Bill Proctor

Commissioner District 1

January 4, 2017

Honorable Al Lawson
United States House of Representatives
1337 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Lawson:
On behalf of the citizens of Leon County Florida, I wish to express the extreme
emergency and the dire need for comprehensive mental health treatment centers,
medical care facilities and the plethora of attendant services that complement the
healthcare area of mental health.
There currently exist the Apalachee Center and Tallahassee Memorial Behavior Health
Center which typically provide 72 hour or a three day time-out for persons who are
experiencing mental health crisis. The other option for long-term mental health services
is the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee. There are no mid-level facilities that
would serve the medical community and the social services community for persons who
need intermediate care.
As you are aware, this has been a sore need for North Florida residents for a number of
years. This is why I enlist your help for our constituents in the United State Congress
that you would secure emergency grants and funding because North Florida has a
critical need that currently the State of Florida nor local government can fill this void.
I am asking you to please check with the United States Department of Health and
Human Services and other federal agencies that can immediately create a model
program through the entities of Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital,
Apalachee Center and other appropriate agencies that have the expertise to
immediately sustain an intermediate level mental healthcare treatment facility.
Please note that the Leon County jail has more than 200 inmates or 20 to 25 percent of
the jails population who are recipients of psychotropic drug medication.

Leon County Courthouse

301 South Monroe Street, Fifth Floor
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Email: proctorb@leoncountyfl.gov

(850) 606-5361
FAX: (850) 606-5303
People Focused. Performance Driven

The State of Florida has over 20 million people and North Florida it is a mere fraction of
that population and though geographically large, the population is not as dense as
South Florida.
As you well know, the legislature of Florida curbs its support to the needs of the citizens
of North Florida in a wide array of areas. This is why with the exception of the Florida
State Hospital in Chattahoochee there simply is no other major entity that provides help
to the families of North Floridas citizens. Tallahassee and the surrounding areas have
a strong need for mental health services and I believe that a grant and congressional
assistance would help kick-off an institute that the appropriate response by the federal
government to the many taxpayers and those who serve in our military and pay federal
taxes for our nation would help us as we need it. And I am suggesting that we need the
federal government to step in and fill void that has not been addressed thus far.
Further, please address the insurance companies coverage and payments of some of
the mental health medications. It is vexing that some insurance companies do not pay
for the needed medications and or shots that some of the patients require. These
companies are denying coverage for the some of the medications that are desperately
needed. I believe that in the interest of so many families that this needs to be
addressed.
I am available and I know other experts are available who would be willing to meet with
federal leaders for Congressional testimony or to help identify a program that can be
built around the available infrastructure that is in place for mental healthcare delivery in
this area. I will be in Washington, DC in February attending the National Association of
Counties Conference and would be willing to meet with you or your staff to help facilitate
making this happen.
I sincere appreciate your consideration for the numerous voiceless citizens who are
struggling mightily in the interests of their loved ones.
Please feel free to contact me at (850) 606-5371 as needed.
Sincerely,

Bill Proctor