NAMI Region 7 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI San Antonio, NAMI Kerrville The candidates were asked the following open-ended questions:

1. Texas is experiencing a shortage of mental health and addiction care providers, especially in rural and underserved areas. How will you make sure more people have access to mental health treatment and services? 2. State and federal law requires mental health parity, or the NAMI Texas staff and NAMI volunteers sent out a mental health equal treatment of mental health conditions and substance policy six-question questionnaire on Google Forms to every use disorders, compared to physical health conditions, in individual running for a state legislative seat in a contested race. insurance plans. However, individuals in Texas still often Candidates were also provided information on NAMI Texas’ receive unequal coverage for mental health treatment and public policy platform. For now, we are only sharing the results for services. What will you do to improve coverage for candidates who are in a contested primary race. If we have not mental health care? received a completed questionnaire from a candidate, we will 3. At least 30% of individuals in local Texas jails have a indicate that we have not received a response yet. severe mental illness, and more than half of justice- involved individuals nationwide have at least one mental NAMI Texas is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. health condition. What will you do to divert people with We DO NOT endorse any candidates, or rank or alter their answers mental illness from the criminal justice system? in any way. We provide this information to educate you on where 4. Almost a quarter of individuals experiencing candidates in your district stand on key mental health issues and let homelessness have a severe mental illness, and mental you use this information to inform your vote on March 3rd. A illness has been identified as the third leading cause of candidate’s inclusion of answers here does not indicate a homelessness nationwide. How will you help people with preference or endorsement by NAMI Texas. We encourage NAMI mental illness who are struggling with housing? members and mental health advocates to continue asking important 5. Half of mental health conditions begin by the age of 14 questions of legislative and local candidates and and 75% begin by the age of 24, but these issues often go #Vote4MentalHealth! undetected and untreated until they reach a crisis point. How will you promote earlier intervention for people experiencing mental illness? 6. Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the country, and has faced serious challenges in ensuring individuals in underserved areas have access to health care. What will you do to improve access to health care and reduce our high uninsured rate?

NAMI Region 7 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI San Antonio, NAMI Kerrville

Senate District 18 Senate District 24

Lois Kolkhorst (R, Incumbent) Dawn Buckingham (R, Incumbent) is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Dawn Buckingham is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Michael Antalan (D) Michael Antalan is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Clayton Tucker (D) Clayton Tucker is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Senate District 19 Senate District 26 Pete Flores (R, Incumbent) Pete Flores is running unopposed in the Republican primary. (D, Incumbent) Jose Menendez is running unopposed in the Democratic primary Roland Gutierrez (D) and in the general election. Roland Gutierrez has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Senate District 28 Freddy Ramirez (D) Freddy Ramirez has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Charles Perry (R, Incumbent) Charles Perry is running unopposed in the Republican primary Xochil Pena Rodriguez (D) and in the general election. Xochil Pena Rodriguez has not responded to the questionnaire yet. House District 13 Senate District 21 Ben Leman (R, Incumbent) (D, Incumbent) Ben Leman is running unopposed in the Republican primary and in Judith Zaffirini is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. the general election.

Frank Pomeroy (R) Frank Pomeroy is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

NAMI Region 7 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI San Antonio, NAMI Kerrville

House District 17 Expanded access to telemedicine is one way to help extend services to rural and underserved areas. More practitioners also John Cyrier (R, Incumbent) need to be on the ground in these communities, though. Grant and John Cyrier is running unopposed in the Republican primary. other financial support programs should be expanded to ensure providers are located themselves in these communities. Madeline Eden (D) Madeline Eden is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health care? House District 31 Ensure that insurance companies provide uninterrupted access to Ryan Guillen (D, Incumbent) any medications or treatments an individual needs to stabilize their Ryan Guillen is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. condition. Require any coverage denials to be backed up with medical reasoning to help with that uninterrupted access. Finally, Marian Knowlton (R) state statute needs to be clear on the definitions of serious mental Marian Knowlton is running unopposed in the Republican illness and serious emotional disturbance to ensure a wider and primary. more representative range of mental health disorders are required to be covered by insurance. House District 44 3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness John Kuempel (R, Incumbent) from the criminal justice system? John Kuempel is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Trauma-informed programs for prevention, diversion, and Robert Bohmfalk (D) treatment of individuals should be expanded and strengthened. Robert Bohmfalk is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Particularly, communities should be better supported to establish local crisis intervention teams. Trauma screening for inmates and defendants should be required at all criminal justice facilities in House District 45 order to connect those with a history of trauma are connected with Erin Zwiener (D, Incumbent) the right treatment and recovery programs to ensure a reduction in recidivism. 1. How will you make sure more people have access to mental health treatment and services? 4. How will you help people with mental illness who are struggling with housing?

NAMI Region 7 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI San Antonio, NAMI Kerrville Mental health illnesses often cause a variety of symptoms that uncompensated care costs for providers, facilities, and counties. substantially interfere with a person’s daily life and activities, Medicaid expansion could also help ensure no more rural hospitals including maintaining employment or paying bills on a regular close in Texas due to financial difficulties covering care for basis. Societal stigmas, uninsured or underinsured status, and lack uninsured individuals. Since 2013, 19 rural Texas hospitals have of mental health providers can make it difficult for someone with a closed permanently or temporarily. mental health illness to seek treatment. People experiencing homelessness need access to accessible, safe, inclusive, ow-barrier Liliana Posada (D) emergency shelters, and need support in formulating a housing. Liliana Posada has not responded to the questionnaire yet. The state needs to step in to provide financial assistance to permanent supportive housing programs to provide wraparound Carrie Isaac (R) services for people with chronic patterns of homelessness. Carrie Isaac has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people Austin Talley (R) experiencing mental illness? Austin Talley has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

Texas needs to better equip school districts and other youth Kent "Bud" Wymore (R) services with more supports and tools to identify children who may Kent "Bud" Wymore has not responded to the questionnaire yet. need intervention services and to be able to provide some of those services themselves, including through providing supports to hire House District 53 more mental health professionals in schools. The state also needs to better support and expand the availability of providers to Andrew Murr (R, Incumbent) provide treatment to youth with the highest needs. Andrew Murr is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

6. What will you do to improve access to health care and Joe Herrera (D) reduce our high uninsured rate? Joe Herrera is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Texas must opt-in to Medicaid expansion, which would provide House District 73 health care access to an additional 1.5 million uninsured individuals. This would bring $6 billion in extra federal health care Kyle Biedermann (R, Incumbent) dollars to our state budget each year. This expanded coverage will Kyle Biedermann is running unopposed in the Republican primary. also lead to a reduction in high-cost services in emergency rooms and hospitals for chronic conditions that could be treated and mitigated in primary care settings, helping to reduce NAMI Region 7 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI San Antonio, NAMI Kerrville Stephanie Phillips (D) Carlos Antonio Raymond (R) Stephanie Phillips is running unopposed in the Democratic Carlos Antonio Raymond is running unopposed in the Republican primary. primary.

House District 80 House District 118

Tracy O. King (D, Incumbent) Leo Pacheco (D, Incumbent) Tracy O. King has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Leo Pacheco is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Danny Valdez (D) Adam Salyer (R) Danny Valdez has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Adam Salyer is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

House District 116 House District 119

Trey Martinez Fischer (D, Incumbent) Liz Campos (D) Trey Martinez Fischer has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Liz Campos has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

Evan Bohl (D) Jennifer Ramos (D) Evan Bohl has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Jennifer Ramos has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

Robert Litoff (R) Sean Villasana (D) Robert Litoff has not responded to the questionnaire yet. 1. How will you make sure more people have access to Fernando Padron (R) mental health treatment and services? Fernando Padron has not responded to the questionnaire yet. I feel in order to provide access we need more PSA to shed light on these various issues. I have a huge network in the film, House District 117 commercial, and television industry and could work with them to Philip Cortez (D, Incumbent) help shed light on these issues so more people will understand in Philip Cortez is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. hope to influence their elected officials. I would author legislation to allow nurse practitioner/physician assistant run facilities in the rural community. We could also implement more mental health and addiction providers to partner with these proposed facilities. NAMI Region 7 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI San Antonio, NAMI Kerrville

2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and health care? reduce our high uninsured rate? We would have to find the legislative loophole these insurance Expanding medicaid is critical for these underserved areas. We companies are finding to not cover the critical treatments. need to educate more on their options and ensure there is an Expanding medicaid would help get help and offering incentives to affordable option for all. This should be common sense logic and insurance companies with high rates of coverage for these when elected I would fight for our peoples right for healthcare to conditions. ensure they can live a life with dignity.

