On July 6th, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 422-2 to approve an amended version of H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2016. Introduced by Representatives Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), this bipartisan legislation would reform federal mental health policies and programs to increase patients’ access to effective and evidence-based care, particularly for those with serious mental illness (SMI).
APA and the APA Practice Organization applaud Congressman Murphy, Congresswoman Johnson, and their colleagues on the approval of H.R. 2646. The legislation includes the following provisions, among others:
- Establishes a National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory and an Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee
- Allows federal reimbursement for early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment services provided to children and young adults in institutions for mental diseases
- Directs HHS to clarify HIPAA policy on sharing the protected health information of a patient with mental illness with caregivers and family members, and to establish HIPAA training programs and materials for health care providers and family members
- Establishes a tele-mental health grant program to promote behavioral health integration in pediatric primary care, develop networks of child and adolescent psychologists and psychiatrists to work with pediatric providers, and support pediatric mental health teams
- Reauthorizes the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative and Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act programs, and authorizes the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program
- Authorizes the Minority Fellowship Program
- Establishes a demonstration grant program supporting the education and clinical training of health service psychology students, interns, and postdoctoral residents
- Strengthens monitoring and enforcement of mental health insurance coverage protections under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
In March, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted in favor of its own comprehensive mental health bill, the “Mental Health Reform Act of 2016” (S. 2680). That legislation is currently awaiting a vote on the Senate floor, which we hope will occur in September. The two legislative chambers ultimately must negotiate and approve a compromise package to send to President Obama to sign into law. APAPO is committed to achieving this goal.
Today’s House vote is a major step forward for U.S. mental health policy. Thank you for your work in successfully advocating for this legislation!