou
r vis
it.
Mee
ting
with
you
r pol
icym
aker
can
be
intim
idat
ing.
Pla
nnin
g w
ill h
elp
you
feel
mor
e co
nfid
ent.
Ther
e is
ano
ther
reas
on to
pla
n. Y
ou m
ay fi
nd y
ours
elf i
n a
grou
p m
eetin
g w
ith a
pol
icym
aker
. The
mor
e pe
ople
in a
gro
up, t
he m
ore
com
plic
ated
the
“flo
w”
an
d th
e g
rea
ter
the
cha
nce o
f p
eo
ple
go
ing “
off
me
ssa
ge
.”
Fortu
nate
ly, t
he s
olut
ion
is s
impl
e. P
repa
re.
Han
dout
: M
akin
g Yo
ur C
ase
sl
ide
25
1 m
in
Tot
al: 4
7.5
min
Take
a lo
ok a
t the
Mee
ting
Rol
es h
ando
ut in
you
r pac
ket.
Ther
e ar
e th
ree
basi
c ro
les
to k
eep
in m
ind.
1.
The
lead
sta
rts th
e co
nver
satio
n, m
akes
the
ask
and
clos
es th
e m
eetin
g on
a p
ositi
ve n
ote.
2.
The
mes
seng
er la
ys o
ut fa
cts
and
talk
ing
poin
ts to
sup
port
the
ask.
3.
The
sto
ryte
ller b
rings
the
issu
e ‘o
ff th
e pa
ge’ b
y re
latin
g pe
rson
al
expe
rienc
e to
the
issu
e.
If yo
u ar
e v
isitin
g a
le
gis
lato
r b
y y
ou
rself, yo
u’ll
ta
ke
all
thre
e r
ole
s.
Goi
ng to
a
mee
ting
as a
pai
r is
effe
ctiv
e be
caus
e th
e le
gisl
ator
form
s th
e th
ird le
g of
a
“tr
ian
gle
” w
hic
h e
ncou
rage
s pr
oduc
tive
dial
ogue
. In
that
cas
e, o
ne p
erso
n m
ay ta
ke th
e le
ad a
nd th
e m
esse
nger
role
whi
le th
e ot
her i
s th
e st
oryt
elle
r.
A la
rger
gro
up c
an m
ake
a st
rong
imp
ressio
n,
bu
t it’s
im
po
rtan
t to
hav
e on
e le
ad, t
o id
en
tify
oth
er
role
s in a
dva
nce
an
d t
o r
em
em
be
r th
at
it isn
’t
nece
ssar
y fo
r eve
ryon
e to
spe
ak.
Han
dout
: M
eetin
g R
oles
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
e Sc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s R
ev. M
ar. 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: T
each
er S
crip
t Pa
ge 1
1
© 2
013
NAM
I, In
c.
slid
e 26
30
sec
T
otal
: 48
min
Her
e's
our l
ast t
ip:
Mak
e a
n “
ask
” o
f you
r lis
tene
r. If
you
are
talk
ing
to a
le
gisl
ator
, let
them
kno
w w
hat w
ould
hel
p ot
hers
(suc
h as
the
Cen
ters
for
Exc
elle
nce)
and
then
, ask
them
if y
ou c
an c
ount
on
thei
r sup
port.
Th
is p
uts
them
on
the
hook
by
aski
ng th
em fo
r a c
omm
itmen
t. Th
is w
ill te
ll yo
u a
lot.
If th
ey c
omm
it, y
ou h
ave
a su
ppor
ter.
If th
ey s
ay n
o or
they
are
no
ncom
mitt
al, y
ou k
now
whe
re th
ey s
tand
and
that
you
nee
d to
follo
w u
p an
d nu
rture
the
rela
tions
hip
to b
uild
sup
port.
D
on
’t t
ake
a n
ega
tive
or
no
ncom
mitta
l re
sp
onse
per
sona
lly. Y
our l
egis
lato
r m
ay b
e un
der p
ress
ure
to ta
ke a
par
ticul
ar p
ositi
on o
n yo
ur is
sue
or m
ay b
e be
ing
caut
ious
. Tak
e it
in s
tride
and
wor
k to
bui
ld a
pos
itive
rela
tions
hip.
Han
dout
: M
akin
g Yo
ur C
ase
slid
e 27
6
min
T
otal
: 54
min
To h
elp
you
see
how
thes
e tip
s an
d to
ols
wor
k,
we
’re
go
ing t
o d
em
on
str
ate
a
mee
ting
with
a p
olic
ymak
er a
nd tw
o co
nstit
uent
s. I
’ll p
lay th
e S
enat
or
whi
le [N
ame]
and
[Nam
e] w
ill b
e co
nstit
uent
s.
