Re: From Kerry Himself - His Mental Health Policy

[Guest guest]

http://www.disabilityworld.org/09-10_03/news/kerry.shtml

Statement by Kerry on Mental Health Policy

Recent breakthroughs in science have taught us so much about how genetic,

social and environmental factors come together to cause mental illnesses. In

addition, we have developed new effective drugs and better community health

services. We have learned mental illness is treatable, often more treatable

than common physical illnesses. Despite these many advances, mental illness

continues to be treated differently from physical illness. Too few people

still seek treatment for mental illness -- fearing the shame and stigma

attached to these disorders.

I believe we must make progress on mental illness and end this

discrimination and stigma for once and for all. As President, here's where I

would start.

First, we have to make sure we require full mental health parity once and

for all. Not just mental health parity for certain benefits or certain

mental health conditions or with unnecessary loopholes that allow insurers

to skirt their responsibility. We also need parity in our public programs.

That's why I have fought for mental health parity in the Medicare program -

closing differences in cost-sharing for mental health benefits.

Second, let's strengthen the Medicaid program. States are starving under the

Bush economic policies and are forced to cut back on Medicaid as well as

community mental health services. I will protect the Medicaid program. That

means stopping the Bush so called " reform, " which would essentially block

grant the Medicaid program and threaten benefits and coverage. I have also

proposed $25 billion a year in state relief for the next two years that

would help protect the program.

Third, we not only need to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid we need to

reform them. It makes no sense that the Medicaid program prevents people

from working and receiving health care at the same time. We made some

progress with the Jeffords-Kennedy legislation enabling people to receive

Medicaid and work but it is three years later and we still have not passed

the Family Opportunity Act. We need to pass it right away. And even that

legislation does not fix all of the skewed incentives. Why does the Medicaid

program often cover institutional care and not community-based care? That

makes no sense.

I've worked to ensure that people with mental illness who are on the welfare

rolls receive the services they need to get and stay employed. And I will

continue to work to ensure that people receiving SSI can keep their benefits

and return to work.

We want people to be able to live in our communities and work - this is part

of the American dream. But that means we have a lot of work to do to fix our

government programs once and for all so that people with mental illnesses

can live achieve the dream.

Also, we must continue to reduce the stigma associated with mental health

and raise awareness about mental illnesses. We have made great strides on

this - with the help of leaders like Tipper Gore, Surgeon General

Satcher, Wellstone and Pete Domenici and community leaders around the

country. But we have more work to do. It's a tragedy that many people don' t

seek treatment for mental illnesses either because they are afraid to or

don't know that they should seek treatment. We need to continue spreading

the word to encourage people to seek treatment.

I support additional funding for community-based care to create and expand

and much-needed community-based programs to reach the most vulnerable

populations among those with mental illnesses: children, minorities, and

women. I have also pledged to fully fund IDEA - so that the Federal

government meets its full obligation and our children get the services they

need. I also want to better coordinate services for people with mental

illness as they often have many other challenges such as housing, special

education, job training, and a range of other needs.

We need to make mental health care a critical part of our response to

terrorism. This week as we remember those who died on September 11th, we

must also think about the millions of victims who were impacted by the

terrorist attacks. There has been an increase in cases of people with

anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health

problems. We need to make sure that when we consider our Homeland Security

priorities mental health support is included.

Finally, we need a legal system that is committed to moving forward on civil

rights - not turning the clock backwards, like President Bush wants to do.

We cannot afford to lose a single person and that means we need judges and

lawmakers who are committed to strengthening key civil rights laws

protections, like the Americans with Disabilities Act and privacy

protections.

I will always have an open door and an open mind on how we can move forward

to help people with mental illnesses. I will work until the day that no one

with mental illness is ashamed to seek treatment, until the day when we

recognize the stress impacts of the world we live in, until the day when

people with mental illnesses are not discriminated against, until the day

when people with mental illnesses get the support they need to fully

participate in the workforce and in our society.

