A Senate committee advanced a major bill aimed at reforming mental health programs and bills tackling the opioid epidemic.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee unanimously voted to advance five bills to the Senate floor on Wednesday. One of the bills would address problems with the mental health system.
The Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 would update block grants to states for providing mental healthcare. It also would improve coordination among federal agencies and departments that help the mentally ill.
It also requires federal agencies and programs involved in mental health to incorporate the most up-to-date approaches for treating mental illness.
“We are not finding evidence-based practices in the way that we should,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., during the markup hearing Wednesday.
He said the bill would improve privacy laws to ensure that doctors can share information with caregivers more freely. That provision is for parents of mentally ill young adults who are in crisis.
Murphy noted that the committee doesn’t have jurisdiction over funding, but will press the need for additional funds on the Senate floor.
“We need to come up with new resources to make sure we are addressing the sever lack of inpatient and outpatient capacity,” he said.
The panel also approved four bills that address the growing opioid abuse epidemic.
The bills intend to expand access to the overdose antidote naloxone, improve electronic reporting of prescriptions and helps to dole out drugs for the treatment of addiction such as buprenorphine.
Another bill addresses care for infants affected by illegal substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms from the parent.
