"We are closer than ever in passing postpartum legislation!"

July 23, 2008

Dear Mr. Alesch:

I am writing as a constituent in an effort to ask your help in passing critical legislation, S. 1375, the Melanie Stokes MOTHER'S Act, which will help new mothers get essential mental health services. This legislation is named for a young mother who, after suffering postpartum depression, tragically took her own life.

The devastating effects of this condition are real and documented; however, with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, mothers can recover. The MOTHER'S Act will ensure that new mothers and their families are educated about postpartum depression, screened for symptoms and provided with essential health care services.

Far too many Americans know little about mental illness in general, let alone about this tragic illness affecting young mothers and their families. Mental illness affects millions of Americans and untreated mental illness results not only in damaged lives, but also in significant social and economic costs.

This legislation is a much-needed step toward addressing one of our nation's most serious medical and social problems.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Kathy
Westmont

RESPONSE:

Kathy,

Thank you for calling this bill to my attention. I would absolutely support this bill. The one amendment I would attempt to make for this bill would be to state explicitly that not only would a screening be required, but also follow-up care for at-risk mothers -- and that it must be paid for by the patient's current insurance company or by the state. It would be a tragedy if a system were in place to screen new mothers, but not provide adequate follow-up care.

I would add that I firmly support a single-payer, universal health-care system that takes decisions like "whether to treat postpartum depression" out of the hands of insurance companies that are motivated by profits and puts all health-care decisions in the hands of the patients.

As an example, single-payer, universal health-care systems in Europe have provided families there with some of the best birth experiences in the world. There is little doubt that removing financial stresses and obligations surrounding major health events helps improve the prognosis of any patient, including new mothers and their newborns.

I hope you will join me in working toward a single-payer universal health-care program for the United States.

Steve Alesch
Green Party Candidate for Congress, 13th District