Whi
le y
ou li
sten
, not
ice
the
role
s th
e tw
o co
nstit
uent
s pl
ay a
nd w
here
you
he
ar o
ur ti
ps in
act
ion.
Als
o lis
ten
for f
acts
and
a s
tory
hig
hlig
ht.
D
emon
stra
te a
mee
ting
usin
g M
eetin
g yo
ur L
egis
lato
r dem
o sc
ript.
[Pre
p: a
rran
ge 2
hel
pers
. Ask
them
to re
ad th
roug
h th
e sc
ript a
head
of
time]
D
id y
ou
no
tic
e h
ow
mu
ch
wa
s c
on
ve
ye
d in
ju
st
a f
ew
sh
ort
min
ute
s?
W
ha
t d
id y
ou
no
tic
e a
bo
ut
the r
ole
s p
eo
ple
pla
ye
d a
nd
th
e f
low
?
[Tak
e a
resp
onse
] D
id y
ou
no
tic
e t
he
po
lic
ym
ak
er
sp
inn
ing
th
e c
on
vers
ati
on
in
a d
iffe
ren
t d
ire
cti
on
? W
ha
t d
id y
ou
no
te a
bo
ut
the r
esp
on
se
?
[Tak
e a
resp
onse
]
Fact
she
et in
brig
ht
gree
n fo
lder
3
copi
es o
f Dem
o:
Mee
ting
Your
Po
licym
aker
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
e Sc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s R
ev. M
ar. 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: T
each
er S
crip
t Pa
ge 1
2
© 2
013
NAM
I, In
c.
sl
ide
28
7 m
in
Tota
l: 61
min
Turn
to th
e M
eetin
g Yo
ur L
egis
lato
r Che
cklis
t on
page
13.
This
han
dout
br
eaks
dow
n th
e st
eps
of m
eetin
g a
polic
ymak
er.
Not
ice
that
the
chec
klis
t has
thre
e pa
rts:
Sta
ge 1
: Mak
e a
Con
nect
ion,
S
tage
2: D
eliv
er y
our M
essa
ge,
Sta
ge 3
: Clo
se o
n a
Posi
tive
Not
e [W
alk
thro
ugh
the
poin
ts in
eac
h se
ctio
n]
Alw
ays
rem
embe
r to
se
nd
a th
an
k y
ou
no
te o
r e
ma
il aft
er
yo
ur
me
etin
g.
It’s
no
t onl
y po
lite,
but
it w
ill le
ave
a po
sitiv
e im
pres
sion
and
giv
e yo
u an
othe
r ch
ance
to m
ake
your
ask
. Th
ere
is a
sim
ple
than
k-yo
u w
orks
heet
in y
our
hand
outs
.
Han
dout
: M
eetin
g Yo
ur
Legi
slat
or C
heck
list
slid
e 29
1.
5 m
in
Tot
al: 6
2.5
min
Wh
at
did
yo
u t
ak
e a
wa
y f
rom
th
is e
xp
eri
en
ce
to
day
?
Wh
at
do
es
th
is c
ha
ng
e f
or
yo
u?
W
he
re d
o y
ou
pla
n t
o u
se
yo
ur
sto
ry?
[T
ake
a co
uple
of q
uick
resp
onse
s]
Than
k yo
u al
l for
taki
ng th
e tim
e to
bui
ld y
our a
dvoc
acy
skills
. Giv
e yo
urse
lves
a ro
und
of a
ppla
use.
slid
e 30
30
sec
To
tal:
63 m
in
Th
is w
ork
sho
p is p
art
of
NA
MI
Sm
art
s fo
r A
dvo
ca
cy,
NA
MI’s g
rassro
ots
skill
b
uild
ing p
rogra
m. If
you
’d lik
e to
kn
ow
mo
re a
bo
ut th
e p
rogra
m, see
me
aft
er
the
wor
ksho
p.
Adv
ocac
y D
ay: C
hang
ing
Hea
rts
& M
inds
Slid
e/tim
eSc
ript
Prep
/han
dout
s
Rev
. Mar
. 201
7N
AM
I Sm
arts
for A
dvoc
acy:
Tea
cher
Scr
ipt
Page
13
© 2
013
NAM
I, In
c.
slid
e 31
2 m
inTo
tal:
65 m
in
Bef
ore
you
go, p
leas
e ta
ke a
min
ute
to c
ompl
ete
your
eva
luat
ion.
