The “21st Century Cures Act” was approved by Congress in December. It has been called “the most significant piece of mental health legislation” since parity was passed in 2008.
The bill includes provisions aimed at fighting the opioid epidemic, strengthens laws mandating parity, and includes grants to increase the number of psychologists and psychiatrists, who remain in short supply across the country.
While funding treatments for mental illness is expensive, "it's more expensive to ignore it," says Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) who co-sponsored the mental health legislation.
To learn more, visit:
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/12/07/504725936/mental-health-care-gets-a-boost-from-21st-century-cures-act
Contributor:
Natalie Dattilo, PhD, HSPP
Priority Wellness Group, LLC
"PsychBytes” is a weekly educational resource from the Indiana Psychological Association (IPA) provided for psychologists, their colleagues and their patients.
