(March 27, 2017) As the nation surveys the scene following the failure of efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, one lesson is abundantly clear: The treatment of mental illness is now a national healthcare priority.
Throughout the debate, policymakers on both sides of the aisle raised the alarm regarding changes that would negatively impact those with severe mental illness. A host of national news articles focused on mental health care as a key component of negotiations. A group of four Republican Senators from Ohio, Colorado, Alaska and West Virginia sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) highlighting their concerns about potential impact on mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment. Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA), who championed mental health reform in the previous Congress, proposed amendments to protect mental health parity and secure funding to bolster treatment.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price named mental illness as one of his top three priorities during a CNN town hall. And a speech by Representative Joe Kennedy (D-MA) on the importance of mental illness care went viral, receiving more than 10 million views on Facebook.
The healthcare debate is far from over, but we know the brokenness of our current mental health care delivery system is unacceptable. It is imperative that we continue to fight back against policies that threaten to remove protections and access to treatment for people living with severe mental illness. Stay engaged to make your voice heard during this important time.
Photo credit: Liz Spikol