NAMI To Hold Legislative Conference February 14 – 16, 1997

Posted on February 7, 1997

Arlington, VA - The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) will conduct its annual legislative conference February 14 - 16, 1997 at the Arlington Hilton Hotel (950 North Stafford Street, Arlington, VA; 703/528-6000). More than 100 NAMI leaders from throughout the country will attend the meeting to discuss a wide range of policy issues that impact persons with severe mental illnesses and their families.

Conference Highlights 

Feb. 14, 11:45 am Insurance Parity for Severe Mental Illnesses in Private Plans: Willis Gradison, Executive Director of Health Insurance Assn. of America

Feb. 14, 12:45 pm Expectations for the 105th Congress: Chris Jennings, Special Assistant to the President for Health Policy Julia James, Staff to Senate Finance Committee

Feb. 14, 2:30 pm NAMI Leaders Meet with Members of Congress (Hill visits)

Feb. 15, 8:30 am Managed Care in the Public Sector for People with Brain Disorders: Bruce Fried, Director, Office of Managed Care, Health Care Financing Administration Jerry Vaccaro, MD, Medical Director of PacifiCare, Karen Silver, Research Associate, Center for Health Policy Research, George Washington University

Feb. 15, 1:30 pm Current Research Issues: Harold Varmus, MD, Director of National Institutes of Health (invited)

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons with severe mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), major depression, and anxiety disorders. Based in Arlington, Virginia, NAMI’s membership includes more than 140,000 people with brain disorders and their families, and 1,140 state and local affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada. NAMI’s efforts focus on support to persons with serious brain disorders and to their families; advocacy for nondiscriminatory and equitable federal and state policies; research into the causes, symptoms, and treatments for brain disorders; and education to eliminate the pervasive stigma toward severe mental illnesses.