|
Join the CHBC email list!
|
Provider Perspectives
Double Trouble
Sandra Mlaska’s official title at the Kankakee Terrace mental health facility is Director of Activity Programs. But her role is much larger than that — she is friend, confidant, and surrogate family member for many of the individuals that come through their doors.
The goal of Kankakee Terrace is rehabilitation and re-integration back into the wider community. This can be a difficult task. People with mental health problems are stigmatized in our society, and many people, including some in Kankakee, are less than welcoming to the presence of these individuals in their communities. Recently, plans to build a transition residence were halted due to resistance from people in the neighborhood. Sandra also reports that many of the former residents encounter prejudice in the job market and cannot secure employment because of their history of mental illness. Sandra explains, “Most people don’t realize that people with mental illness can be high functioning and hold down jobs. They just have to have adequate access to medication and treatment.” Sandra points to the success of one former resident of Kankakee Terrace as a prime example. This particular young woman has lived independently for four years. She works at a downtown insurance agency as a proof-reader and volunteers at a nursing home in her spare time.
Sadly though, many others are losing the battle with their illness. While there are a number of factors at work, changing Medicare Part D would go a long way towards improving people’s chances of success. There are countless Medicare Part D plans to choose from and not all of them provide adequate coverage for psychiatric drugs. Moreover, if the carrier changes the formulary, as they often do, the individual could lose coverage for a drug that was working well for them. If that happens, the individual may be able to access the drug through a community clinic. However, if their community does not have such resources, the individual must try to function without the drug. At this point, many people self-medicate with drugs or alcohol as a last resort and oftentimes end up right back in the facility again.
Sandra knows the patients at Kankakee Terrace want to get better and be productive members of society. She also knows that in order for that dream to be reality, mental health’s importance to the overall health of the individual must be acknowledged.
Some of our nation’s lawmakers are aware of this and are taking action. Patrick Kennedy, son of Ted Kennedy and Rhode Island Congressman, has introduced a mental health parity bill in the House. This bill would require employers that offer mental health coverage to provide it at a level equivalent to their policy’s coverage for physical ailments. Kennedy, who has personally struggled with depression and substance abuse, says, "Ultimately, this is a civil rights battle because none of the people who suffer from a mental illness asked to suffer from a mental illness." President Bush has expressed support for mental health parity in the past, asserting, "Our health insurance system must treat serious mental illness like any other disease.” (He has not made a statement about this particular bill) This is a step in the right direction, but those without employer-sponsored health insurance will not benefit from it. A true solution to this problem, and the health care crisis in general, is universal coverage with mental health parity.
|
