From mseereiter at mhanys.org Thu Jun 1 10:15:33 2006 From: mseereiter at mhanys.org (Michael Seereiter) Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 10:15:33 -0400 Subject: [Timothy's Team] Capital Region Timothy's Law Rally in Saratoga Springs, June 2nd Message-ID: <005301c68585$d8d7be40$3f01a8c0@MHA> NY'S CAPITAL REGION SUPPORTS TIMOTHY'S LAW! Timothy's Law is a bill in New York State (A.2912-A / S.6735-A), named in memory of Timothy O'Clair, a 12-year old boy who completed suicide in March 2001 following a 5 year struggle with mental illness. If enacted, this legislation would amend the Insurance Law to require health insurers and health maintenance organizations (HMO's) in New York State to provide coverage for mental illness and addiction services equal to that which is provided for other medical conditions by such insurers and HMO's. In March, the NYS Assembly passed Timothy's Law by a vote of 134-9. It is now up to the members of the NYS Senate to Pass Timothy's Law in 2006 to end the insurance practices that discriminate against those with mental health and addiction needs, which have led to tragedies like Timothy's. Text Box: Timothy's Law 2006 June 2, 2006 Capital Region Rally for Timothy's Law In Saratoga Springs At 12:00 noon on Friday, June 2, 2006, supporters of Timothy's Law will demonstrate the broad grassroots support Timothy's Law enjoys throughout the Capital Region by holding a rally in Saratoga Springs. Those gathered will call upon NYS Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to bring Timothy's Law, S.6735-a, to the floor of the Senate for a vote. Lunch will be provided. WHO: Timothy's Law Supporters WHAT: Timothy's Law Rally WHERE: Congress Park, Downtown Saratoga Springs WHEN: Friday, June 2, 2006 - 12:00 noon WHY: To PASS TIMOTHY'S LAW IN 2006! To help organize this event, contact Mary Jean Coleman at 518-899-0021 or mjcoleman at afsp.org Save the Date: June 20th TIMOTHY'S LAW NIGHT AT "THE JOE": On June 20th, the Capital Region's own single-A baseball team, the Tri-City Valley Cats, will have their home-opener at the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy. This game has unofficially been designated the Timothy's Law Night at "The Joe," as supporters of Timothy's Law are invited to attend the 7:00 game against the Oneonta Tigers with other Timothy's Law supporters and urge for passage of Timothy's Law before the 2006 Legislative Session ends. All are welcome to attend - it's sure to be a good time and for a good cause. Additional information is available by contacting Ruth Foster at rfoster at ftnys.org or 518-432-0333 x15. HAVE A FRIEND WHO YOU THINK MIGHT WANT TO JOIN TIMOTHY'S TEAM? Refer A Friend Friend's Name: Friend's Email: Your Name: Your Email: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: att2ea3c.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 5265 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: att2ea79.gif Type: image/gif Size: 497 bytes Desc: not available URL: From mseereiter at mhanys.org Mon Jun 5 11:44:47 2006 From: mseereiter at mhanys.org (Michael Seereiter) Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 11:44:47 -0400 Subject: [Timothy's Team] Timothy's Team - Sampling of Media Coverage of Timothy's Law Events Message-ID: <012001c688b6$fa0d5140$3f01a8c0@MHA> SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 20TH TIMOTHY'S LAW NIGHT AT 'THE JOE' - more information at http://www.timothyslaw.org/events.php Following below is a sampling of the media coverage resulting from the Timothy's Law events that have taken place in locations throughout the state. Timothy's Law Rally Binghamton TV News Channel 34 April 21, 2006 If you were in downtown Binghamton, you might have noticed a large group of people walking down Court Street with picket signs towards the State Office Building for a rally there. NewsChannel 34's Peter Quinn has more on their push to pass a law requiring health insurance companies to treat people who are mentally ill as long as they need it. The group knows what it wants. Right now, under many health insurance programs, people who are mentally ill can't get the treatment they need. The Assembly's version of the bill, known as Timothy's Law, was approved last month and it would change that. Lupardo says, "It basically ends the discrimination that people who are seeking mental health services face, because there is limited coverage for people who have mental illness. What we are trying to do is have mental health insurance parody, it's equality. It treats mental illness on a par with physical illness." Timothy's Law is named after 12 year-old Timothy O'Clair of Schenectady who committed suicide five years ago after he didn't get the mental care he needed. His father spoke today. O'Clair says, "We had fought for four and a half years to get him the level and the amount of mental health care and treatment that he needed to deal with his mental health issues. But, due to limits imposed by the insurance industry we weren't able to bring it to him." The rally's purpose was to put pressure on the Senate to also pass Timothy's Law. Now, the State Senate does have its own version of the bill. Actually, it's sponsored by State Senator Tom Libous who used to chair the Mental Health Committee. Under the Senate's version, it would require health insurers to treat people who are mentally ill or who have other biological disorders.. However, it does not span out as far as the Assembly's version. Libous says, "The Assembly bill is much too broad. It goes way too far. And, it's not a bill that's business-friendly either. It would really put a lot of small businesses in jeopardy. But, having said that, I think the Senate bill, if the Assembly would be willing to compromise and talk with the Senate, which they are not willing to do, we could have a very good mental health parody bill on the books." Libous says insurance costs would increase under the Assembly's version because it's so broad and includes treating pedophiles, people who have disorders from drinking too much caffeine, and those who used cocaine for a long time. People at the rally say it's time for Timothy's Law to become law before another tragedy happens. Another note about the Senate's version, Libous says it's comparable to what other states have. The time is now to pass Timothy's Law The Journal News April 30, 2006 By Jean Anne Cipolla New York state again has the opportunity to bring parity to health-insurance coverage for mental illness and substance abuse by passing Timothy's Law. If passed by the Senate, New York would join 35 states and the federal government, which have implemented parity legislation, ending financial discrimination by their health-insurance plans against people suffering from mental illness, substance abuse and eating disorders. Timothy's Law is named for Timothy O'Clair of Schenectady, who committed suicide in 2001, seven weeks before his 13th birthday. His parents, Tom and Donna O'Clair, had private insurance through Tom's job, but it severely limited coverage for the treatment of Timothy's depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiance disorder. The O'Clairs spent years trying to get appropriate treatment. Out-of-pocket costs were so expensive and doctor