As flawed as he was, the real, true hope for mental health parity came, and went, with the late Massachusetts Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy.
Though Congress passed mental health parity into law, it's useless legislation for the millions of Americans who don't have health insurance. Many of those have a mental illness that prevents them from having a job with a stable income, and a house with running water.
The only hope rests with the Obama administration, and if it can carry the torch - and emphasize the importance of having health care for all - from the man who once famously declared that the "dream shall never die."
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Ted Kennedy and mental health care
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4 comments:
Don't forget about Patrick! It remains to be seen if he can step up to be anywhere near the legislative powerhouse that Ted Kennedy was, but he's out there speaking up for the mentally ill - and in a way that it wasn't for Teddy (and that's not to knock Teddy at all... he was involved in many worthy causes, and I am SO GRATEFUL for his involvement in mental health parity and for his positive impact on fighting stigma simply by virtue that he was willing to speak and fight so publicly for the human and civil rights of the mentally ill) the civil and human rights of the mentally ill seem to be Patrick Kennedy's central cause... I'm keeping my eye on him and cheering him on!
And I really hope we get some serious results on health care/insurance... and soon... you're right... what good is mental health parity to those with insurance to begin with?
*oops, I meant to say what good is mental health parity to those withOUT insurance to begin with!
Ted's been a champion for those who are in need, including the mentally ill. I hope others in Congress will "grow a pair" to fill the void that he left in the Senate.
This is so true. Mental health care has never been adequate in the United States. I hope Katharine is right and Patrick Kennedy continues to carry on.
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