Corinne Ramey
Rehab for Kennedy and for the Rest of Us, Too
Blog Post About DMI's TheMiddleClass.org
In May of 2006, Rhode Island Representative Patrick Kennedy crashed his green '97 Ford Mustang convertible into a security barrier near the Capitol building. The Congressmember, who had "red, watery eyes, slurred speech and unsteady balance" according to the police report, told the police officer that he was "headed to the Capitol to make a vote," despite the fact that it was three in the morning.
Unlike some legislators, who would have swept the matter under the metaphorical rug and tried to avoid any ensuing scandal, Kennedy held a press conference announcing his addiction to prescription pain medication. The Congressman said he planned to check himself in for rehab at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "I know the seriousness of this illness and I am certainly determined, having come so close so many times, to not let this disease take its toll on me ever again," said Kennedy.
But the best part of Kennedy's story, perhaps, it's that it's not just a personal one. Kennedy didn't only check himself in for rehab, he made it a lot easier for millions of Americans to do the same. When asked about why he waited a full day after the accident to disclose his addiction, Kennedy said, "Like other Americans, there is a great stigma attached to addiction, and I'm not immune to it either, even though I am a champion for mental-health parity. I'm fighting the stigma myself." He said, "I am also feeling that shame and sense of stigma in my life. That's why I empathize with millions of Americans who feel that sense of shame at calling themselves addicts and alcoholics."
This past Wednesday, the House passed Rep. Kennedy's mental health parity legislation, the The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, named after Paul Wellstone, a Minnesota Senator who championed mental health legislation and died in a plane crash in 2002. The Act mandates that health insurers provide treatment for mental illness and substance related addiction that is comparable to what they provide for physical illnesses. In other words, if an insurer doesn't put limits on treatment for illnesses like cancer or diabetes they can't put limits on visits to a psychologist days in a rehabilitation center. The Act also applies to out-of-network benefits; if insurers offer out-of-network benefits for medical procedures, they must do the same for mental health and addiction treatment.
And the statistics say that mental illness, just like physical illness, is certainly treatable. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression has an 80% treatment rate and 90% of people who commit suicide have a diagnosable mental disorder.
According to TheMiddleClass.org, the bill could make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans.
While the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program has recognized the importance of providing equal coverage for mental health disorders and medical and surgical procedures since 1999, millions of middle-class Americans who are insured by other plans still struggle to afford mental health care services. Although approximately 26.2% of Americans older than 18 suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder and although mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the United States for individuals ages 15-44, the General Accounting Office found that 87% of health care plans impose more severe restrictions on mental health benefits than they do on medical and surgical benefits....The legislation not only does much to remedy the discriminatory practices of insurers, but will increase access to mental health care services for middle-class Americans already struggling with high health care costs. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that health insurance premiums will increase by only .4%. The Parity Act helps to dispel the misguided notion that mental health care is less important than medical and surgical services.
The bill isn't law yet; although the Senate passed a similar version back in September, the two versions still have to be reconciled before the bill faces the presidential approval process. And despite the fact that Bush supported mental health parity in 2002, saying that “health plans should not be allowed to apply unfair treatment limitations or financial requirements on mental health benefits," he has opposed this bill, saying it would "effectively mandate coverage of a broad range of diseases.”
Even if the Act were signed into law, those wily insurance companies would likely try to avoid plans that provide comprehensive mental health benefits, just as they did after the passage of the Mental Health Parity Act in 1996. However, at least for now, the Paul Wellstone Act is a step in the right direction.
Corinne Ramey: Author Bio | Other Posts
Posted at 7:11 AM, Mar 10, 2008 in Health Care | TheMiddleClass.org
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Comments
Kennedy is and was a member of the House of Representatives, not the senate.
Posted by: morris pearl | March 10, 2008 01:00 PM
The informations is nice. It is very useful for me. i liked it. thank u
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detta
Addiction treatment and recovery resources for the addict and their families.
http://www.addictiontreatment.net
Posted by: detta | May 29, 2008 03:38 AM
The Prisoners
The Prisoners of Mental Health in the United State of America.
