NAMI Proudly Supports Expansion of Excellence in Mental Health Act

Oct 5, 2017

On October 3, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Representatives Leonard Lance (R-NJ) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced S 1905, a bill to expand the Excellence in Mental Health Act pilot program, which supports the implementation of Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs).

NAMI enthusiastically supports this bill and believes that CCBHCs have the potential to significantly improve the quality of community mental health and addiction services. Participating qualified community mental health centers must offer:

1. Crisis mental health services, including 24-hour mobile crisis teams, emergency crisis intervention and crisis stabilization
2. Mental health screening, assessment and diagnosis
3. Patient-centered treatment planning
4. Mental health and addiction services
5. Screening for primary care conditions
6. Case management
7. Psychiatric rehabilitation
8. Peer support and family supports
9. Intensive, community-based mental health care for members of the armed forces and veterans

S 1905 funds the 8 pilot states for another year and expands the pilot to 11 more states. The 8 current pilot states are:

• Minnesota
• Missouri
• New York
• New Jersey
• Nevada
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania

“This expansion is critical in making sure communities across the country have the resources they need to improve the lives of anyone living with mental illness or recovering from addiction,” said Senator Stabenow. “Each and every state that came forward with a plan to increase access to community mental health services should have the support they need.”

The public mental health system has lagged behind primary health care for far too long. S 1905 is a step in the right direction

For more information, see SAMHSA’s site on Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers.

NAMI’s letter of support for S 1905.