[Nfbmo] FW: Statewide law enforcement groups join Gov. Nixon's call to strengthen Medicaid, enhance public safety

McMahon, Cory J cory.j.mcmahon at gmail.com
Wed Apr 17 14:55:12 UTC 2013


FYI.

 

From: Ansley, Channing [mailto:Channing.Ansley at mo.gov] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 9:46 AM
To: Ansley, Channing
Cc: Holste, Scott
Subject: Statewide law enforcement groups join Gov. Nixon's call to
strengthen Medicaid, enhance public safety

 

Contact:           Scott Holste, (573) 751-0290

                         <mailto:Scott.Holste at mo.gov> Scott.Holste at mo.gov

                        Channing Ansley, (573) 751-0290

                         <mailto:Channing.Ansley at mo.gov>
Channing.Ansley at mo.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 18, 2013

Statewide law enforcement groups join Gov. Nixon's call to strengthen
Medicaid, enhance public safety

Missouri Police Chiefs Association, Missouri FOP, and executive board of the
Missouri Sheriffs Association all endorse plan to expand access to mental
health services

JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Jay Nixon said today that three of Missouri's most
prominent statewide law enforcement groups have joined the growing call for
the strengthening of Medicaid. The Missouri Police Chiefs Association, the
Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, and the executive board of the Missouri
Sheriffs Association all recently stated their support for strengthening
Medicaid because of how it would benefit public safety by improving access
to treatment for individuals with mental illness.

Of the 300,000 additional Missourians who would receive health coverage
under an expansion of Medicaid, an estimated 50,000 need mental health
services.

"Bringing these dollars back Missouri will create thousands of good jobs and
give hundreds of thousands of working Missourians access to basic health
care, including mental health services," Gov. Nixon said. "The decision we
make on Medicaid has real implications for public safety as well, and the
support of these law enforcement groups demonstrates that. Strengthening
Medicaid will strengthen public safety by giving individuals with severe
mental illness access to earlier, more effective treatment."

"We've seen the tragic consequences of individuals with serious mental
illness not getting the treatment they need, and becoming a danger to
themselves or others as a result," said Detective Sgt. Kevin Ahlbrand,
president of the Missouri FOP. "The members of the Missouri FOP are on the
front lines protecting the public everyday and we support this proposal
because it will make law enforcement more effective and our communities
safer."

A report released last month by the Missouri Department of Mental Health
found that strengthening Medicaid will increase access to treatment for
individuals with mental illness. An estimated 50,000 of these previously
uninsured Missourians need mental health services, including treatment for
serious mental illness. According to the report, "many will be young adults,
between the ages of 18-30, with developing mental illness such as
schizophrenia or bipolar disorder."

"Our officers deal every day with people experiencing serious mental health
issues, so access to inpatient treatment is a serious concern," St. Louis
Metropolitan Police Chief Sam Dotson said. "If those individuals with mental
health challenges aren't getting the care they need, it affects the health
and safety of the entire community. Ensuring that those mental health
services are available, which this proposal does, will help us in protecting
the public."

Because federal funding will cover 100 percent of the costs for calendar
years 2014, 2015 and 2016, expanding health care coverage to these uninsured
Missourians would involve no state tax dollars for those years. Some of
these federal dollars will pay for coverage that is currently being paid for
with state dollars. In addition, the economic benefit of expansion will
generate additional state revenue. These savings and revenue are
conservatively estimated to have a positive impact of $46.6 million in 2014,
$125 million in 2015, and $139.6 million in 2016. 

###

 

Follow the Governor on Twitter @GovJayNixon

 

 

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