The causes of mental disabilities and destructions of family values are the reasons behind the rate of growth in prison population and expansion of hospital in the United State. At this time roughly 2.5 million people are behind bars not including hospitals and mental institute. Mental health is one of the most urgent health problems of the twenty first century in the world. One simple example is the richest country is the largest jailer in the world for humanity. Thus, it is wake-up call for all state in the union to legislate social justice system of united state for family values and for system of prison camp of humanity. The real question we should ask all law makers, why a person becomes murderer, rapist, thief, robber and drug user? The longer sentence for all criminals are unquestionably necessary and helps to drop in such crimes, but system should be focused on how many criminals and how to warehousing them to change there mental illness. The fundamental links in our spiritual and martial evolution that changed us from violent to sober human being is the force of love for family. It is time for each state in the union especially for the state of Connecticut to consider special rehabilitation program for family values and special incentive for poor families to keep them together for better society. The benefit of redirecting non violent, first time drug offenders and other who are small criminals for rehabilitations based on family incentive, and for their kid's futures. All states in the union should consider reducing hard penalties for non violent those who have families. It is time to reduce cost of prison camp of humanity that has been astronomical and estimated 60 billion dollars annual expense of hard working American tax payers. The second most urgent issue is the mental health of future generations. Autism in America and cerebellum function in Middle East, Asia and South Asia. It is all about Genes that are contributing about 60 percent to Childs risk of developing mental problems. One study has shown that the marriage between first cousins doubles the risk of cerebellum functions and other learning defects for brain. The shared ancestry is increasing the risk of many neurological problems in all parts of the world. Other study has shown that baby food with too much iron can be contributing risk of learning problems it is time to reexamine baby food and family drinking habits for child health. We believe that it is time for change the system of treatment for old problems. It is time to stop chain of tragedies that are making United State of America a prison camp of humanity and one big emergency room of a big hospital. My chain of problem started when one member of human faith religious was held in the prison camp of New Britain General Hospital . Human faith religious is a public school for humanity .The leisure of learning truth, honesty and freedom. It is the eminent brain for batter society and the library of knowledge. It is the sacred water of life that emerges with the seven colors of human diversity to dissolve racism . Human life is spiritual force of affirmations in which nine sisters are the museum of humanity. It is the religious in which muses is dedicated to the nine affirmation of human faith. The spiritual change from loneness to loveliness is based on love by giving unlimited trust in God (Rab). Human mind is miracle of Supreme Being when we struggle to boil it at luck warm temperature of wisdom to understand fundamental of life by reading (Rabi). The ever lasting stage of satisfaction for mind is to reach Supreme Being before death. The journey of memories can be pleasant with nine affirmations of human faith. We believe that it is time to joggle every conscious to show them that human mind is superior matter not material. The festival of life can be celebrated with wisdom of human faith knowledge once we realize that we all are part of the superior race. It advocates spiritual and moral principles on very high scales for the longest term in human history. Human faith is Adam's monotheistic faith and knows that God is the creator and overseer of the universe at all the time and all matters. It is time to modernize our faith by adopting true faith and educate mankind in accordance with basic principle of life. Our vision is to introduce true human religion by mobilizing communities and faiths around the world to improve people's lives .Our mission is to strength the bond of humanity (Rabi) by introducing human faith religion.
IN GOD (Rab) WE TRUST WE HAVE FAITH IN HUMANITY (Rabi).
Posted by: a posh | July 15, 2008 10:38 AM
I think that this blog about Kennedy can help a lot of people like me in this world. So try to add some more information regarding this facts.
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ryan
Addiction Recovery Minnesota
Posted by: ryan | July 17, 2008 05:57 AM
There should be considered that more things to be done,But it looks very comfortable for everyone.No use of the hints of others who tells that this article is no use.it means that they don't have BRAINS.
............
