Press Release
The JEM Foundation
Denise Denslow
480-930-1733
01/13/2019
GOVERNOR DUCEY ANNOUNCES LEGISLATION FOR ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE
PHOENIX, AZ — Today, in his State of the State Address, Governor Doug Ducey announced access to behavioral healthcare as one of his top priorities in the 2020 legislative session.
Ducey said he is working closely with Sen. Kate Brophy McGee (R-LD 28) and Rep. Jeff Weninger (R-LD 17), who will introduce legislation to help address the epidemic rise of suicide rates in Arizona by ensuring residents have appropriate access to behavioral healthcare.
“Insurance companies should be covering mental health, just like they cover an annual physical. And we’re going to make sure they do,” Ducey said about his plan.
On average, according to NAMI, 1 in 5 Americans experience mental health issues, but access to care, even for those with health insurance, remains a barrier. The latest data from Milliman shows that more than 41% of patients in Arizona are going out-of-network to receive behavioral health treatment.
“We know all too well the devastating outcome when mental health isn’t treated equally with physical health. Our son Jake was hospitalized twice in under two months for suicidal ideation, and both times he was released in only five days. We knew, and his care team knew that he wasn’t well enough to go home. Unfortunately, our insurance company did not agree, and in less than two and a half months, he was gone. Sadly, through our work with the JEM Foundation, we know this is not an uncommon story. Behavioral health equality is at the core of our mission. We need transparency and accountability measures to strengthen compliance with existing mental health parity laws. We are thrilled that the Governor has taken this issue to heart,” said Denise Denslow, co-founder of the JEM Foundation.
In 2018, 1,432 Arizona residents died from suicide, and this crisis increasingly impacts children. According to the latest Arizona Child Fatality Review Report, child suicide increased 32% from 2016-2017, with 68% of those deaths occurring in children 15-17 years of age.
“It is important to learn how to keep our kids safe for now with proper suicide prevention and awareness training, but without proper mental health care, we can’t possibly keep them safe forever,” said Denslow.
“When it comes to our kids: in the iPhone era, they face a world dramatically different than the one we grew up in. Modern technology. Social Media. Loneliness. Vaping. We need solutions that focus on the whole child, promoting personal resilience, leveraging our community, and a supportive environment,” Ducey said.
About the JEM Foundation: JEM was Founded in honor of Jacob Edward Machovsky, who was lost to suicide on January 11, 2016. We exist to honor him by helping others. At The JEM Foundation, we all have one purpose, to end youth suicide. Mental illness and treatment can be complex; we believe in support for the individual along with the parents/caregivers. We are working diligently to enact legislation that will improve the lives of those living with a behavioral health condition. The Founders of JEM are certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructors actively involved in training educators, community members, and others to reduce suicides throughout AZ. Along with training, we help families understand their insurance rights and file appeals when necessary. We present at statewide conferences, create sustainable relationships with local, state, and national elected officials, and formed a statewide insurance parity coalition that has garnered national support.
To learn more please visit our website at https://thejemfoundation.com/.
###
Leave A Comment