We
look
at
thes
e cl
osel
y be
caus
e w
e al
way
s se
ek to
impr
ove
the
prog
ram
.
And
no
w I
’ll tu
rn it
ove
r to
[mod
erat
or].
Han
dout
:Ev
alua
tion
form
Demo: Meeting Your Policymaker(Two Constituents)
Meeting Stage 1: Make a connection
Introductions
Senator Walker: “Good morning, everyone. Thank you for coming.”
John (Lead): (shakes hand) “Hello, Senator. I’m John Adams from Spring Valley. We’re members of NAMI Springville, part of America’s largest grassroots mental health organization, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
We really appreciate your taking the time to meet with us—we know you’re very busy.”
Jenny (Storyteller): (shakes hand) "It's a pleasure to meet you, Senator. I'm Jenny Jonesfrom Springville."
Senator Walker: “It's a pleasure to have you here. I know NAMI; you’ve always done a great job bringing up mental health issues."
Show appreciation
John (Lead): "Senator Walker, before we talk about some important issues affecting yourconstituents who live with mental illness, we'd like you to know that we appreciate yourmany years of service in our legislature."
Senator Walker: “Thank you, I've spent twelve years in public office, now."
Jenny (Storyteller): "We also appreciate that, as a doctor, you value the health of yourconstituents and have provided important leadership on the Medicaid Health Plan andhealth care issues in our state."
Senator Walker: "Well, I’ve seen too many people in emergency rooms with issues thatcould have been prevented for pennies, including a lot of people who needed mentalhealth care.”
Issue and position
John (Lead): "I’m glad you mentioned that, Senator. We’re here because we want to urge you to support mental health services in HB 39, the mental health budget.”
Rev Dec 2016 NAMI Smarts for Advocacy: Meeting Your Policymaker Module 3 Page 2 © 2013 NAMI, Inc.
Meeting Stage 2: Deliver your message
The need or problem John (Lead): “More families than ever are seeking help from our mental health centers. But with budget cuts, people can’t get the mental health services they need.” Senator Walker: “I’ve always been a supporter of mental health; I was a co-sponsor on NAMI’s parity bill. But, it‘s going to be an extremely tight budget this year. There are serious revenue shortfalls and we’re still figuring out where we can find savings. We’ve got to get spending under control.” Talking points
John (Lead): “We understand, Senator. It’s going to be challenging, but the people of our state deserve the opportunity to be productive and healthy. To have that opportunity, they need access to mental health care. Also, if we don’t protect mental health services, it’s going to cost us more in other places. When our children can’t get help for mental health conditions, they fall behind in school and families struggle. When adults can’t get treatment, costs shift to jails, emergency rooms and hospitals.” Senator Walker: “Isn’t that the truth. Like that kid involved in that police shooting—they’re saying he has a mental illness. I can’t believe those parents of his didn’t do something before a tragedy happened.” Story
Jenny (Storyteller): “Yes, there’s a lot of speculation around that. I just wish the media would talk about stories of recovery, like mine, instead of focusing on sensational news. I’m here because my life is affected by mental illness. My son, Andy, lives with bipolar disorder and I can tell you that treatment can make the difference between despair and recovery. Today, Andy’s living on his own, working as an artist and making me proud. I never thought I'd see him experience this kind of recovery. But, it wasn’t always that way. Before he got the treatment he needs, I saw him in the back of police cars and held him in my arms after a suicide attempt. No child should have to go through this." Senator Walker: “I really appreciate your story, Jenny, and I’m so happy to hear your son is doing well. Is Andy showing his art anywhere?” Talking points
Jenny (Storyteller): “Yes, a gallery is representing him. But, what I’m worried about is that there are thousands of others in our state just like my son, except most don’t get the help they need.
Rev Dec 2016 NAMI Smarts for Advocacy: Meeting Your Policymaker Module 3 Page 3 © 2013 NAMI, Inc.
More than one in ten youth and about one in seventeen adults lives with a serious mental illness, so it’s more common than most people think. Many of our returning service men and women are experiencing mental illness, too.” What will help others
Jenny (Storyteller): “We need more mental health services, not fewer. It’s an investment in health and productivity. If people can get the right care at the right time, they can be successful, like my son." The “ask”
John (Lead): “The people of our state need your vote to protect mental health care. Can we count on your support of HB 39, Senator?” Senator Walker (standing): “You’ve both made some excellent points and I’ll keep them in mind. I know how important mental health services are and I’ll think about this as we’re working on the budget.”
