Unfortunately, the ideal of streamlining mental health treatment can be turned on its axis by forces beyond our control. Taking the subway one stop past sanity, the state of Texas has decided to be tightfisted; free falling to dead last among all 50 states in mental health expenditures. In turn, this has tipped the scale in favor of astronomical numbers of people needing services juxtaposed to fewer professionals with lower pay and benefits. Waiting lists have swelled unabated in some areas. Psychiatrists, case managers, and those in the trenches are having difficulty shouldering the load of mental health patients that get services. These unappreciated professionals are dedicated, self-sacrificing, and compassionate yet their pay and benefits barely rise above the threshold of most janitorial jobs. Even the most skilled service coordinators, with time management creativity, can’t clone themselves to be at 50 places at once. Pinched for time, the franchise mentality has taken hold as patients are rushed through the psychiatry drive-thru, each receiving a therapeutic happy meal. Mc-therapy is taking the place of measured, time-spent, palliative modalities that foster better outcomes. Feeding the soul/psyche is immeasurably more complex than feeding the body. Meager spending and the DSHS paradigm shift to Resiliency and Disease Management has resulted in turning away droves of people who do not fit neatly into the diagnostic trifecta: schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, and major depression. People with personality disorders, dissociative disorders, and anxiety disorders are dumped cargo; jettisoned out of public services with no safety parachute. Paying little homage to mental health care has a price tag; one of them being the Texas penal system is the new makeshift hospital for mental health consumers. Emergency rooms and hospitals also absorb the overflow, but what never seems to factor into this is the immense human suffering that results. Why are people left in the unforgivable throes of mental illness with no relief in the state of Texas?

Far too many citizens in Illinois are uninsured or under-insured. Far too many of our health insurance premium dollars go to profit and to enriching the CEOs. Far too many of our health insurance premium dollars go to finding ways to deny claims. It is time to stop this insanity! Healthcare is a human right enshrined in our Illinois Constitution. Preamble We, the People of the State of Illinois... in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the people; maintain a representative and orderly government; eliminate poverty and inequality; assure legal, social and economic justice; provide opportunity for the fullest development of the individual; insure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty to ourselves and our posterity - do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of Illinois.

Our veterans and other victims of trauma are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on a daily basis. Despite studies showing the effectiveness of medical marijuana in controlling traumatic memories, it is not a qualifying condition under the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act (OMMA). Senate Bill 281 would change this and we need to support its passage.

I work every day with people who live with uncertainty about whether to go to the doctor because of the expense. Expanding Medicaid health insurance coverage to more people will save lives, keep our workforce strong, be more efficient and bring an influx of federal support into West Virginia.

Over the past year, California's Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) program was completely cut from the State budget. Having my mom attend this program allowed my dad to work during the day. ADHC serves adults 5-days-a-week who are frail, disabled or have dementia--keeping them out of nursing homes. It was the ONLY program to help middle-class families because program rules didn't require you to be poor in order to attend. Taking this option away hurts middle-class families.

Strongly support Statewide Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) and Case Management Services for every citizen with a serious mental health and/or substance abuse issue. These two steps along would go a long way to improving access to and effectiveness of MH and substance abuse services. It would also lives and money in the long run, not to mentiion prevention of terrible suffering of those affected.

Is is time for California to consider a bill patterned after Oregon's “Death with Dignity Act”. It has been in practice for 15 years now with NO reports on people being "forced" to submit. The latest report, 2012, show that most who utilize this humane program have terminal cancer and are over 65 yrs old, in fact 29 out of 77 are over 75 years old. Vermont is considering a similar bill. They have a requirement that two NON-family members verify the patents wishes. I am healthy now, but if I am 75, bed-ridden, in pain and terminally ill with no quality of life I would hate to think I have to move to Oregon to die with dignity, I'd like a choice.

I am a single, 40 year old female with a good job and no health insurance. I want to stay healthy and I need good, affordable healthcare options, whether they are run by the federal government or the State of Idaho exchange program. Legislators: Please stop the bipartisan bickering and get behind your Governor and DO YOUR JOBS. ACA has been ruled on as constitutional by the Supreme Court. We have TWO OPTIONS: 1) dilly-dally so that we run out of time and the federal government runs our program; or, 2) accept reality, move on and take action on State-run healthcare. IF WE MISS THIS DEADLINE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVERSEES OUR HEALTHCARE, IT IS ON THE LEGISLATORS' HANDS.

Hi, Last year, Governor Robert Julian Bentley MD announced that he would not accept new federal dollars to expand the state's Medicaid program. By rejecting these funds, over 300,000 Alabamians will be uninsured. Tell Governor Bentley to reverse course and accept federal Medicaid dollars and protect the 300,000 Alabamians that would benefit or face being disciplined for obstructing health care to so many Alabamians. That's why I signed a petition to Governor Robert Julian Bentley MD, which says: "Over 16% of Alabama residents don't have health insurance, including many children. By rejecting Medicaid expansion funds from the federal government, you are obstructing over 300,000 Alabamians who would benefit from this healthcare. Please reverse course and accept the federal Medicaid dollars and help Alabamians in need of basic healthcare, and stand by your ethics as a Physician politician."

ABC News recently reported that Congressman Sam Johnson from Plano, Texas is working with a bipartisan group in Congress on an immigration reform proposal. This means Rep. Johnson will have a major role fixing our broken immigration system. We need Rep. Johnson to support a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants currently living in the United State without papers. Most of these immigrants have lived in this country for more than a decade and have come to America to seek a better life for their families. They are Americans-in-waiting who are ready to fulfill the requirements of our citizenship process - to study English, pay taxes, maintain a good record and be of good moral character. Instead of focusing only on the border, we need a new approach that is better for families and makes more economic sense.

Governor Scott Walker has not officially made a decision on whether he will accept new federal dollars to expand the state's Medicaid program. If he rejects these funds, over 200,000 Wisconsinites will be uninsured. Tell Governor Walker to accept federal Medicaid dollars and protect the over 200,000 Wisconsinites that would benefit.

Governor John Kasich has not officially made a decision on whether he will accept new federal dollars to expand the state's Medicaid program. If he rejects these funds, nearly 700,000 Ohioans will be uninsured. Tell Governor Kasich to accept federal Medicaid dollars and protect the nearly 700,000 Ohioans that would benefit.