Mediaboss Marketing

This post is hosted on the Huffington Post's Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and post freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

Senator Rand Paul has shared his plan for a replacement to the Affordable Care Act. While I commend the Senator for starting a dialogue that includes specifics, there are elements of the plan that should cause mental health advocates to shudder. Three components of the plan that have me cringing include:

The Paradox of Relying on Medicaid While at the Same Time Relaxing State Standards

In a conference call with Republican leaders, Paul was reported to have stated that he believes the best way to deal with very sick people with pre-existing conditions will lie with Medicaid and the states who can "look for innovative ways" to provide necessary care without bankrupting the system.Senator Paul is also reported to have said that hewants through the bill to "give new flexibilities to states in their Medicaid plan design, through existing waiver authority in current law....[to] allow states to make changes to their Medicaid plans without interference from Washington."

Senator Paul is telling us that he believes that Medicaid is the answer for those with pre-existing conditions and that states should be allowed to make changes to their Medicaid plans without interference from Washington. Sounds good, right? Wrong.

This mantra of "letting states decide" is good political theatre, but very precarious for those who have loved ones with mental health challenges. History has shown that providing quality health care coverage for those with mental health challenges is far too often at the bottom of the priority list when states are not bound to minimum standards. The zeal to "let states decide" is theTrojan Horsethat will likely be inserted into all of the Republican plans coming forward, and mental health advocates should pay close attention.

Senator Paul deserves props for at least publicizing a replacement approach for the ACA that can help start a dialogue. But his plan and likely many of the alternative plans to the ACA that will emerge over the next few days have some significant flaws that should concern all mental health advocates, regardless of political affiliation.

Call Your Congressional Representative

When you call your congressional office today, share the importance of finding ways to increase coverage for as many Americans as possible, keeping minimum standards high, and protecting all Americans with pre-existing conditions, so they are not shunned by the health care delivery system.

Original post:
Senator Rand Paul ACA Replacement Plan Has Flaws That Should Concern All Mental Health Advocates - Huffington Post