visits so limited, they were forced to relinquish custody of Timothy to foster care so that Medicaid would pay for the services the insurance company would not. In addition to the pain of being separated from their child, the O'Clairs had to pay child support to Schenectady County while he was not living with them. This would not have been necessary if their health insurance did not discriminate against mental illness. Timothy is not with his family today and the O'Clairs believe that it is because they couldn't get Timothy the help he needed. Timothy's Law supporters have been rallying across the state, bringing attention to the lack of insurance parity. Tom O'Clair will be joined by Westchester residents who will tell their own stories about how the lack of coverage has affected their struggles with mental illness and substance abuse on at noon Friday at Renaissance Plaza in White Plains. The second annual Mental Wellness & Parity Walk will be held on Saturday, May 13, at Rockland Lake, sponsored by the Mental Health Association of Rockland County. People ask: Why give more insurance coverage to the mentally ill and the addicted? Parity is not about asking for more; it's asking to be treated equally. Patients and their families just want to pay the same out-of-pocket costs and have the same yearly and lifetime limits on their health insurance set for heart disease or diabetes. Opponents say it's too expensive to give equal services. This argument has been proved wrong. In the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, serving 8.5 million enrollees, instituted parity mental-health and substance-abuse benefits across 350 insurance products. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that, if managed care were used, insurance protection could be improved without increasing total costs. Another argument is that employers would drop coverage or self-insure due to costs. Three years after Vermont implemented its parity law in 1998, only 0.3 percent of the state's employers dropped coverage, 0.1 percent chose to self-insure. Employers can live with parity. Out-of-pocket costs fell from 27 percent to 16 percent of total mental-health spending. Compared to spending for all services, mental health and substance abuse services made up 2.5 percent of total spending after parity compared to 2.3 percent before parity. As for treating substance abuse, studies show that, for every $1 invested in treatment, we can save $12 in reduced drug-related crime, criminal justice costs, and theft and health-care costs. But New York still faces a battle. Timothy's Law has only passed in the Assembly. The Senate has another version of the bill that excludes employers of 50 people or less, eliminating nearly 1 million New Yorkers from coverage and continuing a discriminatory system where parity exists for some but not all. It covers an arbitrary list of 10 "biologically based" mental illnesses and eating disorders. This attempt to factor in and out different "lesser" diagnoses doesn't bode well for people who seek treatment before their illness becomes severe. And it excludes addiction services, an inequity that is particularly unrealistic because mental health and substance abuse issues frequently go hand-in-hand. New York needs to pass Timothy's Law and end financial discrimination in health insurance against those who suffer with mental illness and addiction issues. The time is now. Timothy's Law Rally White Plains Times May 11, 2006 By: Lisa Tarricone Charlene Dech had to do what no mother should ever have to do when her daughter Eva was just 11 years old-she relinquished custody of her to a state institution so that Medicaid would pay for the mental health treatment Eva needed which her private insurance refused to cover. "My insurance allowed only 19 days of lifetime mental health coverage; I had to give up custody [of Eva] to receive services and then face years of court battles to get her back," Dech told over 150 supporters and elected officials last Friday at a rally for mental health parity legislation that took place at Renaissance Plaza. Dech was one of several speakers who came together at the rally to tell how their lives have been impacted by mental illness and chemical dependency and by the current discriminatory insurance practices in New York State that severely limit their access to treatment for these conditions. The speakers, along with several elected officials, called for the passage of Timothy's Law, which would bring parity to insurance coverage for mental disorders and chemical dependency. Timothy's Law is named after Timothy O'Clair, who took his own life in March 2001 at the age of 12 after suffering from severe depression and other emotional disorders. After years of expensive out-of-pocket costs, his parents were forced to relinquish custody of him to foster care so that Medicaid could pay for the treatment he needed, which they could no longer afford and which his father's private insurance denied. Jean Anne Cipolla, a graduate student at Sarah Lawrence College, suffers from depression and anxiety and spoke of the "economic and political realities" of the parity law. "People ask, why give more insurance coverage to the mentally ill and the addicted, but parity is not about asking for more. It's asking to be treated equally under the law," Cipolla said. Thom Forbes, one of the speakers who is a "fourth generation" alcoholic in recovery and whose wife and daughter suffer from depression and chemical dependency, urged support for Timothy's law so that mental illness and addiction disorders "be covered under health insurance policies in the same way that other physical illness" such as heart disease or diabetes is. "According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five children have behavioral, emotional or mental health problems," said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. "Families should not be forced to exhaust their financial resources to access mental health services they can afford," she told rally supporters. Deirdre Forbes (Thom's wife) credited her recovery from clinical depression and addiction as "proof" that treatment works and urged Senate leadership to pass legislation that includes coverage for small businesses and chemical dependency. "Compromise is not a solution; it is a death sentence for many," she said, referring to the state Senate's parity bill that eliminates coverage for addiction and eating disorders. Assemblyman Adam Bradley said, "Its time for New York to join the other 35 states who have parity laws," and pointed to the lobbying influence of HMOs and healthcare companies with record breaking profits in perpetuating the cost argument against mental health parity legislation. Tom O'Clair, Timothy's father, also spoke out at the White Plains rally and has been the commanding force in driving Timothy's Law legislation. He and his family have campaigned across the state since their son's death to bring attention to the financial discrimination in health insurance coverage that has forced over 12,000 families in 2003 alone, to formally relinquish custody of their children in order to secure them state-paid mental health services. "The lack of parity cost my family Timothy. Tell me to my face