Rep. Issa Votes To Help Families in Mental Health Crises

Press Release

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) released the following statement after voting in the House of Representatives to pass the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2016 (H.R. 2646) which strengthens our nation's mental health services:

"Today, 1 in 5 Americans are living with some form of mental illness, but only about half of those affected are actually receiving the care they need. It's a travesty that, even in America, patients and families are often left on their own to deal with serious mental health crises instead of getting the compassion and care they require."

Just earlier today, Congressman Issa met with Jennifer Hoff, a constituent and outspoken advocate for reforming our broken mental health system, to discuss how often disjointed laws and ineffective policies are failing those in need of care. Congressman Issa added:

"We need to be able to help people. We are lucky to have a few Members of Congress with the expertise in health and mental illness to address these issues. I'm proud that finally the House is putting forward serious, bipartisan legislation that will help people get treatment, streamline our broken mental healthcare system, and ultimately save lives."

"The bipartisan "Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act' will provide improved access to care and give families the tools they need to assist their loved ones."

The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act is budget neutral and makes several important changes to the way the nation handles mental health services. Among other provisions, the bill:

-- Reforms our nation's broken mental health system by restructuring and refocusing programs and grants.

-- Removes barriers between families of the mentally ill and their physicians.

-- Removes barriers to alleviate the lack of understanding and misinterpretations of HIPAA privacy rules and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

-- Allows designated family members or caregivers of individuals with serious mental illness access to their physicians in terms of diagnoses, treatment plans, appointment scheduling, medications and medication related instructions if it is necessary to protect the health, safety, or welfare of the individual or general public.

-- Authorizes for the first time the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program to provide suicide prevention and crisis intervention services by maintaining a 24/7 hotline link between callers and local resources.

-- Reauthorizes the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (established to improve access to care, treatment, and services for traumatized children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events), which is required to collect, analyze and report data.

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