[Guest guest]

http://www.disabilityworld.org/09-10_03/news/kerry.shtml

Statement by Kerry on Mental Health Policy

Recent breakthroughs in science have taught us so much about how genetic,

social and environmental factors come together to cause mental illnesses. In

addition, we have developed new effective drugs and better community health

services. We have learned mental illness is treatable, often more treatable

than common physical illnesses. Despite these many advances, mental illness

continues to be treated differently from physical illness. Too few people

still seek treatment for mental illness -- fearing the shame and stigma

attached to these disorders.

I believe we must make progress on mental illness and end this

discrimination and stigma for once and for all. As President, here's where I

would start.

First, we have to make sure we require full mental health parity once and

for all. Not just mental health parity for certain benefits or certain

mental health conditions or with unnecessary loopholes that allow insurers

to skirt their responsibility. We also need parity in our public programs.

That's why I have fought for mental health parity in the Medicare program -

closing differences in cost-sharing for mental health benefits.

Second, let's strengthen the Medicaid program. States are starving under the

Bush economic policies and are forced to cut back on Medicaid as well as

community mental health services. I will protect the Medicaid program. That

means stopping the Bush so called " reform, " which would essentially block

grant the Medicaid program and threaten benefits and coverage. I have also

proposed $25 billion a year in state relief for the next two years that

would help protect the program.

Third, we not only need to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid we need to

reform them. It makes no sense that the Medicaid program prevents people

from working and receiving health care at the same time. We made some

progress with the Jeffords-Kennedy legislation enabling people to receive

Medicaid and work but it is three years later and we still have not passed

the Family Opportunity Act. We need to pass it right away. And even that

legislation does not fix all of the skewed incentives. Why does the Medicaid

program often cover institutional care and not community-based care? That

makes no sense.

I've worked to ensure that people with mental illness who are on the welfare

rolls receive the services they need to get and stay employed. And I will

continue to work to ensure that people receiving SSI can keep their benefits

and return to work.

We want people to be able to live in our communities and work - this is part

of the American dream. But that means we have a lot of work to do to fix our

government programs once and for all so that people with mental illnesses

can live achieve the dream.

Also, we must continue to reduce the stigma associated with mental health

and raise awareness about mental illnesses. We have made great strides on

this - with the help of leaders like Tipper Gore, Surgeon General

Satcher, Wellstone and Pete Domenici and community leaders around the

country. But we have more work to do. It's a tragedy that many people don' t

seek treatment for mental illnesses either because they are afraid to or

don't know that they should seek treatment. We need to continue spreading

the word to encourage people to seek treatment.

I support additional funding for community-based care to create and expand

and much-needed community-based programs to reach the most vulnerable

populations among those with mental illnesses: children, minorities, and

women. I have also pledged to fully fund IDEA - so that the Federal

government meets its full obligation and our children get the services they

need. I also want to better coordinate services for people with mental

illness as they often have many other challenges such as housing, special

education, job training, and a range of other needs.

We need to make mental health care a critical part of our response to

terrorism. This week as we remember those who died on September 11th, we

must also think about the millions of victims who were impacted by the

terrorist attacks. There has been an increase in cases of people with

anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health

problems. We need to make sure that when we consider our Homeland Security

priorities mental health support is included.

Finally, we need a legal system that is committed to moving forward on civil

rights - not turning the clock backwards, like President Bush wants to do.

We cannot afford to lose a single person and that means we need judges and

lawmakers who are committed to strengthening key civil rights laws

protections, like the Americans with Disabilities Act and privacy

protections.

I will always have an open door and an open mind on how we can move forward

to help people with mental illnesses. I will work until the day that no one

with mental illness is ashamed to seek treatment, until the day when we

recognize the stress impacts of the world we live in, until the day when

people with mental illnesses are not discriminated against, until the day

when people with mental illnesses get the support they need to fully

participate in the workforce and in our society.

