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Rep. Stefanik cosponsors bill to improve mental health care

Watertown Daily Times (NY) - 10/8/2015

Oct. 08--Tweet

WATERTOWN -- U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, has cosponsored legislation that seeks to reform the federal mental health care system.

The bill, called the "Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act," will refocus existing programs, reform grants and remove federal barriers to mental health care.

"Sadly, millions of Americans suffer from severe psychiatric disorders that are going untreated," Rep. Stefanik said in a news release. "This important legislation would take steps to reform our nation's antiquated and ineffective approach to mental health problems and instead focus our resources on those who need it most."

A recent Government Accountability Office report found that 112 federal programs intended to address mental illness are failing to deliver services effectively.

The report states that the federal government contributes $130 billion toward mental health each year, yet there is still a nationwide shortage of psychiatrists and psychiatric beds.

Furthermore, the three largest mental health facilities designated as "hospitals" are in fact jails: Rikers Island in New York City, the Los Angeles County Jail and the Cook County Jail in Chicago.

The bill, H.R. 2646, outlines several specific projects that will bolster or improve upon certain areas of mental health care that are lacking.

It calls for the use of evidence-based care, additional mental health beds, improved early intervention and prevention programs and the breaking down of barriers that prevent parents and caregivers from being involved in the medical process.

"We're very pleased to see work on the federal level to increase access to mental health services across this country," said Denise K. Young, executive director of the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization. "The items that are in this bill support the work that we are doing here in the north country across the board."

The bill also advocates for the advancement of telepsychiatry, which allows patients in rural areas to access a psychiatrist through secure videoconferencing at their local primary care clinic.

"That would be outstanding news," FDRHPO Telemedicine Project Coordinator David C. Johnson said. "We have a real shortage of psychiatrists and so using this method to deliver care helps us bring access to patient care that we didn't have before."

Mr. Johnson said telepsychiatry has been used in Jefferson County since 2013, often to serve inmates who have mental health needs.

This year, he said, about 150 telepsychiatry visits have been recorded in the north country, up from 40 in 2013.

Other than in local jails and prisons, he said, the technology has been accessed at the North Country Family Health Center or another local primary care office.

"I think it's likely going to launch pretty large in 2016 because of legislation that was passed last year," Mr. Johnson said. "Gov. Cuomo signed a bill that all private insurance companies have to reimburse for tele-psych."

He said the technology is valuable in the north country, where residents in remote communities might not have access to a psychiatrist. Making mental health care available in a primary care setting is also valuable, he said, to avoid stigma associated with seeing a psychiatrist.

"Any help for these kinds of initiatives would be welcome," Mr. Johnson said.

To see the bill in its entirety, visit http://wdt.me/HR-2646.

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