North Carolina Counseling Association: Government Relations

Government Relations for North Carolina Counselors

ACA-ALERT: Calls Needed to Senate on MH/AD Parity

TIME SENSITIVE — March 17 Deadline

Ask Your Senators to Co-Sign Wyden-Coleman Letter on Mental Health & Addictive Disorder Parity

Now that both the House and Senate have passed their respective version of mental health and addictive disorder parity legislation (H.R. 1424 and S. 558), ACA and other advocates are turning up the pressure for enactment of as strong a parity bill as possible this year. more

House Passes Historic Parity Legislation!

On March 5th the House of Representatives passed comprehensive legislation requiring private health insurance plans to use the same treatment limitations and financial requirements for mental health and addictive disorder coverage as is used for substantially all other covered services. H.R. 1424, the "Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007," introduced by Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN), was passed with strong bipartisan support by a vote of 268-148. (House members' votes are listed online at http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll101.xml.) The legislation is named for the late Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, a tireless advocate for Americans with mental illness.  more

Legislative Institute Report

Government Relations and Professional Issues Advocacy Committee

Two members of NCCA's GRaPHIA Committee attended the ACA Legislative Institute in Washington D.C. February 23rd-26th, 2008. The purpose of the institute is to teach counseling professionals and students how federal government functions and the “in's and out's” of how bills are formed and passed. Some of the core issues discussed was federal policy issues, policy making processes, organizing state legislative advocacy initiatives, and a candid discussion regarding the realities of politics on Capitol Hill. Additionally, present day policy issues that are affecting counseling professions were discussed in depth in order to prepare us for lobbying visits with our state Senators and Congressman.  more

Your Invitation To Join

The Government Relations Committee of NCCA seeks committed counselors to serve on this important committee. Now, more than ever before, counselors must advocate for themselves, their clients, and their profession.

Please email Ami Parker if you are interested in serving on the committee or if you would like to be added to a “Call to Action” list so that you might be prompted to act at critical times. If you are willing to serve the committee, please specify those divisions to which you belong.

Legislation and advocacy brochure

If you have questions about legislation related to counseling, we encourage you to “ask a professional counselor.” Read about NCCA and it's divisions in this brochure.