[Guest guest]

http://www.disabilityworld.org/09-10_03/news/kerry.shtml

Statement by Kerry on Mental Health Policy

Recent breakthroughs in science have taught us so much about how genetic,

social and environmental factors come together to cause mental illnesses. In

addition, we have developed new effective drugs and better community health

services. We have learned mental illness is treatable, often more treatable

than common physical illnesses. Despite these many advances, mental illness

continues to be treated differently from physical illness. Too few people

still seek treatment for mental illness -- fearing the shame and stigma

attached to these disorders.

I believe we must make progress on mental illness and end this

discrimination and stigma for once and for all. As President, here's where I

would start.

First, we have to make sure we require full mental health parity once and

for all. Not just mental health parity for certain benefits or certain

mental health conditions or with unnecessary loopholes that allow insurers

to skirt their responsibility. We also need parity in our public programs.

That's why I have fought for mental health parity in the Medicare program -

closing differences in cost-sharing for mental health benefits.

Second, let's strengthen the Medicaid program. States are starving under the

Bush economic policies and are forced to cut back on Medicaid as well as

community mental health services. I will protect the Medicaid program. That

means stopping the Bush so called " reform, " which would essentially block

grant the Medicaid program and threaten benefits and coverage. I have also

proposed $25 billion a year in state relief for the next two years that

would help protect the program.

Third, we not only need to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid we need to

reform them. It makes no sense that the Medicaid program prevents people

from working and receiving health care at the same time. We made some

progress with the Jeffords-Kennedy legislation enabling people to receive

Medicaid and work but it is three years later and we still have not passed

the Family Opportunity Act. We need to pass it right away. And even that

legislation does not fix all of the skewed incentives. Why does the Medicaid

program often cover institutional care and not community-based care? That

makes no sense.

I've worked to ensure that people with mental illness who are on the welfare

rolls receive the services they need to get and stay employed. And I will

continue to work to ensure that people receiving SSI can keep their benefits

and return to work.

We want people to be able to live in our communities and work - this is part

of the American dream. But that means we have a lot of work to do to fix our

government programs once and for all so that people with mental illnesses

can live achieve the dream.

Also, we must continue to reduce the stigma associated with mental health

and raise awareness about mental illnesses. We have made great strides on

this - with the help of leaders like Tipper Gore, Surgeon General

Satcher, Wellstone and Pete Domenici and community leaders around the

country. But we have more work to do. It's a tragedy that many people don' t

seek treatment for mental illnesses either because they are afraid to or

don't know that they should seek treatment. We need to continue spreading

the word to encourage people to seek treatment.

I support additional funding for community-based care to create and expand

and much-needed community-based programs to reach the most vulnerable

populations among those with mental illnesses: children, minorities, and

women. I have also pledged to fully fund IDEA - so that the Federal

government meets its full obligation and our children get the services they

need. I also want to better coordinate services for people with mental

illness as they often have many other challenges such as housing, special

education, job training, and a range of other needs.

We need to make mental health care a critical part of our response to

terrorism. This week as we remember those who died on September 11th, we

must also think about the millions of victims who were impacted by the

terrorist attacks. There has been an increase in cases of people with

anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health

problems. We need to make sure that when we consider our Homeland Security

priorities mental health support is included.

Finally, we need a legal system that is committed to moving forward on civil

rights - not turning the clock backwards, like President Bush wants to do.

We cannot afford to lose a single person and that means we need judges and

lawmakers who are committed to strengthening key civil rights laws

protections, like the Americans with Disabilities Act and privacy

protections.

I will always have an open door and an open mind on how we can move forward

to help people with mental illnesses. I will work until the day that no one

with mental illness is ashamed to seek treatment, until the day when we

recognize the stress impacts of the world we live in, until the day when

people with mental illnesses are not discriminated against, until the day

when people with mental illnesses get the support they need to fully

participate in the workforce and in our society.

