Hearing of the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee - Examining H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act

Hearing

Today's Health Subcommittee hearing will examine the legislation authored by our colleague,
Rep. Tim Murphy, H.R. 2646, which is designed to help families struggling with crisis caused by
mental health disorders. The bill makes available much needed psychiatric, psychological, and
supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in crisis.

With more than 11 million Americans who suffer with severe mental illness such as
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, many are going without treatment and
often families struggle to find appropriate care for their loved ones.

Since there is a patchwork of different programs and sometimes ineffective policies across
numerous agencies, it is important for this committee to examine ways to fix the broken mental
health system by focusing and coordinating programs and resources on psychiatric care for
patients and families most in need of services.

Over the past several years, Dr. Murphy, a practicing psychologist, has worked diligently to
discern the most effective ways to research and treat these illnesses. As Chairman of the
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Chairman Murphy launched a review of the
country's mental health system beginning in January 2013. The investigation, which included
public forums, hearings with expert witnesses, document and budget reviews, and GAO studies
revealed that the federal government's approach to mental health is a chaotic patchwork of
antiquated programs and ineffective policies spread across numerous agencies with little to no
coordination. The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015, H.R. 2646, aims to fix
the nation's broken mental health system by refocusing programs, reforming grants, and
removing barriers to care.

Today's hearing will also examine H.R. 2690, Including Families in Mental Health Recovery Act
of 2015, introduced by Rep. Matsui of California. This bill focuses on clarifying the
circumstances health care providers are covered entities and may disclose the protected health
information of patients with mental illness.

I am pleased we are holding this hearing today to hear from our witnesses and colleagues about
their views on this pending legislation.

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