Drew Ferguson: “I rise in support of H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Addiction and Equity Act of 2007. This legislation…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Addiction and Equity Act of 2007. This legislation brings treatment to individuals that desperately need the help. Addictions and mental illnesses are afflictions that have long been stigmatized and brushed aside by our society and institutions. Most of us have had a loved one or family member touched by mental illness or addictions. We know their painful stories all too well. Many individuals go years without treatment for serious illnesses due to society's stigma on mental illnesses. These individuals need and should receive the same care and treatment as if they had any other illness. However, I do have deep concerns about how this bill will be funded. Funding this legislation comes at the expense of United States medical researchers, which is ironic, since these are the folks who we look to to develop treatments for many of these very health conditions. One of the offsets included in this legislation is a more than 30 percent increase in the Medicaid prescription drug rebate, which is a punitive and unwarranted move against the same medical researchers that we are relying on to find cures and treatments for illnesses and diseases.”