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Mental Health Reform Act of 2015

1/11/2023, 1:29 PM

Congressional Summary of S 1945

Mental Health Reform Act of 2015

This bill creates the position of Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders to oversee the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Mental health programs are extended and training regarding mental health is expanded.

SAMHSA must establish the National Mental Health Policy Laboratory and the Interagency Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the National Institute of Mental Health to translate evidence-based interventions and the best available science into systems of care.

The Health Resources and Services Administration must support the creation and expansion of child psychiatry access programs.

Certain mental health care professional volunteers are provided liability protection.

Pediatric mental health subspecialists are eligible for National Health Service Corps programs.

An underserved population of children or a site for training in child psychiatry can be designated as a health professional shortage area.

SAMHSA must award primary care and behavioral health care integration grants to state entities to fund improvements in settings with integrated care.

The Department of Health and Human Services must develop a model program and materials for training health care providers regarding the disclosure of the protected health information of patients with a mental illness.

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to conditionally expand coverage of mental health services.

Current Status of Bill S 1945

Bill S 1945 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since August 5, 2015. Bill S 1945 was introduced during Congress 114 and was introduced to the Senate on August 5, 2015.  Bill S 1945's most recent activity was Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. as of August 5, 2015

Bipartisan Support of Bill S 1945

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
0
Republican Sponsors
1
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
16
Democrat Cosponsors
8
Republican Cosponsors
8
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 1945

Primary Policy Focus

Health

Potential Impact Areas

- Advisory bodies
- Child health
- Congressional oversight
- Correctional facilities and imprisonment
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
- Executive agency funding and structure
- Federal officials
- Government information and archives
- Government studies and investigations
- Health care costs and insurance
- Health care coverage and access
- Health care quality
- Health facilities and institutions
- Health information and medical records
- Health personnel
- Health programs administration and funding
- Health promotion and preventive care
- Health technology, devices, supplies
- Home and outpatient care
- Homelessness and emergency shelter
- Hospital care
- Housing and community development funding
- Medicaid
- Medical education
- Medical research
- Medical tests and diagnostic methods
- Medicare
- Mental health
- Minority education
- Minority health
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Research administration and funding
- Right of privacy
- Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
- State and local government operations

Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 1945

Mental Health Reform Act of 2015
A bill to make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes.
Mental Health Reform Act of 2015

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