Meeting Stage 3: Close on a positive note
Say thank you John (Lead): (shakes hand) “Thank you so much, Senator Walker. We appreciate you taking the time to hear about our issues.” Provide information
Jenny (Storyteller): "Thank you for meeting with us, Senator. We know your time is limited, so we'd like to leave you with this packet that contains a fact sheet and NAMI's other legislative priorities. We hope we can count on your support for them." Offer to be a resource
John (Lead): “Please know that we'd welcome the opportunity to be a resource to you in the future. We’d also like to follow up and see how you intend to vote on our issues.” Senator Walker: "Certainly. Please give my staff your contact information before you leave so they can get hold of you.” Make a request
Jenny (Storyteller): (shakes hand) "Thank you, Senator. If you have time, we would be honored if you would have your picture taken with us for our newsletter.” Senator Walker: "I think I can take a moment for a picture. And please tell Andy "hello" for me, will you?" Jenny (Storyteller): "Of course, Senator. Thank you. That will make his day."
Insert Tab: Advocacy Day Worksheets
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Advocacy Day: Changing Hearts & Minds
Rev. March 2017 NAMI Smarts for Advocacy: Hearts & Minds Page 1© 2013 NAMI, Inc.
Sample Family Member Story1. My introduction
Hello, I’m Jenny Jones from Springville. I’m a member of NAMI Springville, part of America’s largest grassroots mental health organization, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
I’m also the proud mother of a 23-year-old son who lives with bipolar disorder. I’d like toshare my story with you and ask for your support of mental health services.
2. What happenedWhen my son was still a toddler, I had a thought that no mother should have: I wondered ifmy beautiful boy would be in juvenile detention on his 16th birthday. He just did notrespond the way other children did to requests, to routines, to daily life and love.
As he grew, we never knew what would be broken, who might be hurt or when it wouldhappen.
3. What helpedIn fifth grade, my son's teacher said, "Jenny, honey, I've taught hundreds and hundreds ofkids. I know when a boy is misbehaving and I know when something is wrong. Andsomething is wrong. You just keep looking for help."
When Andy was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder, our lives changed. With treatment,he started smiling, enjoying school and making friends.
4. How I'm different todayOn his sixteenth birthday, Andy wasn't in juvenile detention; he was creating art. Today,he’s enjoying life, working hard and making me proud.
5. What is the need orproblem
My son is proof that treatment works. But, not everyone gets the help they need.
6. What will help othersA strong mental health system will help children and adults get the right care at the righttime.
7. My "ask"Thank you for meeting with me and listening to my story. Can I count on you to protectmental health services—and give families the hope of recovery?
Rev. March 2017 NAMI Smarts for Advocacy: Hearts & Minds Page 2 © 2013 NAMI, Inc.
Seven Steps Telling Your Story Checklist The following seven steps will help you craft a brief and powerful story.
1. Introduce yourself
Give your name and city or town. Include your organization. Describe yourself as “a member of NAMI [State Org or NAMI Affiliate], part of America’s largest grassroots mental health organization, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.”
Share how you are affected by mental illness. Are you living with mental illness, a family member, a caregiver? This brings a "real face" to mental illness.
State your issue and position. Let your listener know what you want them to support or oppose (or do). This helps your listener focus.
2. What happened?
What happened before you received the help you needed? Keep this brief--think about the most important thing you’d like your listener to know.
3. What helped?
Describe what helped in your recovery (or would have helped). This adds a hopeful tone and helps show the value of services and supports.
4. How are you different today?
Share what is going right in your life or how you are experiencing recovery. This concludes your personal story on a positive note that inspires.
5. What is the need or problem?
Mention the problem or need you want addressed. Transition to the challenge(s) faced by people living with mental illness.
6. What will help others?
Talk about what will help. Let your listener know what will address the need or problem you described.
7. Make your "ask"
Ask your legislator if you can count on their support (or opposition). Include a bill number, if possible. Thank your legislator for his or her time.
Rev. March 2017 NAMI Smarts for Advocacy: Hearts & Minds Page 3 © 2013 NAMI, Inc.
Story Practice Sheet
1. Introduction
Include your name and city. Describe yourself as a member of NAMI [State or Affiliate], part of America’s largest grassroots mental health organization, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Add how you are affected by mental illness, your issue and position.
2. What happened Aim for 3-9 sentences. Briefly describe the most important and compelling thing(s) about your situation.
