August 13, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Tuesday, August 13, 2019 Opinion Page “ElkCituNews CAPACITY MAGAZINES Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 Our health in leaders’ hands Muskogee Phoenix, Okla. Oklahoma has found itself near the bottom of a list of health care rankings that was released Monday. WalletHub, a personal-finance website released its re- port of 2019's Best & Worst States for Health Care. Okla- homa is 45th out of all 50 states and the District of Co- lumbia. To determine where Americans receive the highest- quality services at the best prices, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 43 key measures of health care cost, accessibility and outcome. The data set ranges from average monthly insurance pre- mium to physicians per capita to share of insured popula- tion. Shootings highlight Some interesting facts: --Oklahoma also is 47th for the fewest dentists per cap- ita and 48th for the highest percentage of adults with no dental visit in the past year. mental health concerns --Only Florida and Texas are worse off when it comes to the lowest percentage of insured adults ages 19 to 64. --We’re 47th for the highest infant mortality rate. --Oklahoma tied for 46th with Florida for the lowest percentage of insured children ages 0-18. The Oklahoman, Okla- means many don’t get the formerly would have been States allow for involun- Sen, Dewayne Pemberton wrote in Sunday’s Phoenix homa City help they need. treated in state mental hos- tary treatment for people that a bipartisan, bicameral Healthcare Working Group In the debate over causes Mental health advocates pitals, with studies showing with severe mental illness has been formed and will be bringing in experts from the and solutions to mass kill- note that those who can get “between 40% and 50% of who can’t seek care them- medical and health fields/industries as well as officials ings in the United States, a treatment and maintain it are them are receiving no treat- from other states to figure out how to improve our state’s debate renewed with par- able to live normal, produc- ment.” selves. In Oklahoma, a pro- health care system. ticular vigor following last tive lives. This is a point that He cited an FBI report that gram called assisted outpa- The group will also be tackling the issue of Medicaid weekend’s shootings in El cannot be overstated. How- reviewed active-shooter sit- tient treatment is available expansion, which he said is “an incredibly complex issue Paso and Dayton, the is- ever, problems arise when uations from 2008 to 2013. via court order for those with many moving parts and factors that must be consid- sue of mental health policy treatment isn’t available or It found 40% of shooters ered,” who are repeatedly unable should not be overlooked. when patients self-medicate had received a_psychiat- Pemberton recognizes health care is extremely expen- This is something The or choose not to medicate. ric diagnosis and 70% had to follow their treatment sive. Oklahoman has written In a Wall Street Journal “mental health stressors” or plan. Some states also have “T’m confident this group can come up with a plan that about many times through op-ed, E. Fuller Torrey, a “mental health concerning adopted “red flag” laws that best meets the needs of all Oklahomans,” he said. the years because of the toll psychiatrist and founder behaviors” before the attack. let police or family mem- Voters have put their faith in our state senators and rep- that poor mental health takes of the Arlington, Virginia- AUS. Secret Service study resentatives to resolve the issue. Our lives depend on it. bers petition to take firearms on the state. based Treatment Advoca- of 27 attacks from 2018 said Oklahoma leads the na- cy Center, argued that the two-thirds of the suspects away from those who may Medicaid expansion tion, on a per capita basis, widespread availability of showed symptoms of mental present a danger. in the number of people in guns in this country “obvi- illness or emotional distur- State spending on men- must answer questions prison. The Department of ously plays a role” in mass bance. tal health in Oklahoma has Corrections has said about shootings, but so does un- The Journal’s — edito- one-third of its inmates ex- inched up in recent years. Muskogee Phoenix, Okla. treated mental illness. tial board said U.S. men- State lawmakers formed a bipartisan working group this hibit a serious mental ill- Torrey noted that the tal health spending has However, if nothing else, past week to look at ways they could expand access to ness. Roughly four of every country’s move away from increased during the past these horrible shootings health care and insurance coverage for those who did not five need mental health or institutionalization of the decade but, “The problem is should remind state policy- fit neatly into one of the few categories where those are substance abuse treatment. seriously mentally ill has identifying those with men- makers of the importance of Across the state, about had consequences. About tal illness who are a threat, readily available. mental health services and 630,000 Oklahomans strug- 1 million Americans, Tor- and then allowing society We applaud the effort but must question the motive con- gle with mental health is- rey wrote, are living with a to intervene to prevent vio- the need to continue invest- sidering the move comes after neatly a decade of stubborn, sues, but a lack of providers serious mental illness