As the economy becomes more and more fragile in our states, many governors will have to look to vast areas for budget cuts.
We know that mental healthcare in America is of serious concern that will have strong and lasting economical affects across the broad spectrum: supportive employment, medicare/medicaid, prison, etc.
As individual state leaders crunch numbers, we must be sure to protect the services available and provided under each mental healthcare administration.
In Maryland, consideration is being made by Governor O'Malley to make additional budget cuts to the MHA. This Administration provides funding and services such as mental healthcare to prisoners, supports for individuals trying to work, etc. This Administration cannot afford further budget cuts to an important population of people. The services provided by MHA empower individuals to live an improved quality of life in communities.
Some consequences if more budget cuts are made to the MHA or similar government agency in other statees, are sharp increases in emergency room visits, suicidal attempts, unemployment, and homelessness. We need to be a very strong voice in the State of Maryland and elsewhere to pursuade state heads to not make ANY more cuts to mental healthcare.
You can easily send an urgent message by visiting your Governor's webpage and by contacting your legislatures today!
Remember that each time you contact a politician, your voice is representative of a larger, like-minded body of people. This could include people who cannot speak for themselves or know how to send a message to government (homeless), but need to be heard . Contact Maryland's Governor today very easily!!!
In MARYLAND, Governor O'Malley's website is>
www.governor.maryland.gov/mail Visit the National Alliance On Mental Illness at
www.nami.org In Baltimore,
www.namimetropolitanbaltimore.org A SAMPLE message could be:
Dear Honorable Governor [O'Malley],
It is unfortunate that our economy is suffering and tough decisions have to be made. However, as an individual [or family member] with a brain disorder and needing affordable mental healthcare services, more cuts to the Maryland Mental Hygiene Administration's (MHA) budget will lead to catastrophic conditions of increased emergency room visits, suicide risks and attempts, and homelessness.
[TALKING POINTS]
MHA says it will take the cut by reducing reimbursement rates for all non-Medicaid eligible people and all non-Medicaid reimbursed services by 10%.:
· Services for uninsured (gray zone) folks will be cut 10% for the rest of the FY.
· Non-Medicaid services for everyone, GZ and Medicaid alike, will be cut 10% including -- residential crisis, supported employment, case management etc.
· Tell the governor that these cuts will eliminate services that your or your family member NEED and you do not want to see people you love in emergency rooms, jails or homeless.
[Make it Personal by inserting one or two sentences about how MHA with help you, your familiy, etc.]
[conclude with...]
This fragile population of citizens cannot succeed in the community without those funds remaining available. I pray that I can count on you, Governor O’Malley, to maintain the absolutely necessary level of funding for MHA in this year’s budget without making more cuts.
Very truly yours,
[your name]
Agnes B. Levine
Author of: "Cooling Well Water: A Collection of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" ISBN 0975461206 ~ March 2009 Release!
www.myspace.com/coolingwellwater (Subscribe Now);
www.blackhealth.org (Subscribe Now); Visit
www.levineoliverpublisher.com
Posted By: agnes levine
Thursday, February 19th 2009 at 3:44PM
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