Walt Maddox: State in mental health care crisis

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Walt Maddox
[Photo Credit: AP Photo via the Montgomery Advertiser]

Standing with a probate judge who described how he can sometimes not find treatment beds for people who need to be committed, gubernatorial challenger Walt Maddox said Monday the state is facing a mental health care crisis and must put more resources into treatment.

The Democratic nominee opposing Republican Gov. Kay Ivey held a news conference outside a closed psychiatric hospital in Montgomery. Maddox said a shortage of mental health services could be addressed by Medicaid expansion and his lottery and gambling proposals to put more money into treatment.

“Alabamians are hurting,” Maddox said.

Maddox said the state’s failure to expand Medicaid under Ivey and previous Gov. Robert Bentley is “maybe the worst” health care and economic decision the state has made.

“How we treat our fellow man is, I believe, one of the ways we will be judged. Right now, under the Bentley-Ivey administration, those vulnerable to mental illness have been forgotten about. The decisions regarding their lives are budget-driven, in the hopes Alabama will forget about them.”

Ivey issued a statement through her campaign that, “I am committed to ensuring we continue to help Alabamians lead healthier, safer and happier lives.”

Ivey said she appointed an experienced and dedicated new mental health commissioner, secured additional funding to create new programs and services, and ensured the Department of Mental Health had a voice on a number of commissions and tasks forces.

She also said earlier this month that she is not opposed to Medicaid expansion, but questions how the state would pay for it.

Maddox argued the economic investment in health care would pay for itself. He has also suggested striking a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to pay for the state’s share of expansion.

The state in 2012 announced the closure of most psychiatric hospitals in an effort to move people to community-based treatment, a step that was supported by patient advocates. However, Maddox contended the state has failed to adequately fund crisis care and other community services.

Maddox said his proposal to start a state lottery would provide $25 million for “wraparound” mental health services in public schools.

Montgomery County Probate Judge Steven Reed, who is supporting Maddox in the race, said he sometimes cannot process petitions for mental health commitment because there are no treatment beds available.

He described families trying to keep tabs on ill family members because there are no treatment options. He said some “had to lock themselves inside of a bedroom because the loved one may be going through a spell or having some hallucinations.”

He said there are no adolescent treatment beds in the county.

“That is a risk to them. That is a risk to our community … It is a major problem not having enough beds in our community and throughout this state,” Reed said.

Republished with permission from the Associated Press.