The Ohio chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness applauded Gov. John Kasich today for including an expansion of Medicaid for Ohio residents into his biennnial budget proposal.


The advocacy group send a letter Tuesday to Kasich to thank him and said it would work with state legislators to convince them to include the expansion in the budget.

Here’s what the letter stated:

An Open Letter to Governor John Kasich


February 5, 2013

Dear Governor Kasich,

On behalf of the thousands of Ohioans with mental health disorders and their families, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio (NAMI Ohio) wants to THANK YOU for including Medicaid expansion in your budget proposal.  Your decision will make an enormous difference in the lives of those who struggle with holding down a job while battling depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia and other mental health disorders that make it difficult to cope with everyday life.

Ensuring that those in need have access to Medicaid services, including mental and physical healthcare, will not only make it easier for Ohioans with mental illness to fulfill their job responsibilities, but it will also improve the quality of their lives and the lives of those who love them.

NAMI Ohio, the state’s voice on mental illness, will be working with the legislature to convince them this is crucial legislation that addresses both mental and physical health care needs of working Ohioans.

Thank you, Governor Kasich, for your commitment to improving the lives of all Ohioans.

Your friends at NAMI Ohio


NAMI Ohio
Phone: 614-224-2700 / 800-686-2646  
Email: namiohio@namiohio.org
Website: http://www.namiohio.org

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah