APA Hails Passage of COVID Relief Bill Including Funds for Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders

APA leaderspraised the inclusion of several provisions related to mental health in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (HR 1319) —the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, which the House of Representatives passed today by a vote of 220-211. The legislation, which is expected to be signed into law by President Biden later this week, includes approximately $4 billion in funding for programs that support the prevention of and treatment for mental and substance use disorders.“It is essential and heartening that Congress and the administration included funding for our nation’s mental health system in this wave of COVID relief,” said APA President Jeffrey Geller, M.D., M.P.H. “We are particularly pleased to see support for our frontline physicians and other worker s, many of whom have made great sacrifices during this time, and many of whom are hurting.”Among the provisions APA supported are the following:Funding for mental/substance use disorder services through programs like the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, which includes funding for training, educational programs, and other initiatives designed to promote mental and behavioral wellness of health care workers.Funding for community behavioral health services, such as the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education), youth s...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: APA block grants COVID relief bill health workers integrated care Jeffrey Geller Medicaid mental illness Saul Levin substance use disorders suicide prevention Source Type: research