Daines Introduces Bipartisan Package to Expand Montana's Mental Health Workforce, Care for Montanans

Press Release

U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), co-chairs of the Senate Finance Committee's Workforce Working Group, today introduced a slate of bipartisan bills that will support Montana's mental health workforce and boost substance use disorder services, ensuring that Montanans across the state have access to care.

"Access to mental health services is critical for our rural communities and veterans--especially in states like Montana where suicide is sadly taking too many lives. We must ensure our health care workforce have the tools and resources they need to serve Montanans across our state. I'm glad to work on these bipartisan bills to empower and expand the mental health care workforce which will help ensure that no matter where you live, you have access to life-saving mental health services," Daines said.

"Earlier this year, we came together to pass transformative community mental health care for the country. These bipartisan bills take important steps to invest in the workforce that is needed to achieve our goals of quality mental health and addiction services for all Americans who need them," Stabenow said.

Daines and Stabenow's bills include:

"Protect Our Physicians Act" which will expand mental health and wellness programs for physicians suffering from burnout.
"Expand Qualified Psychologist Services Act" which will make it easier for patients to see qualified psychologists.
"Training Psychiatrists for the Future Act" which will add 400 new physician residency positions yearly to train new physicians in psychiatry.
"Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act" which will require Medicaid to provide new guidance to states on increasing the mental health workforce.
"More Behavioral Health Providers Act" which will increase mental health care providers in rural communities.

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