I don’t do this often but I believe in giving credit where credit’s due. Some of you might have caught Patrick Kennedy, on the Today Show (D-RI) this morning and if you did, you probably know about legislation he’s promoting - The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act HR1367, and HR 1424. More on that over the fold.
What impressed me about the Today Show segment was the man sitting beside Kennedy. Kennedy ran his Mustang into a security barrier about a block from the Capitol last May and there were calls by many Republicans for an investigation as to why Kennedy wasn’t given a breathalyzer that night. Rather than get caught up in partisan bullshit, Rep. Jim Ramstad, (R-Minn) saw the bigger picture in this accident. He reached out to his fellow member of Congress and helped him with his battle against his addiction to the medications that led to that accident. He was there for Kennedy then and he sat next to him this morning and for that I give the guy credit.
Make the jump...
Together, these men are on a national stage and promoting legislation that will address the unfairness of our healthcare system when it comes to treating those battling addiction. Ramstad mentioned that over 300,000 people were turned away from rehab programs last year – and these were folks WITH insurance.
Kennedy was lucky – he had the resources to get in to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota but if he’d had to rely on health insurance or (!!!) pay for it out of his own pocket as your basic workin’ stiff, he’d still be waiting for help. He got treatment and found a great sponsor in Ramstad and I’m sure he counts his lucky stars every day.
I’m also lucky – I’ve never had to overcome an addiction, but I know firsthand that it’s a family illness. My dad was an alcoholic and my husband’s been sober for 4 years. The disease takes a toll on millions of people in our society every day – 24/7 – whether it’s an addiction to drugs, booze, medications or gambling. And the resources to help people overcome addiction are few and far between. It’s inexcusable that so many people were denied treatment, and continue to have restrictions put on their recovery. We treat the body when it gets ill, but for some reason the powers that be seem to think it’s ok to ignore our brain when something goes wrong. Our treatment for those with addiction or mental illness is woefully lacking – far behind how other civilized societies treat the sick.
From Mental Health America, a site linked in that Today Show write-up of the interview with Kennedy...
The science is incontrovertible: mental illnesses and addiction are physiological diseases of the brain. They are the product of genetics and environment. They both result in and cause anatomical changes in the brain.
Yet while 21st century science dramatically improves our understanding of and treatment for mental illnesses and addiction, 19th century stereotypes and stigma continue to create barriers to treatment. Most health plans continue to impose limits on how much treatment is covered or more costly financial requirements on mental health and addiction care than on care for other diseases.
We pay an enormous price for leaving such prevalent diseases untreated. The costs are in lives lost to suicide, in our criminal justice system, in our emergency rooms and welfare payments and even our health care costs.
Matt Lauer (bleh!) did the interview this morning and he asked if there was money out there for the fair treatment of those battling addiction, and Ramstad (who’s been fighting ignorance like Lauer’s for years) said that for every dollar invested in helping a person overcome addiction, we save $12. Not a bad return if you ask me.
The site goes on to say...
For years Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN) have fought for legislation to ensure equal treatment of mental illnesses and addiction in health care. Every year since 2002, bipartisan majorities in the House of Representatives have cosponsored the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, but House leaders never brought it up for a vote.
Well now that we’ve put Congress back in the hands of the Democrats, we’ll surely see action on this legislation. Both of the above linked House bills have over 250 co-sponsors. There’s a companion bill in the Senate too...
On February 12, Senators Pete Domenici (R-MN), Ted Kennedy (D-Mass), and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) introduced the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 (S. 558). Two days later, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee adopted the bill by an 18-3 margin. The Senate has not yet scheduled a date for floor consideration.
You can get more information on the Senate bill (status, co-sponsors) HERE Check to see if your Senators are on the co-sponsors list (there are currently 40). I checked and found that one of mine is listed (Cardin) but that Milkuski isn’t and I need to give her a call (1-800-828-0498).
So I take my hat off to Ramstad even though he’s a Republican. He got sober in 1981 and is doing some great 12th step work with Kennedy. More than that, he’s trying to help millions of others who are left to battle one addiction or another on their own – with little or no help. Like I said, I don’t often praise goopers, but he’s doing a good thing in trying to help others and he’s standing by his friend as he goes before the cameras to talk about his own battle with addiction.
These are good bills and I urge you to ask your voices on the Hill to support them.
UPDATE
Of the people often talked about as candidates for the white house (or dream candidates) I would note that co-sponsors of the Senate version of this bill so far are Clinton and Feingold. Harkin's on there too.
Sure would love to see Obama cosponsor this legislation! If anyone out there has his ear or are constituents, I hope you give him a heads-up on this one.