Breaking the Wall: Maine’s Failure to Act on Red Flag Law Leaves Mainers Without Access to Mental Health Services
In a recent editorial, it was stated that Maine lawmakers’ failure to act on the red flag law is a monumental failure. This lack of action has led to tragic consequences for Mainers, and our state has once again chosen not to fund a bid for a waiver to outdated federal restrictions on the use of Medicaid funds for mental health services.
If we were able to secure this waiver, similar to what we did for substance abuse treatment, we would have access to federal funds that could help save lives. Last year, Sen. Joe Baldacci’s LD 445 passed both the House and Senate and was the top priority of the Health and Human Services Committee. However, despite its passing, it was never funded.
By investing $1.3 million in state funds, Maine could have received millions in federal dollars to develop and expand progressive treatment programs and other services. It is crucial that we prioritize treatment before tragedy rather than waiting for tragedy before seeking it. The lack of action by Maine on this issue is shortsighted and discriminatory, and it has already cost lives and will continue to do so if nothing is done about it.
The federal Institute for Mental Diseases exclusion law established in 1965 is a national security crisis as it denies federal funds for essential mental health services. This law needs to be abolished nationwide, but Maine can take an active role in pushing this change through Congress by urging its delegation to collectively support such a bill.
Joe Pickering Jr., Chair of the Truth Tear Down this Wall Committee in Bangor has been raising awareness on this important issue and working towards bringing about positive change at the state level. It is time that Maine takes decisive action on this issue before any more lives are lost due to our inaction or neglect towards mental health care.