that you can put a price on that." Honoring His Dead Son In Legal Fight Queens Tribune May 18, 2006 By Michael Rehak For Tom O'Clair, publicly sharing one of the most tragic stories a parent could ever tell has become almost routine. O'Clair's burly frame doesn't budge when he takes the podium. He doesn't weep. He rarely pauses between words and has probably told the same story many times in countless rooms across the state in front of multitudes of strangers. On an easel next to O'Clair stand two enlarged photos. One shows a young boy smiling toward the camera sitting on a bicycle. Above it rests a picture of Timothy Michael O'Clair's tombstone. It reads that he was 12 years old. As the boy's father spoke recently at Zucker Hillside Hospital in New Hyde Park, it marked what would have been Timothy's 18th birthday. Timothy's teachers identified his mental illness when he was 8 years old. He received treatment early on and for nine months, his parents gave up custody of the youngest of three sons after Timothy's first suicide attempt failed on a tree outside the family's home. On a branch that could be seen from the O'Clair's kitchen, Timothy climbed as he often did in the past, but this time he had a rope and a much different purpose than to explore from above. It was Timothy's mother who climbed the tree that day to save her son, but soon after, she wouldn't be that lucky. After being placed in foster care to deal with his illness, Timothy came home on his mother's birthday. His parents thought he would be cured. "For the first three weeks, he was a little boy we haven't seen in years," said O'Clair. Then, depression, anger and a refusal to take his prescribed medication again haunted the O'Clair family. "Timothy reached a level, a threshold, that he had come to so many times before and decided not to cross," said O'Clair. On March 16, 2001, just six weeks after coming home, Timothy was discovered by his mother hanged in his bedroom closet. "It was that day that I will remember stronger than any other day in my life," said O'Clair. According to O'Clair, that day may not have ever occurred had his insurance provider covered the costs of mental health treatment. As a New York State Thruway Authority mechanic, O'Clair's policy covered 20 therapy visits per year. Timothy needed more. With rising co-pays and used-up coverage, eventually, Timothy's medical treatment became just too much for the O'Clair family to handle. If the boy's father had been a state elected official, the treatment costs would have been covered. In March, Timothy's Law passed for the fourth consecutive time in the State Assembly. It requires that mental illnesses and chemical dependency disorders are covered under health insurance policies the same as other physical illnesses. A parity bill in the State Senate has been introduced, but lobby groups like the Timothy's Law Coalition, are not in favor of it because it excludes business that employ of 50 or fewer people. Members said it also does not deal with chemical dependency. According to the Timothy's Law Coalition, medical professionals should determine how often patients need to be treated, not the insurance provider. So far 35 states have agreed and have passed similar legislation. A recent Pricewaterhouse Coopers study estimated that the passage of Timothy's Law would only increase premiums by $1.26 per insured person per month. According to the Surgeon General, 21 percent of children aged 9 to 17 have a mental or addictive disorder. Suicide is currently the third leading cause of death for New Yorkers aged 15 to 24. Some 1,300 residents take their lives every year. Despite the statistics, none could ever give O'Clair his son's life back. Shortly after speaking at Zucker Hillside, O'Clair gathered his belongings and headed to a Long Island fund-raiser to retell the experience again on his son's birthday. Time for parity for mentally ill - Senate should act, as Assembly has Long Island Newsday Editorial May 19, 2006 Does anybody really doubt that mental illness is real? That bipolar disorders, depression and simply chronic anxiety can threaten the livelihood and even the lives of those afflicted? That, if untreated, these illnesses can destroy families and can drain businesses? Doubters are captives of old and uninformed biases. The same for those who don't believe that mental illnesses can be treated. But false assumptions and fallacies like those have kept the New York State Senate from approving an effective bill to improve access to mental health care. It's called Timothy's Law, after a boy who hanged himself after his parents couldn't get him care. Timothy O'Clair's mother and father believe, with much reason, that the cap on their mental health coverage limited what they could do to save their son. They were forced to put him in foster care so he could qualify - too late - for state-paid services. At the heart of the problem is a lack of "parity" for mental health care. Unlike 35 other states, New York allows insurers to limit coverage and charge higher co-pays to treat mental disabilities and substance abuse problems. These restrictions don't apply to most medical care. There's every reason not to cover mental illness differently than heart disease or cancer. The cost to the nation of untreated disorders has been estimated at more than $40 billion. Despite concerns of opponents, including some businesses, studies show that parity would boost insurance premiums about $15 a year. That's well worth it, for everyone. The Assembly has passed a parity bill four times. The Senate Republican leadership has balked, choosing to support a version of a parity bill that excludes too many disorders. It's time for the Senate majority to pass the real deal. Senate must act on mental health Poughkeepsie Journal Editorial May 30, 2006 Mental health care is disparate throughout New York, and state Senate action is needed to fix the problem. Currently, coverage of mental illnesses can be limited, regardless of needs and diagnosis. For the past four years, the Assembly has approved Timothy's Law, a bill that insists mental illnesses be treated the same way as any other physical illness. The law is named for 12-year-old Timothy O'Clair of Schenectady, who hanged himself after four years of a heart-wrenching search for care for mental illnesses. Insurance limitations led to lapse in care, efforts to pay privately couldn't be sustained. At one point, his distressed parents made him a ward of the state in order for him to receive the attention his illness demanded. It's an act of desperation, yet 3,500 other families have also named their children wards of the state. The Senate has not actively supported the full parity issue even though it affects not only those who need mental-health services, but almost all of society. People suffering from mental illnesses who do not receive treatment are more apt to become drug addicts or criminals than those without these challenges. Quick action needed Last year, at the end of the session, the Senate passed a compromise bill, allowing companies with 50 or fewer employees to opt out of the parity coverage. The action so late in the session essentially ensured there was not time enough to deal with the significant differences