[Guest guest]

http://www.disabilityworld.org/09-10_03/news/kerry.shtml

Statement by Kerry on Mental Health Policy

Recent breakthroughs in science have taught us so much about how genetic,

social and environmental factors come together to cause mental illnesses. In

addition, we have developed new effective drugs and better community health

services. We have learned mental illness is treatable, often more treatable

than common physical illnesses. Despite these many advances, mental illness

continues to be treated differently from physical illness. Too few people

still seek treatment for mental illness -- fearing the shame and stigma

attached to these disorders.

I believe we must make progress on mental illness and end this

discrimination and stigma for once and for all. As President, here's where I

would start.

First, we have to make sure we require full mental health parity once and

for all. Not just mental health parity for certain benefits or certain

mental health conditions or with unnecessary loopholes that allow insurers

to skirt their responsibility. We also need parity in our public programs.

That's why I have fought for mental health parity in the Medicare program -

closing differences in cost-sharing for mental health benefits.

Second, let's strengthen the Medicaid program. States are starving under the

Bush economic policies and are forced to cut back on Medicaid as well as

community mental health services. I will protect the Medicaid program. That

means stopping the Bush so called " reform, " which would essentially block

grant the Medicaid program and threaten benefits and coverage. I have also

proposed $25 billion a year in state relief for the next two years that

would help protect the program.

Third, we not only need to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid we need to

reform them. It makes no sense that the Medicaid program prevents people

from working and receiving health care at the same time. We made some

progress with the Jeffords-Kennedy legislation enabling people to receive

Medicaid and work but it is three years later and we still have not passed

the Family Opportunity Act. We need to pass it right away. And even that

legislation does not fix all of the skewed incentives. Why does the Medicaid

program often cover institutional care and not community-based care? That

makes no sense.

I've worked to ensure that people with mental illness who are on the welfare

rolls receive the services they need to get and stay employed. And I will

continue to work to ensure that people receiving SSI can keep their benefits

and return to work.

We want people to be able to live in our communities and work - this is part

of the American dream. But that means we have a lot of work to do to fix our

government programs once and for all so that people with mental illnesses

can live achieve the dream.

Also, we must continue to reduce the stigma associated with mental health

and raise awareness about mental illnesses. We have made great strides on

this - with the help of leaders like Tipper Gore, Surgeon General

Satcher, Wellstone and Pete Domenici and community leaders around the

country. But we have more work to do. It's a tragedy that many people don' t

seek treatment for mental illnesses either because they are afraid to or

don't know that they should seek treatment. We need to continue spreading

the word to encourage people to seek treatment.

I support additional funding for community-based care to create and expand

and much-needed community-based programs to reach the most vulnerable

populations among those with mental illnesses: children, minorities, and

women. I have also pledged to fully fund IDEA - so that the Federal

government meets its full obligation and our children get the services they

need. I also want to better coordinate services for people with mental

illness as they often have many other challenges such as housing, special

education, job training, and a range of other needs.

We need to make mental health care a critical part of our response to

terrorism. This week as we remember those who died on September 11th, we

must also think about the millions of victims who were impacted by the

terrorist attacks. There has been an increase in cases of people with

anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health

problems. We need to make sure that when we consider our Homeland Security

priorities mental health support is included.

Finally, we need a legal system that is committed to moving forward on civil

rights - not turning the clock backwards, like President Bush wants to do.

We cannot afford to lose a single person and that means we need judges and

lawmakers who are committed to strengthening key civil rights laws

protections, like the Americans with Disabilities Act and privacy

protections.

I will always have an open door and an open mind on how we can move forward

to help people with mental illnesses. I will work until the day that no one

with mental illness is ashamed to seek treatment, until the day when we

recognize the stress impacts of the world we live in, until the day when

people with mental illnesses are not discriminated against, until the day

when people with mental illnesses get the support they need to fully

participate in the workforce and in our society.