Chamika
Addiction Recovery Rhode Island
Posted by: Chamika | July 22, 2008 08:08 AM
Don't thread on me... should be best comment for that...
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Elena Myers
[url=http://www.drugtreatments.com/connecticut]Connecticut Drug Treatment[/url]
Posted by: quaddaemon | August 15, 2008 12:02 PM
Don't thread on me... should be best comment for that...
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Elena Myers
[url=http://www.drugtreatments.com/connecticut]Connecticut Drug Treatment[/url]
Posted by: quaddaemon | August 15, 2008 12:04 PM
very useful information.........
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maryland drug rehab
Posted by: anna | November 21, 2008 01:03 AM
A police union official has raised questions over whether the congressman received special treatment because of his elected position, and FOX News since has learned that the police watch commander on duty at the time has been reassigned.
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kesha
rel="do follow">connecticut drug rehab
Posted by: keshacoggins | December 20, 2008 04:19 AM
Laws that support for the treatment on drugs and alcohol abuse, shouldn't be held back because it can help a lot of people with addiction. Moreover, treatments like alcohol intervention can assist in giving recovery to those people.
Posted by: Sarah | April 9, 2009 03:58 PM
Freedom
Abu was a young child in Multan Pakistan who loved birds. one day Abu bought two parrots to keep at home as a pet to see how the parrots raise their chicks. After a couple months the parrots learned to a say a few words, one always said, ''I did not know'' Abu called him intelligence officer. The other one always said,’ you did it'' Abu called him the journalist. after couple of years the parrots didn't lay eggs, which made Abu worried.
Abu took them to the vet to figure out what was wrong. the veterinarian didn't know what to do so the vet told Abu just to feed the birds a different type of food. After six months went by nothing happened. Abu prayed to his God (Rab) and asked heavenly light,
Why the parrots aren’t laying eggs ?
Heavenly light said that they are both male parrots. open the cage and let them free , freedom is birth right of all creator .
Blessing on humanity (Rabi) from Mehdi (Imam) and Adam (Jesus) the father and the son with Holy Spirit!
Abu wanted to learn how to know if the bird is male or female the Heavenly light showed abu the joints under the parrots legs. birds are like humans.
Time went by quick Abu happened to be in New Jersey USA working for 7-11 where he met two brothers Joey and Tony. The brothers were in business of import and export and somehow their import and export was done through pigeons.
One day Joey asked Abu while talking in the store that if he had any knowledge of birds and Abu said no, but birds are like humans. they love freedom , have a collar bone , human drop their teeth for age and birds drop their feathers for age. Then one night Joey brought a pigeon at the store where abu worked he told Abu that whenever I try to send this pigeon as a messenger to Philadelphia it turns around and comes back, what is the reason ?
Abu fingered the bird and the bird had eggs ready to be laid. that got them surprised, the brothers had bought the bird from Gino who was the owner of a cake shop was standing right behind got into argument .
Next morning Abu saw Gino brought two partridge in a small cage to know what they were , we went outside opened the cage and try to grip the birds somehow the both partridge flow off . Abu looked in Geno eyes and smiled Geno got mad and left. after couple of hours a guy brought a gift box for Abu in it a small cake freedom written on the cake was from Gino.
Abu came home, prayed to his God (Rab) and asked heavenly light , what is freedom ?
The answer was knowledge.
Human Faith is heavenly light of knowledge restriction on sacred light is eclipse on humanity and blasphemy.
Human faith teaches not only moral values it can give realistic purpose of achieving complete fulfillment of internal life. Our method of understanding both the universe and life is based on unlimited confidence in individual by teaching respect of life .
Human Faith is a religious of God (Rab) of humanity (Rabi). The definition of humanity (Rabi)in our faith is the quality of being humane and respectful for life. The Divine Affirmations of human faith are the commandment of God (Rab) of Humanity (Rabi). The crime against the Divine Affirmations is blasphemy and great disrespect for our God (Rab) of humanity (Rabi).