between the houses in a conference committee. History should not be repeated this year. Senate supporters insist the exemption for small businesses is needed, while advocates in the Assembly believe all residents deserve to have access to fair mental-health coverage, regardless of the size of the company they work for. Swift passage of this bill in the Senate would at least allow the two versions to go to a conference committee where, hopefully, a compromise could be reached. Mandates are rarely good for businesses, but ignoring New Yorkers who struggle with mental illness is not a solution. A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers says parity, or having insurance coverage that treats mental illnesses the same as physical illnesses, will cost an additional 1.6 percent, or $15 a year, per person. Insurance industry experts say it could increase premiums 3.5 percent, although 25 other states with full parity, and 10 additional states that exempt small companies from the mandate, have discovered no discernible impact on business. The two houses disagree on what should be included in the bill, but the only way to resolve the differences is for the Senate to act now and let the conference committee work on the differences. New Yorkers deserve to have their mental illnesses treated with the same concern as other illnesses. Father Turns Grief to To Action Watertown Daily Times June 1, 2006 By Norih Machia Timothy O'Clair's family struggled for five years to get the proper treatemtne for his depression, yet they were continually faced with mental health coverage limits on their insurance policy. Although his parents, Thomas P. and Donna S. O'Clair of Schenectady, spent most of their money on care for their son, they were eventually forced to give up custody of Timothy to the state temporarily so his treatment would be covered by the Medicaid system. By that time, they had already "lost" several years when Timothy should have been receiving full treatment for his depression, his father said. In March 2001, Timothy hanged himself in his bedroom closet. He was just weeks away from his 13th birthday. Mr. O'Clair spoke about his son's tragic death at a rally Wednesday morning in front of the Watertown Municipal Building that was held to raise awareness of mental health issues. "Timothy would have been graduating from high school next month," said Mr. O'Clair, who displayed large color photographs of his son on a bicycle and the engraving on his tombstone. "His mental health issues led him to take his own life." Mr. O'Clair is traveling throughout the state to generage support for proposed legislation named after his son. Timothy's Law, which the Assembly approved in March 2004, would require health insurance companies to provide mental health and substance abuse coverage that is equal to what they provide for medical care. The proposed law, however, has not yet been brought for a vote in the Senate. "We have to remain hopeful that it will get approved," Mr. O'Clair said. "It's difficult when it fails to get voted on by the Senate. It's like losing him all over again." Timothy's Law "would allow people with mental health issues to get the care they deserve," he said. Insurance companies are not obliged under New York state law to provide the same coverage for mental health treatment as for physical care. For example, a policy could cover 80 percent of the cost for treatment of a sore throat, but could cover only 50 percent for a mental health visit. "All we want is a level playing field for mental health disabilities, which are very treatable," Mr. O'Clair said. "It's a basic human right." It's also a right that is recognized by 35 other states, which have laws that require equal insurance coverage for physical and mental health treatment, said Michael Seereiter, director of public policy, Mental Health Association in New York State, Albany. "There are nine million federal employees and retirees who also have equal coverage," said Mr. Seereiter, who attended the rally. Those who support the law, including the National Association of Social Workers, claim passage of the bill in New York would result in insurance rates increasing only $1.26 per month per person to provide parity for mental health and substance abuse coverage. The bill is being opposed by some businesses and insurance companies, however, which have claimed the law would drive rates much higher. But Mr. Seereiter said that the parity in coverage would result in a cost savings for businesses in the long run, because if people could get the needed treatment, there would be better productivity and fewer sick days at the workplace. The event, which also included a walk to Thompson Park following the rally, was organized by a group of north country mental health advocates and clients. The organizers hoped to raise awareness of mental health issues and the services available in the community to help people, said Jennifer Hodge, Samaritan Medical Center community education manager. Rally for mental health care - Supporters of Timothy's Law gather in Congress Park in effort to sway state Senate Albany Times Union June 3, 2006 By Kenneth C. Crowe II SARATOGA SPRINGS -- The drive to encourage the state Senate to pass Timothy's Law came to Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno's district Friday as 100 supporters rallied in Congress Park. Chanting in support of a law that requires treatment for mental illness and addictions to be covered by insurance companies, the campaign's backers were attempting to raise public awareness. "Had there been mental health parity 16 years ago, Timothy and so many others would be with us today," said Tom O'Clair of Rotterdam. The proposed law is named after O'Clair's son, Timothy, who was 12 when he committed suicide by hanging himself. Timothy took his life after battling depression and other aspects of mental illness for five years. After the rally, O'Clair said Timothy should have been attending his senior prom at Mohonasen High School on Friday. The law, if approved, would require New York state, where such coverage is limited, to provide financial relief for the families that cannot afford treatment. The bill would put the state at the same level of coverage as 35 other states. The state Assembly has passed the bill four years in a row, including this March. It's never made it to a vote in the Senate. An alternative bill has been supported by the Republican majority in the Senate. Timothy's Law is backed by the Democratic minority. "We believe the mental health parity bill addresses all concerns. It's based upon biological information from mental health experts," Kris Thompson, a spokesman for Bruno, said regarding the majority's bill. J. David Seay, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness -- New York State, described his family's efforts in paying the bills for his wife Anita's treatment. His family received just $1,700 from its insurance company to pay bills that totaled $10,000, Seay said. The campaign has held rallies at Jones Beach on Long Island, White Plains, Binghamton, Utica, Watertown and Hudson. Organizers plan to hold rallies in Syracuse and Buffalo. Timothy's Law rally draws people to Congress Park The Saratogian June 3, 2006 By Paul Post SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Tom O'Clair planned on attending Mohonasen High School's senior prom Friday night, although his son, Timothy, wouldn't be there. Timothy committed suicide four years ago at age 12 because he couldn't get adequate mental health services, his family says. More than 50 people, from Essex County to Albany, rallied at Congress Park on Friday to support a bill called Timothy's Law that would require insurance companies to provide equal coverage for physical and mental health problems. 