3. What helped
Aim for 1-5 sentences. Briefly describe what helped in your recovery (or what would have helped). Aim for a hopeful tone that helps show what is helpful.
Rev. March 2017 NAMI Smarts for Advocacy: Hearts & Minds Page 4 © 2013 NAMI, Inc.
4. How I'm different today
Aim for 1-3 sentences. Share what is going right in your life or how you are experiencing recovery. This concludes your personal story on a positive note that inspires.
5. The need or problem
Aim for 1-2 sentences. Transition to the challenge(s) faced by people living with mental illness that you want addressed.
6. What will help others
Aim for 1-2 sentences. Talk about what will help. Let your legislator know what will address the need or problem you described.
7. My "ask"
Aim for 1-2 sentences. Thank your legislator for listening to you. Then, ask your legislator for a commitment. Be specific.
Rev. March 2017 NAMI Smarts for Advocacy: Hearts & Minds Page 5 © 2013 NAMI, Inc.
Making Your Case: Tips for Legislative Advocacy
Prep for success
✓ Know your issue. Identify your issue, describe the problem, talking points, your story, the solution and your “ask.” Use a briefing sheet to stay organized.
✓ Know your legislator. Research your legislators online. Read their bios. Find out what committees they are on, their interests and any action on your issues. Use a backgrounder to note important details.
✓ Plan your meeting. If meeting as part of a group, identify roles and coordinate what you will say. A group of two is often the most effective. Use the Meeting Roles worksheet as a guide.
✓ Dress respectfully. Business or business casual is best; no jeans, no revealing clothing. T-shirts are fine if part of an advocacy campaign.
✓ Be Prompt. Legislators are busy. Arrive a few minutes before the appointed time. Be prepared to wait. Committee hearings or meetings may run overtime.
During the meeting
✓ Speak respectfully. Address the legislator by their title and last name: Senator or Representative [last name]. Don’t argue. Respond politely, even to uninformed or stigmatizing comments.
✓ Be truthful. If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so. Offer to find the information, then contact your NAMI office if you need help.
✓ Manage spin. Don’t get caught up in side issues. Practice bringing the focus back to where it belongs—on people living with mental health conditions.
✓ Expect resistance. Practice positive responses to challenging comments and questions. Use facts to support your statements, if possible.
✓ Make an Ask. Ask your legislator whether you can count on their support (or opposition). Include a bill number, if possible.
Follow up
✓ Send a thank you note. A brief thank you note or email is not only polite, it will leave a positive impression and allows you to repeat your ask.
✓ Check back regarding position. Write, call or email a polite inquiry a week or two after your meeting.
✓ If needed: Follow through on a request. If the legislator asks for more information, follow up immediately. Ask NAMI for help if you need it.
Rev. March 2017 NAMI Smarts for Advocacy: Hearts & Minds Page 6 © 2013 NAMI, Inc.
Blank Page
Rev
Mar
ch 2
017
N
AM
I Sm
arts
for A
dvoc
acy:
Hea
rts &
Min
ds
Pag
e 7
© 2
013
NA
MI,
Inc.
The
Brie
fing
She
et E
xam
ple
A
"brie
fing
shee
t" is
a to
ol to
pre
pare
for m
eetin
gs w
ith le
gisl
ator
s; it
is n
ot a
ppro
pria
te to
leav
e be
hind
. Pro
vide
ele
cted
offi
cial
s or
sta
ff w
ith s
epar
ate
fact
she
ets
or m
ater
ials
out
linin
g le
gisl
ativ
e pr
iorit
ies.
The
issu
e
Th
e “
as
k”
The
need
or p
robl
em, t
alki
ng p
oint
s an
d so
lutio
n C
omm
ittee
Sp
onso
rs
Hou
se B
ill 3
9 (m
enta
l hea
lth
budg
et)
Vot
e to
pro
tect
m
enta
l hea
lth
serv
ices
in H
B
39
The
need
or p
robl
em:
Mor
e in
divi
dual
s an
d fa
milie
s th
an e
ver a
re s
eeki
ng h
elp
from
our
m
enta
l he
alth
cen
ters
. B
ut
with
bud
ge
t cu
ts,
pe
op
le c
an
’t g
et th
e
men
tal h
ealth
ser
vice
s th
ey n
eed.
`1 Jo
int W
ays
&
Mea
ns C
omm
ittee
C
o-C
hair
Sen.
