Illinois

besides the fact that countycare, an aca program for medicaid in cook county, sets people up with free insurance so that they can get the treatment they need either in the er, or through a private provider, there is also an aggressive diversion program to keep the mentally ill out of the cook county jail and in treatment where they belong.

admissions through er's is soaring, which, imho, is a good thing. many rail about the closing of chicago mental health clinics but i contend they were useless agencies that put bandaids on hemorrhages, and did more more harm than good. now those people can get county care and receive mental health parity.
real treatment for mental illness often starts in the er. this is a real sign of progress.

rauner likes it because it saves money. we can like it because it saves lives.

kelly cassidy is the best.