'Mental health parity has run off the walls of the state capitol for the past 16 years,' said Tom O'Clair, of Rotterdam. At present, insurers are only required to provide coverage for 30 days of hospitalization or 20 outpatient visits for mental health cases. Timothy's Law would correct such apparent inequities. The state Assembly has passed the measure, but it's been blocked in the Senate, where Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, has said the law would be too costly for small businesses that couldn't afford higher premiums. In 2004, the Senate passed its own mental health parity bill, and last year, negotiations went down to the wire, but a compromise wasn't reached before the session ended. The Senate bill has three major differences from Timothy's Law, which is sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam: - Businesses with less than 50 employees would be excluded. - Coverage would not be extended to people with alcohol and drug dependency. - Only biologically based mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar and delusional disorders, paranoia and eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia and binge eating are covered. 'That excludes millions of New Yorkers,' said Michael Seereiter of the nonprofit Mental Health Association in New York State. Rallying in the heart of Bruno's district, people carried posters and shouted chants they hoped would reach the senator's Broadway office. Backers carried signs with messages such as, 'If Timothy were a senator's son, S.6735-A would have passed,' 'Insure the Future' and '35 other states have parity, why doesn't New York?' The state Legislature's session ends on June 22, allowing just three weeks for the bill to pass. On June 20, Timothy's Law backers plan to rally during a baseball game at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy. O'Clair said he'll keep fighting for as long as it takes. 'I'll be back until the New York Senate majority realizes that mental health parity is something we need and passes Timothy's Law,' he said. David Seay, head of the National Alliance for Mental Illness, said he paid $10,000 out-of-pocket last year for his wife's mental health treatment. After nine months of haggling, his insurance plan paid him $1,700. 'That's 17 cents on the dollar,' he said. 'God forbid if she had cancer, heart disease or diabetes. But that would have been paid in full. That's not right and it's not fair.' O'Clair said Timothy had multiple diagnoses, including defiance disorder, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. When their personal insurance coverage expired, the O'Clairs had to give up legal custody of their son so that he could become Medicaid eligible and receive treatment through Schenectady County's Department of Social Services. Timothy spent nine months in foster care, followed by seven months in a children's home that had a round-the-clock support network. 'Timothy looked like he was at a level where he could come back home,' Tom O'Clair said. Six weeks after returning home, Timothy committed suicide on March 16, 2001. With proper funding, thousands like Timothy would get the 24-hour care they need to avoid such tragic fates, O'Clair said. 'They're being cheated out of what is a human right, the right to not suffer,' he said. 'To pass a lesser bill means that some people are still going to be left out in the cold.' The O'Clairs have established two memorial scholarships to honor Timothy, who would have graduated from high school this year, one of many milestones they'll never enjoy. 'Throughout the rest of my life, there's going to be times when there's a tug at the heartstrings,' O'Clair said. 'Graduating from college, wedding day. The list goes on and on. HAVE A FRIEND WHO YOU THINK MIGHT WANT TO JOIN TIMOTHY'S TEAM? Refer A Friend Friend's Name: Friend's Email: Your Name: Your Email: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mseereiter at mhanys.org Wed Jun 14 16:24:21 2006 From: mseereiter at mhanys.org (Michael Seereiter) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:24:21 -0400 Subject: [Timothy's Team] Timothy's Team - 1) Timothy's Law Night at the 'Joe'; 2) End of Session Nearing, Calls To Senators More Important Than Ever; 3) Rensselaer and Suffolk County Legislatures Urge Passage of Timothy's Law Message-ID: <016601c68ff0$86100e40$3f01a8c0@MHA> TIMOTHY'S LAW NIGHT AT THE 'JOE': Join Timothy's Law supporters for a Tri-City Valley Cats baseball game at the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy. Tuesday, June 20th at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, contact Ruth Foster at rfoster at ftnys.org or 518-432-0333 x15 PROGRESS ON TIMOTHY'S LAW - PHONE CALLS NEEDED: With just 5 more days of the 2006 Legislative Session left, developments in the pursuit of Timothy's Law appear to be taking place. People demonstrating support for Timothy's Law in the halls of the Capitol are hearing positive feedback from Senators as they pass by about "getting something done this year." Therefore, we are cautiously optimistic about the propects for Timothy's Law this year and ask everyone to contact their Senator to urge passage of Timothy's Law before session ends next week and they return home. Please call your Senator to urge them to "Pass Timothy's Law This Year." Senators can be contacted by calling the NYS Senate switchboard in Albany at 518-455-2800 and asking to be connected with your Senator's office. Or, you can also contact your Senator's district office - a list of each Senator and their district office phone numbers follows below. NY SENATOR DIS# COUNTY PHONE # Kenneth LaValle 1 Suffolk 631-696-6900 John Flanagan 2 Suffolk 631-361-2154 Caesar Trunzo 3 Suffolk 631-360-3236 Owen Johnson 4 Suffolk 631-669-9200 Carl Marcellino 5 Nassau, Suffolk 516-922-1811/631-549-0729 Kemp Hannon 6 Nassau 516-739-1700 Michael Balboni 7 Nassau 516-873-0736 Charles Fuschillo, Jr. 8 Nassau, Suffolk 516-546-4100 Dean Skelos 9 Nassau 516-766-8383 Ada Smith 10 Queens 718-322-2537 Frank Padavan 11 Queens 718-343-0255/718-746-2550 George Onorato 12 Queens 718-545-9706 John Sabini 13 Queens 718-639-8469 Malcolm Smith 14 Queens 718-528-4290 Serphin Maltese 15 Queens 718-497-1800/718-738-0039 Toby Ann Stavisky 16 Queens 718-445-0004 Martin Malave Dilan 17 Kings 718-573-1726 Velmanette Montgomery 18 Kings 718-643-6140 John Sampson 19 Kings 718-649-7653 Carl Andrews 20 Kings 718-284-4700 Kevin Parker 21 Kings 718-629-6401 Martin Golden 22 Kings 718-333-0311/718-727-9406 Diane Savino 23 Kings, Richmond 718-448-8566 John Marchi 24 Richmond 718-447-1723 Martin Connor 25 Kings, New York 212-298-5565 Elizabeth Krueger 26 New York 212-490-9535 Carl Kruger 27 Kings 718-743-8610 Jose Serrano 28 Bronx, New York 212-829-5829 Thomas Duane 29 New York 212-633-8052 David Paterson 30 New York 212-222-7315 Eric Schneiderman 31 Bronx, New York 212-928-5578/718-549-4541 Ruben Diaz, Sr. 32 Bronx 718-892-7513 Efrain Gonzalez, Jr. 33 Bronx 718-299-7905 Jeffrey Klein 34 Bronx, Westchester 718-822-2049 Nicholas Spano 35 Westchester 914-969-5194 Ruth Hassell-Thompson 36 Bronx, Westchester 718-547-8854 Suzi Oppenheimer 37 Westchester 914-934-5250 Thomas Morahan 38 Orange, Rockland 845-425-1818 William Larkin, Jr. 39 Orange, Ulster 845-567-1270 Vincent Leibell, III 40 Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester 845-279-3773/914-245-6230 Stephen Saland 41 Columbia, Dutchess 845-463-0840/518-828-1529 John Bonacic 42 Delaware, Orange, Sullivan, Ulster 845-255-9656/607-746-6675 Joseph Bruno 43 Rensselaer, Saratoga 518-583-1001 Hugh Farley 44 Fulton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schenectady 518-843-2188/518-762-3733 Elizabeth Little 45 Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren, Washington 518-743-0968/518-561-2430 Neil Breslin 46 Albany 518-455-2225 Raymond Meier 47 Lewis, Oneida, St. Lawrence 315-793-9072 James Wright 48 Jefferson, Oswego, St. Lawrence 315-785-2430 David Valesky 49 Cayuga, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga 315-478-8745 John DeFrancisco 50 Onondaga 315-428-7632 James Seward 51 Chenango, Cortland, Greene, Herkimer, Otsego, Schoharie, Tompkins 607-432-5524 Thomas Libous 52 Broome, Chenango, Tioga 607-773-8771 George Winner, Jr. 53 Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tompkins, Yates 607-732-2765/607-776-3201 Michael Nozzolio 54 Cayuga, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Tompkins, Wayne 315-568-9816 James Alesi 55 Monroe 585-223-1800 Joseph Robach 56 Monroe 585-225-3650 Catharine Young 57 Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Livingston 716-372-4901/716-664-2430 William Stachowski 58 Erie 716-826-3344 Dale Volker 59 Erie, Livingston, Ontario, Wyoming 716-656-8544/585-786-5048 Marc Cappola 60 Erie, Niagara 716-854-8705 Mary Lou Rath 61 Erie, Genesee 716-633-0331 George Maziarz 62 Monroe, Niagara, Orleans 585-637-5800/716-831-8740 TIMOTHY'S LAW CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE - RENSSELAER AND SUFFOLK COUNTY LEGISLATURES CALL ON STATE SENATE TO PASS TIMOTHY'S LAW: Timothy's Law Campaign Working for health insurance parity for mental health and addiction treatment services. 737 Madison Avenue, Albany, New York 12208 518-432-0333 fax 518-434-6478 www.TimothysLaw.org Rensselaer and Suffolk County Legislatures Calls on State Senate to Pass Timothy's Law Text Box: Timothy O'Clair May 5, 1988 - March 16, 2001 Timothy's Law Campaign Executive Committee Tom O'Clair American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Alcohol and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State Coalition for the Homeless Families Together in New York State Long Island Recovery Advocates Mental Health Association in New York State National Alliance on Mental Illness in New York State National Association of Social Workers - NYS Chapter New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services New York State Coalition for Children's Mental Health Services New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare New York State Psychiatric Association New York State Psychological Association New York State Rehabilitation Association Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy June 14, 2006 - The crusade for equality in mental health benefits gained unprecedented momentum yesterday as both the Rensselaer and Suffolk County Legislatures formally called on the New York State Senate to pass Timothy's Law this year. Resolutions before both the County Legislatures passed unanimously with bi-partisan support. Tom O'Clair, Timothy's father, was present as the Rensselaer County Legislature lent its support to the initiative. O'Clair commented later that "I'm thrilled to have the support of the Rensselaer County Legislature in our campaign for Timothy's Law. It's been a long hard battle and I only hope that the overwhelming bi-partisan support I witnessed tonight is a preview of what's to come from the State Legislature over the next several days." Concurrently, Kim Spicciate, a member of the Timothy's Law Campaign on Long Island, watched as the Suffolk County Legislature acted in concert with Rensselaer legislators. "Not only did the measure pass unanimously, but legislators were actually requesting that their names be listed as co-sponsors of the initiative!" said Spicciate. Bolstered by the expression of support at the local levels, Timothy's Law supporters will continue their efforts to enact parity legislation in memory of Timothy O'Clair. HAVE A FRIEND WHO YOU THINK MIGHT WANT TO JOIN TIMOTHY'S TEAM? Refer A Friend Friend's Name: Friend's Email: Your Name: Your Email: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: att12136.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 3050 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: att12173.gif Type: image/gif Size: 4623 bytes Desc: not available URL: From mseereiter at mhanys.org Wed Jun 21 10:06:08 2006 From: mseereiter at mhanys.org (Michael Seereiter) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:06:08 -0400 Subject: [Timothy's Team] Timothy's Team Update - URGENT - CALLS NEEDED TO ALBANY! In-Reply-To: <016601c68ff0$86100e40$3f01a8c0@MHA> Message-ID: <009101c6953b$d82a55a0$3f01a8c0@MHA> URGENT! - LEGISLATORS MUST HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS IF TIMOTHY'S LAW IS TO BECOME A REALITY IN 2006: As Tuesday night worked its way toward Wednesday morning, Timothy's Law advocates anxiously awaited news from negotiations between the Assembly and Senate. The high level of anxiety was caused by the fact that advocates and legislators both know that the process by which a bill can be considered in either house of the state legislature is that a bill must "age" three days. And with time ticking away toward what is now, at least, one anticipated extra day that the legislature will be in Albany before adjourning for the year, advocates realized that in order for anything to be accomplished this year on Timothy's Law, a "message of necessity" from the Governor would be necessary to bypass the three day "aging" process. Of course, advocates were hoping that the Assembly and Senate could have come to an agreement before Tuesday night at midnight, however that was not realized. The up-side of this situation is that it provides additional time for those who believe that discrimination in insurance coverage for those with both mental health and addiction needs to let their legislators know that they expect them to address this issue before returning from Albany. At this point in the process, it is imperative that everyone who believes that systemic changes are due regarding the mental health and addiction services available to New Yorkers to contact both their Senator and Assemblymember, along with the respective leaders in each house (Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver) and articulate support for a comprehensive parity bill that provides coverage for both mental health and addiction needs. We must demonstrate the support that Timothy's Law has to our elected leaders if this legislation is to become law. Call your Senator and Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno at 518-455-2800 and ask to be connected with the appropriate office. Call your Assemblymember and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver at 518-455-4100 and ask to be connected with the appropriate office. Tell them that a comprehensive parity bill that includes coverage for both mental health and addiction treatment must be enacted this year. TIMOTHY'S LAW NIGHT AT "THE JOE": Dozens of Timothy's Law supporters gathered on Tuesday evening at the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College for the home-opener of the Tri-City Valley Cats single-A baseball team in which the Oneonta Tigers upset the Valley Cats 7-6. Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno was on hand to throw out the first pitch and took time to chat with Timothy's Law supporters at the game. Senator Bruno and Tom O'Clair had a brief conversation in which Senator Bruno assured Tom that the Senate and Assembly had been negotiating and they were going to get a version of Timothy's Law acceptable to Tom passed this year. IN THE NEWS: A similar article to this one was published in The Journal News Lawmakers dig in on bill for mental health care - Timothy's Law pushed Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin June 21, 2006 By Cara Matthews ALBANY -- Lawmakers said they were negotiating feverishly Tuesday to broker a compromise on Timothy's Law, a bill that would require insurance companies to provide the same levels of coverage for mental health care as other medical services. "We're trying to get closer and closer together so that we could get something done, so that we could get some progress on the issue," Senate Mental Health Committee Chairman Thomas Morahan, R-New City, Rockland County, said. That's just one of many unresolved issues during the last week of the legislative session. Others include proposals to crack down on Medicaid fraud, issue property tax rebates, expand the state DNA databank, and keep dangerous sex offenders locked up even after they have completed their prison sentences. The Democrat-controlled Assembly has passed the so-called mental health parity bill annually for several years, this year in March by a vote of 134-9. But it's been held up by the GOP-led Senate. The Senate has demanded an exemption for small businesses and a possible waiver for companies that incurred a cost increase of 2 percent or more, but the Assembly has been firm that the mandate should apply to all companies. Part of the deal could be to give businesses a tax credit because of the extra cost, Morahan said. There are other differences to be broached. The Assembly wants substance abuse treatment covered. The Senate would limit coverage to more severe mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia. Assemblyman Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, Montgomery County, said he was cautiously optimistic lawmakers could work out a deal that would pass muster with Gov. George E. Pataki. "This is the right thing to do. Government needs to do the right thing," Tonko said. It's important to cover substance abuse treatment, Tonko said. Often, someone with a mental illness also has a substance abuse problem, he said. The bill is named for Timothy O'Clair, a 12-year-old Schenectady boy who hanged himself in 2001 after struggling with depression. His family had struggled to get care for Timothy after their insurance coverage for his illness ran out. Groups that support Timothy's Law say it would end discrimination against people with mental illness. Insurers who provide coverage for mental health and substance abuse services currently can charge higher deductibles or co-payments for those services. The issue is not one of discrimination, said Mark Amodeo, of the New York State Conference of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. There is evidence-based criteria to support the diagnosis, treatment and anticipated recovery for physical illness, he said. "Mental disorders on the other hand are more subjective in terms of diagnosis, treatment and recovery. In the case of chronic mental illness, for example, there is long-term, possibly lifelong unlimited treatment to consider," he said. Meanwhile, Pataki and Assembly Democrats continued to bash one another over the issue of expanding the DNA crime databank. Pataki held a news conference for the second consecutive day -- a sign that talks aren't going well -- to demand the Assembly pass a bill that requires anyone convicted of a felony or misdemeanor to submit a DNA sample. The Assembly wants to phase in such a plan over a number of years, saying state labs can't handle the potential influx -- and cost -- of a rapid expansion. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, said Pataki is trying to appeal to conservative Republicans in Iowa and New Hampshire, a jab at Pataki's attempt to launch a presidential campaign. Pataki called that characterization "despicable." Timothy's Law advocates at the Joe Timesunion.com Capitol Confidential Blog June 20, 2006 at 8:03 pm by James M. Odato Tom O'Clair and about three dozen of his partners in the effort to create a mental health parity law held "Timothy's Law Night'' at the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy Tuesday. Wearing matching T-shirts, they filled a small section of the park. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno threw out the first pitch for the first home game this season of the Valley Cats and shook hands with some of the advocates and got his picture taken with some, O'Clair said. The group, usually lobbying in the Capitol, is pushing Bruno to accept their version of a bill that would make sure employers offered health insurance that covered treatments for mental illness. Bruno has said the bill is unaffordable for small businesses and could increase the number of uninsured if employers stopped offering health insurance because of the cost of so many mandated coverages. Mental Health Bill Gains Crains Insider June 21, 2006 Eliot Spitzer appears to have slammed the door on the Working Families Party's Fair Share bill, which would make most employers provide their workers with health insurance. Assembly Democrats had struggled to come up with a compromise on the Fair Share bill that would be acceptable to various factions; Spitzer came out against it this week, saying that it doesn't offer a comprehensive solution. But momentum is building in the Legislature to pass a bill mandating equal coverage for mental illness. Albany insiders say that Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno seems intent on getting a major piece of health legislation through and could turn to what is known as Timothy's Law. Business groups also strongly oppose mental health parity. HAVE A FRIEND WHO YOU THINK MIGHT WANT TO JOIN TIMOTHY'S TEAM? Refer A Friend Friend's Name: Friend's Email: Your Name: Your Email: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mseereiter at mhanys.org Wed Jun 21 23:53:46 2006 From: mseereiter at mhanys.org (Michael Seereiter) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 