that lence.” ing in them. partisan refusal to willingly do so. The decision also was announced just two days before petitioners began collect- ing the estimated 178,000 signatures needed to let voters “Back to School Bashes” provide free decide whether to accept federal funds needed to expand the state’s Medicaid program through the Affordable Care school supplies to foster children Act. By Oklahoma Institute Sarah Stitt and others to host pack programs that aid foster port existing back-to-school Passage of State Question 802, should the requisite for Child Advocacy CEO youth. If you are interested two “Back to School Bash” backpack programs and to number of signatures be secured by the Oct. 28 deadline Joe Dorman events, where foster fami- in supporting, volunteering empower more DHS work- and it be placed on the ballot, would expand eligibility As we prepare for the lies can have access to free or donating to this or one of ers to deliver these back- to low-income adults who earn up to 133 percent of the end of summer vacation backpacks and school sup- our other programs, please packs to families directly. federal poverty level. It also would prohibit the state from for many Oklahomans, plies while their children contact our office at oica.org There are several other fan- imposing restrictions or requirements on those who enroll both students and educa- enjoy a night of movies, or at (405) 236-5437. tastic programs working to- through this option that differ from those already enrolled tors alike, I am reminded of games and fun. The events Numbers provided by the ward this goal, such as It’s a my own days and summers will be held on Aug. 13 at Oklahoma Department of in SoonerCare, the state’s version of Medicaid. Child’s Life. This is an Ada growing up in Rush Springs. the Governor’s Mansion and Human Services just last Medicaid expansion would insure an additional 200,000 organization which holds Our end of summer was al- August 16 at Guthrie Green month showa clear need for low-income Oklahomans and bring billions in federal ways signified by the annual in Tulsa. Spaces are limited; these kinds of services. Of an annual walk to purchase health care dollars back home. Passage certainly would Watermelon Festival, which if you are a foster parent at- the 8,008 children in foster luggage for DHS workers bolster health care in rural areas where hospitals and clin- welcomed tens of thousands tending with a child, please care, 4,287 are classified as to use for kids, along with ics closed due to decisions made by those who prioritized of visitors to our small town be sure to RSVP at HTTP:// school age (5 — 17), with a 5K run to help raise funds politics above people. on the second Saturday of BIT.LY/STITTSCHOOL- 3,616 of these youth living to find forever homes for or- House Speaker Charles McCall said the working group August each year (and still BASH. OICA, thanks to in either an out-of-home phans. To learn more about will bring everyone together -- patients, policy experts, does to this day). After the generous grants and sup- placement, a kinship (fam- their Orphan Love Mud providers, insurers, medical facilities and state officials -- festival, we finished our port from WalMart, Express ily member) home, a foster Run on September 21, or to back-to-school shopping Employment International, care home with family like support their mission, go to in an effort to find solutions. The goal, he said, is to devel- and got ready for another Simmons Bank and King settings, or in congregate https://www.itsachildslife. op a “comprehensive, multifaceted approach that consid- school year. Marlin Swim Club, was able care (with 24-hour supervi- org/ for details. ers not just what is wrong with the system, but also what Of course, back-to-school to purchase more than 700 sion in highly structured set- T hope to see all our sup- is working, and also what has worked and not worked in shopping can be a significant backpacks for the youth who tings such as a group home, porters at the 75th Annual other states.” burden for many Oklaho- will attend. School sup- institution, residential treat- Rush Springs Watermelon The goal is laudable, but we hope this delayed legis- mans with big families and plies have been donated by ment facility or maternity Festival this Saturday, and lative response does not deter the efforts of those who modest budgets, and that is other organizations so fami- home). We are thankful that especially true of families lies and kids can take home the OICA can provide some please bring a young relative waited patiently, but in vain, for lawmakers to act and are or neighbor with you to this that make the wonderful the essentials they need for support for these young petitioning now to put SQ 802 on the ballot. Judging from decision to foster children. school. Oklahomans, working in great family-friendly event! past experience, it will be difficult to trust that Oklahoma’s That’s why I am pleased Additionally, OICA is collaboration with some I promise, this is a fun way elected officials will act in the people’s best interest when that the Oklahoma Institute partnering with other pro- great partner organizations. to celebrate the end of sum- it comes to creating a health care system that is accessible for Child Advocacy (OICA) grams in rural parts of Okla- Going forward, we hope mer and the remaining days and affordable for all. is partnering with First Lady homa to enhance their back- to expand our ability to sup- before school starts.