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WASHINGTON— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. and Senator Chris Murphy’s (D-CT) Mental Health Reform Act received bipartisan praise in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee hearing today on improving the federal response in mental health care. The Mental Health Reform Act of 2015 will make critical reforms to address a lack of resources, enhance coordination, and develop meaningful solutions to improve outcomes for families dealing with mental illness.
What they’re saying:
“The legislation that Senator Murphy and Cassidy have worked on together would take some very important steps to better integrate mental and physical health care.” -Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
“Thanks to this committee and its members, other members of the Senate and the House who are working to find ways to support, strengthen and augment the country’s mental health system. I want to especially thank Senators Cassidy, Senators Murphy,” -Dr. Brian Hepburn (MD, Executive Director, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors)
“Senators Cassidy and Murphy, thank you for taking these initial steps to improve the lives of millions impacted by mental illness.” -Mr. Hakeem Rahim (EdM, MA, CEO, Live Breathe LLC, Let’s Talk Mental Illness, National Alliance on Mental Illness)
“Similarly, the Cassidy Murphy bill, which I have cosponsored, would go further, by lifting the IMD exclusion for psychiatric patients with an average length of stay of twenty days or fewer, that should help more people get the assistance that they need.” –Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
Read more on the bill here, watch Dr. Cassidy’s remarks on the importance of reforming mental health system here, and read Senators Cassidy and Murphy’s op-ed in the Hill here. |