3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness George Garza (R) from the criminal justice system? George Garza is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

Provider growth and expansion of medicaid would be ideal to aide House District 120 our growing population. We would need to focus on recidivism as well and make sure all inmates have access to manage their Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (Incumbent) disorders before they leave. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. 4. How will you help people with mental illness who are struggling with housing? Ronald Payne (R) This is difficult as it would mean literally helping someone with Ronald Payne has not responded to the questionnaire yet. every aspect of their life in order for any treatment to be ideal. Maybe can offer mobile mental health checks along with providing Andrew Fernandez Vicencio (R) them with resources to get out of their current situation. Andrew Fernandez Vicencio has not responded to the questionnaire yet. 5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people experiencing mental illness? House District 121 This would be done in schools and by simply educating more Steve Allison (R, Incumbent) people with these kind of facts. I could utilize my network again to Steve Allison is running unopposed in the Republican primary. create short social media ad that will shed light on these issues and urging people to get checked out if they feel there is a concern with Becca DeFelice (D) their mental stability. Becca DeFelice has not responded to the questionnaire yet. NAMI Region 7 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI San Antonio, NAMI Kerrville trauma-informed care to every individual who is incarcerated and Jack Guerra (D) is trained on the occurrence and treatment of individuals with Jack Guerra has not responded to the questionnaire yet. severe mental illness who are in their care. In order to keep individuals out of incarceration, we have to be able to provide Celina Montoya (D) triage mental health care in the field before an individual is arrested. Providing local authorities with the resources to be 1. How will you make sure more people have access to trained on trauma informed care will help align best practices, and mental health treatment and services? potentially stop the flow of incarcerating individuals who need care. We must be able to provide mental health care experts to We must include mental health care services as part of our primary local communities to provide training and to be available in the care services, and provide training and resources for PCP's and field. NP's who often have face-time with patients. Like many insured individuals, I have access to telemedicine services and would like 4. How will you help people with mental illness who are to see that expanded to include mental health care and addiction struggling with housing? care services. For those who are uninsured, like millions of Texans are, we must have investments in agencies and organizations who We must be doing more to provide housing specifically for provide care, regardless of status. I'm proud to be a trailblazer in individuals who have a severe mental illness through public- the Paving New Paths initiative with Clarity Child Guidance, private partnerships, if necessary, and preventing housing where we are raising funds to expand access to services for discrimination against those with mental illness. children in Bexar County. 5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental experiencing mental illness? health care? Every school must have a FUNDED licensed counselor on campus I think we need to start with expanding Medicaid in Texas and that is dedicated to mental health and well-being, in addition to the utilize waivers to provide options for individuals and communities traditional role of future college and career planning. We must also to use for funding providers who address mental health conditions ensure that the counselor-to-student ratio remains under the and substance use disorders. national guideline of 250-1.

3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and from the criminal justice system? reduce our high uninsured rate? I would like to ensure that every employee of the Texas When it comes to the most uninsured, we have to acknowledge, Department of Criminal Justice is trained on how to provide it’s not just adults who are uninsured, it’s children, too. Significant NAMI Region 7 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI San Antonio, NAMI Kerrville issues like timely immunizations, identifying developmental House District 125 milestones and delays, and ensuring safe growing and learning environments are critical for children, especially young children. Ray Lopez (D, Incumbent) Expanding Medicaid is one of my top priorities, including Ray Lopez is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and in protecting the Children's Health Insurance Program. We can’t just the general election. expand Medicaid, though. We have to be willing to employ waivers to meet the needs of individuals and families. We also have to protect our rural hospitals and health care providers, and fight to ensure 21st century health access for all Texans, regardless of their zip code.

House District 122

Lyle Larson (R, Incumbent) Lyle Larson is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

Claire Barnett (D) Claire Barnett is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

House District 123

Diego Bernal (D, Incumbent) Diego Bernal is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and in the general election.

House District 124

Ina Minjarez (D, Incumbent) Ina Minjarez is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and in the general election.