Joh
nson
C
o-C
hair
Rep
. Mar
k H
uman
Ser
vice
s Su
bcom
mitt
ee
Co-
Cha
ir Se
n. G
reen
ly
Co-
Cha
ir R
ep H
enry
N
o sp
onso
r—ag
ency
bu
dget
bill
Talk
ing
Poin
ts:
•
Peo
ple
dese
rve
the
oppo
rtuni
ty to
be
prod
uctiv
e an
d he
alth
y.
To h
ave
that
opp
ortu
nity
, the
y ne
ed a
cces
s to
car
e.
•
When c
hild
ren
can
’t g
et
he
lp f
or
men
tal he
alth c
on
ditio
ns, th
ey
ofte
n fa
ll be
hind
in s
choo
l and
fam
ilies
stru
ggle
. •
When a
du
lts c
an
’t g
et tr
ea
tme
nt, c
osts
sh
ift to
jails
, em
erge
ncy
room
s an
d ho
spita
ls.
•
Mor
e th
an o
ne in
ten
yout
h an
d ab
out o
ne in
sev
ente
en a
dults
liv
e w
ith
a s
erio
us m
enta
l ill
ne
ss,
so it’s c
om
mo
n.
•
Tho
usan
ds o
f m
en
an
d w
om
en
wh
o’v
e s
erv
ed
ou
r cou
ntr
y
expe
rienc
e m
enta
l illn
ess.
•
Whe
n pe
ople
get
the
right
car
e at
the
right
tim
e, th
ey c
an b
e su
cces
sful
and
exp
erie
nce
reco
very
. •
Men
tal h
ealth
car
e is
an
inve
stm
ent i
n he
alth
and
pro
duct
ivity
.
The
solu
tion
(wha
t will
hel
p):
Sup
port
HB
39.
Pre
serv
e m
enta
l hea
lth fu
ndin
g w
ill e
nsur
e th
at
men
tal h
ealth
ser
vice
s ar
e th
ere
whe
n pe
ople
nee
d th
em.
Rev
Mar
ch 2
017
N
AM
I Sm
arts
for A
dvoc
acy:
Hea
rts &
Min
ds
Pag
e 8
© 2
013
NA
MI,
Inc.
Brie
fing
She
et T
empl
ate
Fi
ndin
g in
form
atio
n •
Con
sult
your
NAM
I Sta
te O
rgan
izat
ion
for t
he in
form
atio
n yo
u ne
ed. I
f inf
orm
atio
n is
not
ava
ilabl
e, c
onsi
der t
he fo
llow
ing
sour
ces:
•
For t
he c
omm
ittee
ass
ignm
ent a
nd s
pons
ors,
sea
rch
fo
r th
e b
ill o
n t
he leg
isla
ture
we
bsite
or
ca
ll th
e le
gis
latu
re’s
info
rmatio
n lin
e.
•
For t
alki
ng p
oint
s, c
onsi
der u
sing
fact
s fro
m w
ww
.nam
i.org
or o
ther
repu
tabl
e so
urce
s.
•
Yo
ur
“ask”
sh
ou
ld a
lign
with
NA
MI’s p
olic
y p
latf
orm
at w
ww
.nam
i.o
rg a
nd
yo
ur
NA
MI
Sta
te O
rga
niz
ation
’s p
ositio
n.
The
issu
e
Th
e “
as
k”
Th
e ne
ed o
r pro
blem
, tal
king
poi
nts
and
solu
tion
Com
mitt
ee,
Spon
sors
The
need
or p
robl
em:
Talk
ing
Poin
ts:
The
solu
tion
(wha
t will
hel
p):
Rev
Mar
ch 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: H
earts
& M
inds
Pag
e 9
© 2
013
NA
MI,
Inc.
