Pubdate: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN) Copyright: 2003 The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co. Contact: http://www.knoxnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/226 Author: Anita Bertrand Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) MENTAL HEALTH CARE NEEDED IN DETERMINING BUDGET The latest roller-coaster TennCare dilemma concerning the status of 200,000 enrollees is high on drama and low on common sense, especially when it comes to providing mental health services to consumers. Regardless of the decision the courts ultimately make about TennCare, Tennessee must make every effort to provide treatment to adults and children with severe mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. These Tennessee citizens face acute challenges such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, alcoholism and drug addiction. In cases of substance abuse, TennCare as it currently operates isn't meeting the needs of the patients it serves, even for those patients who survive the latest roll call and remain eligible for the program. >From a financial perspective, the state usually winds up footing the bill for these tragedies, which costs much more than providing preventive treatment before crises emerge. Even worse, the emotional and physical toll on individuals' lives is far more taxing than anything the state pays in such instances. A significant number of adults and children facing the challenges of mental illness and substance abuse in Tennessee are people from low-income backgrounds, the exact population TennCare was established to care for. They cannot afford the assistance they need without the program. Our state's budget crisis is legitimate and complicated, but a solution must not come at the expense of the state's most vulnerable citizens. The Tennessee Coalition for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services urges the state not to let mental health and substance abuse care become the latest casualties of the state's budget battle. The war against mental illness and substance abuse is one we can't afford to lose. ANITA BERTRAND - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager