Mental care in turmoil

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Hundreds in county lose treatment as Medicaid money dries up

By David Olson
Herald Writer


Thousands of mentally ill Washington residents may wind up on the streets, in jail or in their own private hells because of changes to federal funding programs that eliminate counseling and medical treatment.

Unless state legislators step in with more money, people now getting help could face years of suffering, mental health groups warn.

"We're in a crisis, and it's only going to get a lot worse," said Selena Bolotin, director of mental health for Stevens Hospital in Edmonds.

Hundreds in Snohomish County are being denied treatment or moved out of mental health residences because of the funding changes.

http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/04/07/18/loc_mental001.cfm

[Snoggera]

1. This story will be repeated numerous times in the next months/years

Medicaid money is drying up all over. People who depend on it for medications are already seeing the number and types of meds covered being decreased. A couple of weeks ago, a lady I worked with was shocked when she received a letter stating that medicaid would no longer cover the cost of her 8 years old granddaughter's asthma medication.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

[flamingyouth]

2. It's an absolute tragedy, to put it mildly

Even on the best health care plans, mental health isn't covered most of the time, or if it is, you max out at six visits per year. Since my husband's suicide, I've been seeing a psychiatrist and paying out of pocket, and it's a huge expense.

Anyone who walks through downtown Seattle can see the effects of this on the streets. Apparently in compassionate conservative America, it's okay to just throw the mentally ill out into the streets and let them try to fend for themselves without any medication or help.:grr:

[BeyondThePale]

3. judging a society

The "compassionate conservatives" fail to understand that a society is judged by how well it cares for those in need--especially its children, elderly, and infirmed. This administration only cares for protecting the superwealthy. It is truly despicable and getting worse by the minute.

[undergroundpanther]

5. I wish

That rich people who didn't share were seen as inhuman
Rich people who didn't give back were labeled by society as parasites and dangers to a civil,peaceful society.

Until people realize this,that super wealthy people who do not give back are a problem for EVERYONE,they will continue to take and never give.
They can never be satisfied.That is why they don't care about others needs.They will never want as long as we are never secure,taking care of each other and happy and at peace.

Civilization is a thing invented to benefit all.
When it exists to enrich a few at the expense of all
civilization itself has failed it's purpose..

Civilization requires a fairly hight level of equality,fairness consent and foresight to function it also requires that we all benefit from it,if we are to participate with it.Civilized life is a form of social contract..If that contract is shredded...The system supporting the corruption is shredded along with the corrupted.WE can take care of each other when we refuse to worship the rich who take care of themselves at our expense and make them pay us what we are worth.They would have no power or riches if they had to do it by themselves.We must not let these administrations,and bosses forget this.

[classof56]

10. First, welcome to DU!

Glad to have you aboard. We need you to help spread the word! I know full well what "compassionate conservatives" fail to understand about how a society is judged...but sadly, I truly believe they simply do not care. They've tagged themselves (starting with Bush) with a completely erroneous designation. And they know it. You nailed it--truly despicable and getting worse by the minute.

Bush Must Go!!

[newyawker99]

11. Hi trkwapil!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Amarant]

4. Yup

Putting health care in the hands of corporations was one of the STUPIDEST things this nation has ever done.

Corporations care about MONEY. PERIOD. End of story.

They don't give a damn about your health. Until the government (which hopefully being by the people and for the people actually will care about your health rather than cash) is firmly in control of health care we are screwed. The point of business first in foremost is to make money - not worry about how people are doing.

[fdr_hst_fan]

6. No offense intended, but for

those out there who haven't noticed, "Copassionate Conservatism" is an OXYMORON, not to be confused with Oxy Rushbo, who's only a MORON!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

12. One post I saw on another bulletin board during the 2000 election said....

an example of compassionate conservatism is Scrooge giving Bob Cratchet Christmas day off. In other words these people feel they are making a big sacrifice by doing the bare minimum.

[bobthedrummer]

7. The Nazis introduced the "justification" of a final solution by killing

the profoundly disabled and mentally ill first (along with political prisoners) in the T-4 programs. They had mobile gas chambers and would liquidate "life unworthy of life" for the good local Germans, who emptied their hospitals and institutions of this population, refered to as a clinical group known as "parasites..vermin".

A lot of false science as well as the promotion of eugenics came from this.

This ideology influenced US because of the many real Nazis clandestinely recruited and given jobs and identities as Americans working in national security.

These real Nazis found a political home in the RW of the Republican Party.

Perhaps bearing that in mind this is a "kinder,gentler" approach-abandonment and the faith based charity wildcard.

[MichiganVote]

8. So much for the community mental health model

May she rest in peace. Actually it stunk and didn't work much of the time. HOWEVER, when that's all communities are allowed to have to help the severly mentally ill and then even that is taken away--well--the police will go crazy trying to keep up with all the calls they get. Protective services and the juvenile courts will also reap the benefits of this and families will be very stressed.

Gee then everyone can go before congressional and senate committees so that these damn politicians can have an excuse to sit on their fat asses some more.

Its just too damn bad when Americans work for generations to bring civilization to this country only to have a few miserable human beings turn it back into a wilderness.

If these are the "values" of George Bush then he and his cronies deserves a wake up call in November.

Vote them all out!!!!

[RobinA]

14. I Work in Protective Services

and I gotta say, as much as I can't stand Bush, it's hard to lay the problems with community mental health in his lap alone. While recent cuts to MH and D&A treatment can probably be traced to his tax reductions, the problem with mental health care WAY predates him.

From what I can see, community mental health is massively ineffective, mainly due to the fact that it is managed and controlled by insurance companies. It's the old problem with a lot of treatment. Do you pay what it takes now to get the person as healthy or productive as possible (and realize that some people will never be successful), or do you dole the money out to the person in dribs and drabs for the rest of his life. Minimally dealing with each crisis and then cutting off treatment when the crisis is past, only to minimally fund the next crisis, and the next and t he next.

Not to mention how hard it is to wring services out of the system in the first place - difficult for me, mentally healthy and competent, to get services for my clients. Impossible for the client who is MH, drug addicted, and barely able to meet his/her own basic needs in life.

[MichiganVote]

15. Yup, I know whereof you speak

[classof56]

9. Speaking of the mobile gas chambers...

I cringe every time I see a large white unmarked van, thinking of those mobile death machines...calmly driving down city streets, people dying inside. I don't ever assume it could not happen here. If God really does speak to Bush, as he claims, then let us pray earnestly that the next divine voice Bushie hears is "Back off, bucko." If Bushie doesn't listen...well, God help us all!

[rfkrocks]

13. what would Jesus do?

Our great Christian country is destroying the weakest and next it will be the elderly-beating plowshares into swords-Everyone in this country should read this article-thanks for posting