I have been following the News & Observer's series on the abject failure of mental health care "reform" in North Carolina with some interest.
As a Pediatrician, I see the joke that is mental health "care" in North Carolina every single day. We've got some WAY mentally-ill kids who are not getting the help they need (when the help will help most) . . . because the resources & psychiatrists are simply not there . . . because the NC Department of Health and Human Services "outsources" everything to crooks and liars . . because the state of North Carolina could not manage its way out of a wet paper bag.
I admit it. It's late. I'm tired and a little punchy. But tell me again that government-run healthcare is the way to go.
The N&O series, "Mental Disorder: The Failure of Reform," reported that the state had wasted at least $400 million on a new community support program for the mentally ill. It also revealed that since December 2000, 82 people had died in state mental institutions under circumstances that raised questions about their care.
The same themes that have played out in my story of public service woe play out here. The players at the top are the same bunch of do-nothings who say they do good but don't actually.
In the wake of my own ten-year medicolegal nightmare . . . and remembering the billions wasted in the quickly-buried "disproportionate share" fiasco . . . and knowing full well that the doctors and lawyers that comprise/run the NC Medical Board are the KINGS of diving under desks in their ivory towers . . . I am not surprised bucket-fulls of public money were wasted. I am not surprised people died. I am not surprise oversight was non-existent.
Disgusted? Yes. Pissed off? Yes. Angry? Yes. Saddened? Yes. Surprised? Not one bit.
I will not be surprised when no one really cares . . . when the under-the-table/face-saving deals get made and it's all swept under the rug.
Today, it was announced that Debbie Crane, the NCDHHS public affairs director who handled the information & document requests for the N&O's story has been fired.
This one REEKS of retaliation and has Governor Sleazeley's dirty/arrogant/ignorant fingerprints all over it. No big surprise there either.
Sayeth Ms. Crane (whose name is familiar to me - and with/through whom I've no doubt communicated during my long battle to see Robert Morrison and Steve Eblin held accountable for their crimes), "It does amaze me that y'all have done this series detailing all this waste of money, all the hurt people ... and that the one person who gets fired is me," she said. "It's truly shooting the messenger."
Join the club, baby. Not such a great position to be in is it?
At least the N&O will be interested in Ms. Crane's story . . . in stark contrast to the local rags that have not cared one iota about mine.
And please note people, which political party has sat at the helm of the sinking ship in Raleigh during ALL of these healthcare fiascoes (big and small).
I'll give you a hint. It's not George Bush's.
On that note, I've got some NEWS for "forward-looking" Governor wannabe, Richard Moore (as he quickly moves to step over the dead bodies of those 82 patients). When the same damned things happen over and over again, it is NOT just a "book-keeping" problem at NCDHHS. And NOW is EXACTLY the time to throw stones.
Through some of our clueless state officials &^%$#@ office windows!
Wait. I need to hold back.
"Mama Sue" might accuse me of "cyber-stalking".
It's time to go take a deep breath and listen to the storms blow through.
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