Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) welcomed the president to the discussion as the committee continues working toward mental health reform.
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Ruth de Jauregui | Jan 24, 2016

President Obama welcomed to discussion on mental health policy reform

The Subcommittee on Health recently moved Rep. Tim Murphy's (R-PA) bill, the H.R. 2646 Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, forward to the full House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) welcomed President Obama to the ongoing discussion amid efforts to reform mental health policies.

"Mental health reform has been and continues to be a priority for 2016," Upton said. "The Health Subcommittee passed Rep. Murphy’s bipartisan Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act in November, and with Congress back in town, work continues at the member level to address a number of concerns that were raised during the subcommittee debate. We look forward to building upon the existing momentum and advancing meaningful reforms that will help countless Americans."

The focus of H.R. 2646 is to make psychiatric, psychological and supportive services available to individuals suffering from mental illness and their families. 

The bill includes provisions for early childhood intervention and treatment. It also provides reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, including enhanced coverage for certain mental health services, access to prescription drugs and elimination of the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services for Medicare patients.

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