Human faith is Mehdi’s and Adam’s monotheistic faith and knows that God (Rab) is the creator and overseer of the universe at all the time and all matters. It is time to modernize our faith by adopting true faith and educate mankind in accordance with basic principle of life. Our vision is to introduce true human religion by mobilizing communities and faiths around the world to improve people’s lives .Our mission is to strength the bond of humanity (Rabi) by introducing heavenly light .
IN GOD (Rab) WE TRUST WE HAVE FAITH IN HUMANITY (Rabi)
Posted by: ajmal (Abu) | April 29, 2009 01:11 PM
Freedom
Abu was a young child in Multan Pakistan who loved birds. one day Abu bought two parrots to keep at home as a pet to see how the parrots raise their chicks. After a couple months the parrots learned to a say a few words, one always said, ''I did not know'' Abu called him intelligence officer. The other one always said,’ you did it'' Abu called him the journalist. after couple of years the parrots didn't lay eggs, which made Abu worried.
Abu took them to the vet to figure out what was wrong. the veterinarian didn't know what to do so the vet told Abu just to feed the birds a different type of food. After six months went by nothing happened. Abu prayed to his God (Rab) and asked heavenly light,
Why the parrots aren’t laying eggs ?
Heavenly light said that they are both male parrots. open the cage and let them free , freedom is birth right of all creator .
Blessing on humanity (Rabi) from Mehdi (Imam) and Adam (Jesus) the father and the son with Holy Spirit!
Abu wanted to learn how to know if the bird is male or female the Heavenly light showed abu the joints under the parrots legs. birds are like humans.
Time went by quick Abu happened to be in New Jersey USA working for 7-11 where he met two brothers Joey and Tony. The brothers were in business of import and export and somehow their import and export was done through pigeons.
One day Joey asked Abu while talking in the store that if he had any knowledge of birds and Abu said no, but birds are like humans. they love freedom , have a collar bone , human drop their teeth for age and birds drop their feathers for age. Then one night Joey brought a pigeon at the store where abu worked he told Abu that whenever I try to send this pigeon as a messenger to Philadelphia it turns around and comes back, what is the reason ?
Abu fingered the bird and the bird had eggs ready to be laid. that got them surprised, the brothers had bought the bird from Gino who was the owner of a cake shop was standing right behind got into argument .
Next morning Abu saw Gino brought two partridge in a small cage to know what they were , we went outside opened the cage and try to grip the birds somehow the both partridge flow off . Abu looked in Geno eyes and smiled Geno got mad and left. after couple of hours a guy brought a gift box for Abu in it a small cake freedom written on the cake was from Gino.
Abu came home, prayed to his God (Rab) and asked heavenly light , what is freedom ?
The answer was knowledge.
Human Faith is heavenly light of knowledge restriction on sacred light is eclipse on humanity and blasphemy.
Human faith teaches not only moral values it can give realistic purpose of achieving complete fulfillment of internal life. Our method of understanding both the universe and life is based on unlimited confidence in individual by teaching respect of life .
Human Faith is a religious of God (Rab) of humanity (Rabi). The definition of humanity (Rabi)in our faith is the quality of being humane and respectful for life. The Divine Affirmations of human faith are the commandment of God (Rab) of Humanity (Rabi). The crime against the Divine Affirmations is blasphemy and great disrespect for our God (Rab) of humanity (Rabi).
Human faith is Mehdi’s and Adam’s monotheistic faith and knows that God (Rab) is the creator and overseer of the universe at all the time and all matters. It is time to modernize our faith by adopting true faith and educate mankind in accordance with basic principle of life. Our vision is to introduce true human religion by mobilizing communities and faiths around the world to improve people’s lives .Our mission is to strength the bond of humanity (Rabi) by introducing heavenly light .
IN GOD (Rab) WE TRUST WE HAVE FAITH IN HUMANITY (Rabi)
Posted by: ajmal (Abu) | April 29, 2009 01:12 PM