posted by elana
The (mini) Green Wellstone Bus is hitting the road again in search of Camp Wellstone Chicago!
Camp Wellstone, the energizing and nationally regarded grassroots training bootcamp for progressives, is headed to Chicago July 17th - 19th. This is Camp Wellstone's first return to Chicagoland since its record breaking training in Dupage County in 2007 that was instrumental in major progressive gains in the western suburbs (here's a blog post about that awesome training).
Follow the Green Bus' search here on the blog, on our twitter feed, and our facebook page. And spread the word to help the Green Bus find Camp Wellstone and let Chicagoland progressives know that we are coming!
Posted on July 1, 2009 - 11:11am by elana
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COMMENTS
Mental Health Parity
Now that parity has passed who is watching the providers? This week I was contacted by Park Nicollet Clinic that my mental health department will close.
My story:
My illness is Major Depression Disorder with Frequent Episodes. My health condition is not managed by me but economic decisions made by a board of directors.
My life decisions revolve around three subject matters.
• My employer’s healthcare plan
• Distance from my healthcare provider
• A clinic system that has a mental health department
I have always made my career decisions based on the company’s healthcare package. Over time, more and more of my healthcare costs have been pushed back on me and not shared by the company or the employee pool. I currently pay a monthly premium and have a $2500.00 deductible. Look at that closely. For an individual, I pay two thousand five hundred dollars out of my own pocket even before I receive any coverage. It is not my fault I have a health condition. As another penalty, I can’t enjoy another employee benefit, a healthcare savings account, a saving vehicle for retirement. The full balance potentially saved is spent within four months solely on prescriptions.
This week I received a form letter from my doctor that my clinic will close the mental health department due to “economic conditions.” The only mental health department available will be at their headquarters an additional 45 minutes drive across the Minneapolis metro. I currently drive 1 hour from a small town. My psychiatrist is my life line and with a shortage of psychiatrists, I will be competing with hundreds of other patients to see a different provider. Many psychiatrists do not take new patients. It currently takes three months to get an appointment now how will the professional absorb these patients?
My health is private and decisions regarding my treatment should not be in the hands of others. Will I get treatment or become impaired to the point of receiving disability or another type of government aid. I would choose to be a productive citizen.
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