WITH ALL of the strain Medicaid has been reported to suffer already - and health coverage in Massachusetts and in other states in general - what makes mental health screening a good idea?
An almost automatic $4.5-million hit - if anyone bothered to do the math - for a written questionnaire? To ask if your toddler has been fussy? If your teenager has been emotional? Duh.
And this is going to be a yearly thing. Add to that the prescriptions that will inevitably come, and the doctor followups, oh geesh. Wouldn't that money be better spent on schools? That could be more than 100 teachers' salaries.
COURTENAY DODDS
Exeter, N.H.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
