We need to take a fresh look at the health care system in America.

Today there are 40 million Americans who lack health insurance. The reality for these 40 million Americans is that if they get sick, they might not be able to afford to see a doctor, sometimes until it is too late. Today in our country there are 18 million seniors who lack prescription drug coverage. And there are millions more for whom the high price of prescription drugs means having to stretch their budget to the breaking point. And the reality here in Montgomery County is that we have thousands of seniors in this exact predicament.

The public health care system in America and right here in Montgomery County is in disrepair and needs crucial reform. I am dedicated to expanding the availability of health care. I feel strongly that an individual's health should not be compromised on account of income or geographic location. To make quality health care a fact of life for every county resident, I will continue to support Medicare reform, advocate for a meaningful Patient's Bill of Rights, and support low cost prescription drugs from Canada for seniors and County employees.
 
Through my advocacy and public health training, I have consistently supported Mental Health Parity and increased funding of mental health services on the national, state and local levels. Our county non-profit community has worked very hard to fill the gaps and provide what safety net it can. However, preventive care and case-management still remain enormous challenges.

My goals (to improve county mental health services) as a Councilmember include:

1. Working with DHHS to obtain an adequate needs assessment, possibly done in collaboration with a local public health school;
2. Encouraging DHHS to compete for additional federal grant funding;
3. Acting as an “honest broker” in bringing DHHS, MCPS, consumers and their families, non-profits, and the business community to the table as we initiate innovative programs designed to meet the multi-layered challenges we face; and
4. Providing active case-management to all county residents afflicted with serious mental illness who need it. Good case-management ensures that existing services are both more effective and more cost-effective.

As you may know, I am a social worker with a specialty in adolescent addiction and the parent of a child with schizophrenia. I have seen the county system from both perspectives and know that so many of our county residents are without adequate support when dealing with tragic family circumstances, including the burden of drug addiction.

Please share your thoughts and experiences with care for mental health and substance abuse in Montgomery County. What did you get for services? What worked for your family? What didn’t work?  What did you need that you couldn’t get?  What might have prevented some of the problems you encountered? 

I am listing below two recent articles published in newspapers on county mental health issues. Doug Duncan’s recent admission of clinical depression has stirred some critical conversation on this matter. Weigh in on what you believe our county needs to do to improve our services. Express your experiences and suggestions as we work to provide compassionate care to those who all too often are left both helpless and hopeless.

Health care and dignity are human rights!

RELATED LINKS:
Duncan's Battle Touches Community
Candidate’s withdrawal spotlights a disease that affects millions of people

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