Press Conference Remarks
November 7, 2005
Gayle Bluebird for the Florida Peer Network

 

The Florida Peer Network, a newly formed statewide organization of persons living with psychiatric disabilities and mental illnesses, is compelled to express our grave concerns regarding the Medicaid Waiver proposal. We share these concerns with other stakeholder groups, including the Florida Council, the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, and NAMI, FL.

Our position is simple; the impact of the proposed Medicaid Waiver will be catastrophic for people living with psychiatric disabilities. This is especially true for those individuals dependent on Medicaid, which includes many of our members, for payment of vial medical and rehabilitative services and supports, including peer supports.

We make the following observations:

1. There are no guarantees regarding access to optional services currently available and considered essential for the recovery of persons with mental illnesses. This includes targeted case management, housing programs, and peer directed services.

2. The waiver puts us in the opposite direction with the President's New Freedom Commission that establishes recovery as the goal of mental health services.

3. We will be seeing more people in jail because they will not be able to get treatment; thus the state will pay ten times as much to have them declared incompetent and committed to a state hospital.

4. Thus far recipients of mental health services have not been meaningfully involved in meetings and discussion regarding Medicaid reform and the Medicaid Waiver. It is essential that we be included in decision making at all phases of discussion.

Overall, we believe the strategies that may save money will hurt us in the end. We need to be asked, be involved and be part of the planning. The time to get involved as true citizens is now. We need to bring compassion, love and caring back into the prescription of care.

Statement prepared by:

Gayle Bluebird
Director, Florida Peer Network

 

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Florida Peer Network, Inc., 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MHC 2505, Tampa, Florida 33612
Phone: 877-FLA PEER (877-352-7337) or 813-974-2851
Fax: 813-974-6411
Email: info@floridapeernetwork.org

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