Bac
kgro
unde
r Exa
mpl
e El
ecte
d of
ficia
l C
omm
ittee
ass
ignm
ents
Sena
tor D
avid
Wal
ker,
M.D
.D
-Spr
ing
Valle
yFi
rst e
lect
ed to
Sen
ate
in 2
004
Dep
uty
Maj
ority
Lea
der
Way
s &
Mea
nsC
o-C
hair,
Way
s &
Mea
ns S
ubco
mm
ittee
on
Hum
an S
ervi
ces
Con
tact
info
Not
es
900
Cou
rt St
NE
, S-2
05S
alem
, OR
973
01Ph
one
(503
) 555
-555
5Em
ail s
en.d
wal
ker@
som
ewhe
re.s
tate
.us
Web
site
ww
w.w
alke
r4ev
er.c
om
•S
trong
pro
pone
nt o
f exp
ansi
on o
f hea
lth c
are
cove
rage
•C
once
rned
abo
ut re
igni
ng in
hea
lth c
are
cost
s
Pers
onal
info
B
io
Mar
ital S
tatu
s: M
arrie
d to
Apr
ilR
esid
ence
: Spr
ing
Val
ley,
Ore
gon
Occ
upat
ion:
Doc
tor
Prev
ious
Pol
itica
l Exp
erie
nce:
Ore
gon
Hou
se o
fR
epre
sent
ativ
es, 2
000-
2004
Educ
atio
n: B
A, O
rego
n S
tate
Uni
vers
ity, 1
969
DO
, Col
lege
of M
edic
ine,
Ric
hmon
d, V
irgin
ia, 1
973
Birt
hdat
e: A
ugus
t 2, 1
946
Rel
igio
n: P
rote
stan
t
•E
nlis
ted
in th
e U
S A
rmy
and
serv
ed o
ne to
ur o
f dut
y in
Vie
tnam
•A
ttend
ed m
edic
al s
choo
l at t
he C
olle
ge o
f Med
icin
e•
In p
rivat
e pr
actic
e in
rura
l Spr
ing
Val
ley
for t
he la
st 3
0 ye
ars
•Fo
rmer
Chi
ef o
f Med
icin
e at
Dee
p Va
lley
Med
ical
Cen
ter
•S
erve
d th
ree
term
s on
the
Sprin
g V
alle
y S
choo
l Boa
rd•
Gov
erno
r's Q
ualit
y in
Edu
catio
n Ta
sk F
orce
•A
ppoi
nted
to th
e H
ealth
Ser
vice
s C
omm
issi
on in
198
9, w
hich
was
inst
rum
enta
l in
desi
gnin
g th
e O
rego
n H
ealth
Pla
n.
Whe
re d
o yo
u se
e po
tent
ial a
reas
of c
onne
ctio
n or
shar
ed in
tere
st?
Do
you
see
or k
now
of
any
pote
ntia
l co
ncer
ns o
rar
eas
of re
sist
ance
to y
our i
ssue
?
Rev
Mar
ch 2
017
N
AM
I Sm
arts
for A
dvoc
acy:
Hea
rts &
Min
ds
Pag
e 10
©
201
3 N
AM
I, In
c.
Bac
kgro
unde
r Tem
plat
e
For b
asic
info
rmat
ion:
•
Go
to w
ww
.nam
i.org
/adv
ocac
y, e
nter
you
r zip
cod
e •
Clic
k on
you
r sta
te le
gisl
ator
’s n
am
e
•
Clic
k on
the
Bio
tab
for b
asic
info
rmat
ion
•
Clic
k on
the
Com
mitt
ee ta
b fo
r inf
o ab
out c
omm
ittee
s •
Clic
k on
the
Con
tact
tab
for a
link
to le
gisl
ator
’s w
ebsite
Opt
ions
for m
ore
info
rmat
ion:
•
Visi
t you
r leg
isla
tor’s
we
bsite
for
more
info
rmation
•
Visi
t ww
w.v
otes
mar
t.org
/offi
cial
s •
Goo
gle
your
legi
slat
or’s
nam
e
Elec
ted
offic
ial
Com
mitt
ee a
ssig
nmen
ts
Cop
y &
pas
te
phot
o
Con
tact
info
N
otes
Pers
onal
info
B
io
Rev
Mar
ch 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: H
earts
& M
inds
P
age
11
© 2
013
NA
MI,
Inc.
Mee
ting
Rol
es
Be
fore
you
r gro
up m
eetin
g, d
eter
min
e w
hat r
ole
each
par
ticip
ant w
ill pl
ay. N
ote:
Rol
e de
scrip
tions
are
sug
gest
ions
; ref
er to
you
r Mee
ting
Your
Leg
isla
tor c
heck
list a
nd m
ake
sure
a p
artic
ipan
t is
iden
tifie
d fo
r eac
h pa
rt yo
u ex
pect
to c
over
.
Rol
e de
scrip
tions
Lead
− In
trodu
ces
self
or th
e gr
oup
− In
trodu
ces
issu
e an
d po
sitio
n −
Mak
es th
e "a
sk"
− C
lose
s th
e m
eetin
g
Mes
seng
er
− G
ives
talk
ing
poin
ts
− D
escr
ibes
the
need
or p
robl
em
− D
escr
ibes
the
solu
tion
− G
ives
legi
slat
ive
pack
et a
t mee
ting
clos
e
Stor
ytel
ler
− A
dds
high
light
s of
per
sona
l sto
ry o
r
loca
l per
spec
tive
of is
sue'
s im
pact
Size
of m
eetin
g D
ivis
ion
of ro
les
One
-on-
one
mee
ting
You
will
take
on
all t
hree
role
s ab
ove.
Two-
on-o
ne m
eetin
g (tw
o co
nstit
uent
s an
d le
gisl
ator
)
One
per
son
in y
our g
roup
will
take
on
two
of th
e ro
les;
the
othe
r per
son
will
take
on
one
role
.
Thre
e-on
-one
mee
ting
(thre
e co
nstit
uent
s an
d le
gisl
ator
)
Eac
h pe
rson
in y
our g
roup
will
take
on
one
of th
e ro
les
abov
e.
G
roup
of f
our o
r mor
e
Thre
e pe
ople
in th
e gr
oup
shou
ld ta
ke o
n on
e ro
le e
ach.
Oth
er p
artic
ipan
ts s
houl
d se
rve
as “
eye
s a
nd
ea
rs”
du
rin
g t
he
mee
tin
g.
N
ote:
If th
ere
are
two
or th
ree
issu
es to
dis
cuss
, par
ticip
ants
may
sw
itch
role
s fo
r se
cond
and
third
issu
e, if
des
ired.
Rev
Mar
ch 2
017
NA
MI S
mar
ts fo
r Adv
ocac
y: H
earts
& M
inds
Pag
e 12
© 2
013
NA
MI,
Inc.
Rev March 2017 NAMI Smarts for Advocacy: Hearts & Minds Page 13© 2013 NAMI, Inc.
Meeting Your Legislator ChecklistStage 1: Make a connection
✓ Address your legislator by their elected title. Add their last name, if you like.
✓ Give your name and city or town.✓ Include your organization. We encourage you to describe yourself as “a
member of NAMI [State Org or Affiliate], part of America’s largest grassroots mental health organization, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.”
✓ Thank your legislator for his/her time. Mention something positive he or shehas done or touch on a shared interest or connection.
✓ Describe the issue. State the position or action you want your legislator to take.
Stage 2: Deliver your message
✓ State the problem or need you want addressed. Transition to thechallenge(s) faced by people living with mental health conditions.
✓ Add talking points. Talk briefly about the issue and/or why the bill is needed.
✓ Describe what will help others. Let your legislator know what will help addressthe need or problem you described.
✓ Ask your legislator for their support (or opposition). Be specific about theaction or position you want them to take. Include a bill number, if possible.
✓ Describe your next issue. Repeat the process.
Stage 3: Close on a positive note
✓ Thank your legislator. Let your legislator know you appreciate their time andattention.
✓ Optional: Provide written information. Leave a fact sheet, legislative packetor summary of your issue(s) or bill(s). Ask for support on your other issues, ifapplicable. Include information on your organization and its programs.
✓ Optional: Offer to help. Tell your legislator that you are willing to serve as aresource on mental health issues.
✓ Request a picture or extend an invitation. Ask your legislator to pose for agroup photo or ask him/her to visit a local program or event, like the NAMI Walk.
Rev March 2017 NAMI Smarts for Advocacy: Hearts & Minds Page 14© 2013 NAMI, Inc.
Rev March 2017 NAMI Smarts for Advocacy: Hearts & Minds Page 15© 2013 NAMI, Inc.
EvaluationNAMI Smarts: Changing Hearts & MindsPresenter Name: _________________________________________ Date: ____________
Location of Presentation (City & State): __________________________________________
Your Name (optional, but preferred): ____________________________________________
1. Overall, my knowledge and skill level about advocacy is...
Before the training: (Circle your rating) After the training: (Circle your rating)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10None Some Good Excellent
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10None Some Good Excellent
2. Overall, my level of confidence about advocacy is...
Before the training: (Circle your rating) After the training: (Circle your rating)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10None Some Good Excellent
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10None Some Good Excellent
3. What did you learn that was most meaningful or helpful to you today?
4. How do you plan to use what you have learned in this training? What will you do differently?
5. What comments, if any, do you have about this training?
6. We seek to support the entire community. To help us track how we are doing,please check all that apply. I am:
American Indian or Alaska Native Asian American Black or African American Hispanic or Latino Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander White or Caucasian Multiracial Other: _____________________
Mental Health
Substance Use
Person with condition
Family caregiver of adult
Parent/guardian of child or youth
Service provider
Peer provider
Advocate
Military, veteran or mil/vet family
Other