PHP X POLITICS

JOHN F. KENNEDY (35th president)

signed the Community Mental Health Act (1963)

this Act allowed for those with mental illness return back to their communities and out of the “cages” of the psychiatric hospitals

the services this Act created were much more effective as well

SOURCE: "Community Mental Health Act" (thenationalcouncil.org)

JIMMY CARTER (39th president)

signed the Mental Health System Act of 1980

this Act improved mental health care within the U.S. and gave $800 million grants to mental health service over the span of four years

SOURCE: "Public Policy and Mental Illnesses: Jimmy Carter's Presidential Commission on Mental Health" (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

GEORGE H.W. BUSH (41st president)

declared the 1990s the “Decade of the Brain"

signed the Americans with Disabilities Act which prohibited discrimination against disabilities, including those with mental illnesses

SOURCE: "Project on the Decade of the Brain" (loc.gov)

GEORGE W. BUSH (43rd president)

signed the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (2004)

this Act created a $50 million dollar federal grant for states to establish mental health treatment to adult & juvenile criminals who were non-violent offenders

also signed the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Equity Act (2008)

this Act allowed for medical insurance to cover mental health treatment

SOURCE: "Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act Becomes Law" (apa.org)

BARACK OBAMA (44th president)

signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare)

this Act allowed required individual and small employer plans to cover mental health.

also signed the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Act (2010), which provided more supportive housing resources for people with mental illness.

2016: proposed a $500 million fund to expand resources for mental health care

SOURCES: "How Obama Improved Mental Health Coverage" (healthinsurance.org)

These changes have greatly affected mental health care for individuals with mental illnesses. However, these changes are still not enough. 56% of adults with mental illnesses have never received treatment. 20.6% of adults who have tried to get treatment were refused. Of the adults that do get treatment,12% are not insured.

KELLY LOEFFLER (GOP)

Supports a market-based approach to healthcare rather than a government supported program like a public option or Medicare for all

Has co-sponsored two bills supporting veterans’ mental health

Serves on the board of Skyland Trail, a nonprofit treatment center for those navigating mental illness

Does not support the Affordable Care Act or universal healthcare

"We should cover pre-existing conditions. We should lower health care costs. We should give patients more options. We should NOT socialize (universalize) medicine — and I will NEVER let that happen." (Loeffler, 2020)

RAPHAEL WARNOCK (DNC)

Supports access to affordable, quality mental health care through Medicaid expansion, early Medicare buy-in, and a public option

Supports increased resources for behavioral health treatment to decrease reliance on policing for non-criminal crisis interventions

Has emphasized support for healthcare resources for women and children

Supports protecting and improving the Affordable Care Act

“Affordable health care is not radical” (Warnock, 2020)

JOS OSSOFF (DNC)

Supports public health insurance options for mental health care

Supports funding rural hospitals and establishing new public health clinics to increase access to healthcare, including behavioral health services

Has asserted that individuals with mental illness who commit crimes should have access to healthcare interventions

Supports the Affordable Care Act and legislation that brings down its premium prices

“We should be enlightened enough now to treat addiction and mental illness with healthcare, not with prison.” (Ossoff, 2020)

DAVID PERDUE (GOP)

Recommends lowering prescription drug costs and increasing access to healthcare through market-based solutions that increase competition; however, he has expressed support for non-profit community health centers that provide behavioral health services to underserved Georgians

Has supported legislation for veterans’ mental health in the past

Does not support the Affordable Care Act or healthcare for all

“I’m working with President Trump and the Senate to ensure transparency in prescription drug pricing.” (Perdue, 2020)

Senators decide on important laws and policies regarding healthcare including behavioral health services! Every vote is crucial! Call 866-OUR-VOTE for more information about the Senate Runoff Elections in Georgia.