23:53:46 -0400 Subject: [Timothy's Team] URGENT - Timothy's Law Calls Needed! Message-ID: <015401c695af$76be8290$3f01a8c0@MHA> TIMOTHY'S LAW: As of 11:00 on Wednesday evening, negotiations on Timothy's Law between the Assembly and Senate had broken down. Amongst the major loopholes that remain in the Senate's proposal which are unacceptable to the Timothy's Law Campaign are: 1) children (like Timothy) with mental health needs would not be covered, and 2) health insurers would be permitted to define mental health coverage as they wish, allowing coverage to continue to erode to the point where little, if any, mental health needs are actually covered. At this point, if any agreement on Timothy's Law is to be reached, it will be reached between Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. The time has come for everyone who believes that discrimination in health insurance for those with mental health and addiction needs must end to get involved. If you are available, we encourage you to join the many supporters of Timothy's Law who will be present at the Capitol outside Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's 3rd floor office on Thursday. If you are not available to make it to Albany, please call Senator Bruno's office and your Senator's office early and often to tell him that Timothy's Law Must Be Enacted in 2006. Senator Bruno's phone number is 518-455-3191. The Senate switchboard is 518-455-2800. We also encourage you to e-mail Senator Bruno and your Senator on the Timothy's Law website at www.timothyslaw.org . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mwhite at cfthomeless.org Sat Jun 24 00:58:44 2006 From: mwhite at cfthomeless.org (Maryann White) Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 23:58:44 -0500 Subject: [Timothy's Team] TIMOTHY'S LAW AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN NYS ASSEMBLY AND SENATE Message-ID: <1E6B6E4353227E4091BBC17EEF6AC02F0101DD3F@CFHEX01.CFTHOMELESS.ORG> Timothy's Law Campaign Working for health insurance parity for mental health and addiction treatment services. 737 Madison Avenue, Albany, New York 12208 518-432-0333 fax 518-434-6478 www.TimothysLaw.org PRESS RELEASE Timothy O'Clair May 5, 1988 - March 16, 2001 Timothy's Law Campaign Executive Committee Tom O'Clair American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Alcohol and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State Coalition for the Homeless Families Together in New York State Long Island Recovery Advocates Mental Health Association in New York State National Alliance on Mental Illness in New York State National Association of Social Workers - NYS Chapter New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services New York State Coalition for Children's Mental Health Services New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare New York State Psychiatric Association New York State Psychological Association New York State Rehabilitation Association Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy For Release: June 24, 2006 TIMOTHY'S LAW AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN NYS ASSEMBLY AND SENATE Continuing their advocacy beyond the point at which the NYS Legislature was to have finished the 2006 Legislative Session on Thursday, Timothy's Law advocates were elated to hear of an agreement between the NYS Assembly and Senate on Friday evening as the Legislature worked to close down for the regular session. After more than 4 years of constant advocacy in which Timothy's Law supporters from around the state worked to end discrimination in insurance coverage for mental health and addiction needs, a law to end that discrimination is finally in sight. "I find it very fitting and appropriate that on the eve of what would have been his graduation from high school, the NYS Legislature has reached an agreement to pass legislation to end discriminatory health insurance policies that led to the suicide of my son, Timothy, in 2001," said Tom O'Clair, Timothy's father and Co-Chair of the Timothy's Law Campaign. As Mr. O'Clair has maintained for years, he is simply doing Timothy's work. "What a graduation present this is for Timothy, and what a great day it is for New Yorkers with mental health needs," O'Clair said. The agreement requires health insurance policies sold in NYS, not exempt under Federal law, to provide at least 30 inpatient days and 20 outpatient visits for mental health treatment. Perhaps more importantly, co-payments for accessing such services will be equalized with other co-payments for physical health needs included in a policy. This will bring to an end the exorbitant co-payments, often in excess of $50 per visit, commonly required to access mental health services. Affected insurance plans will have to cover conditions in a manner comparable to the insurance state employees and state legislators have access to under the Empire Plan. Small employers of 50 or fewer employees will be held harmless from any potential premium increases. People working for large employers will receive unlimited mental health benefits for the treatment of bipolar disorder, major depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia, bulimia, schizophrenia / psychotic disorders, attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorders, disruptive behavioral disorders and pervasive developmental disorders. Small employers would have the option to purchase this same coverage. The legislation will expire 3 years from enactment and require the NYS Insurance Department to conduct a cost analysis. Paige Pierce, Co-Chair of the Timothy's Law Campaign, noted, "This movement to enact Timothy's Law has been an incredible grassroots effort with people from throughout the entire State of New York. Presently, parity laws exist in 35 other states and include 9 million Federal employees and retirees." In noting this accomplishment, members of the Timothy's Law Campaign pointed to the fact that they did not get all that they were hoping for in this agreement, specifically because the agreement failed to include coverage for those with addiction. O'Clair, Pierce, and other advocates will return in September when the Legislature is expected to fulfill its promise to pass Timothy's Law. The Timothy's Law Campaign would like to thank all Members of the NYS Assembly who have voted for and supported Timothy's Law over the past 4 years, but specifically Assemblymembers Paul Tonko, Alexander (Pete) Grannis, Peter Rivera, Donna Lupardo, Joel Miller, and of course Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Minority Leader James Tedisco for their stalwart support. In addition, the Timothy's Law Campaign thanks all Members of the NYS Senate who supported and pushed for passage of Timothy's Law, especially Senators Thomas Libous, Thomas Duane, Thomas Morahan, and of course Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Minority Leader David Patterson. Lastly, the Timothy's Law Campaign would like to thank the staff from both the Assembly and Senate who often go unrecognized, who have spent countless hours working to enact meaningful reform of NYS law to end discrimination in health insurance for New Yorkers with mental health needs. -30- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: