April 22, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Jesse Chadderdon (302) 744-4282 or (302) 743-0945;
Patrick Jackson (302) 744-4046 or (302) 242-0036
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Jesse Chadderdon (302) 744-4282 or (302) 743-0945;
Patrick Jackson (302) 744-4046 or (302) 242-0036
Sen. Bethany Hall-Long’s statement on mental and behavioral health hearings
DOVER – Sen. Bethany Hall-Long, D-Middletown, offered the following statement after joining Joint Health Committee co-chair Rep. Michael Barbieri to lead the second of two hearings on mental and behavioral health in Delaware on Wednesday (the first hearing was held April 1):
“In recent years, changes to our health care laws at both the state and federal levels, coupled with changes made by local service providers, have altered the landscape of mental and behavioral health in our state. Most recently, with the announced closure of its Rosenblum Adolescent Center and adult transitional program, Christiana Care has moved to an embedded model, where care is provided during primary care visits. The change has raised awareness about the fragility of our system, and how a modification in one part of the system can impact the delivery of services statewide.
“Over the course of two hearings, we heard from patients, advocates and other service providers concerned about the gaps in services, both in hospitals and in the community. As lawmakers, we respect Christiana’s decision to change the way it offers care, but we’re also concerned about the Delawareans who feel they’ve been negatively affected by the rapid transition. That’s why these hearings must represent the beginning of a larger conversation with stakeholders from hospitals, state agencies, families and advocacy groups about how we can best coordinate services across our state, so nobody fall through the cracks.”
“In recent years, changes to our health care laws at both the state and federal levels, coupled with changes made by local service providers, have altered the landscape of mental and behavioral health in our state. Most recently, with the announced closure of its Rosenblum Adolescent Center and adult transitional program, Christiana Care has moved to an embedded model, where care is provided during primary care visits. The change has raised awareness about the fragility of our system, and how a modification in one part of the system can impact the delivery of services statewide.
“Over the course of two hearings, we heard from patients, advocates and other service providers concerned about the gaps in services, both in hospitals and in the community. As lawmakers, we respect Christiana’s decision to change the way it offers care, but we’re also concerned about the Delawareans who feel they’ve been negatively affected by the rapid transition. That’s why these hearings must represent the beginning of a larger conversation with stakeholders from hospitals, state agencies, families and advocacy groups about how we can best coordinate services across our state, so nobody fall through the cracks.”
###
Press Contacts
Scott Goss
Communications Director
(302) 744-4180
scott.goss@delaware.gov
Dylan McDowell
Communications Assistant
(302) 744-4282
dylan.mcdowell@delaware.gov
Scott Goss
Communications Director
(302) 744-4180
scott.goss@delaware.gov
Dylan McDowell
Communications Assistant
(302) 744-4282
dylan.mcdowell@delaware.gov