Supporting NCCBH in Washington
Last week I attended the NCCBH Hill day in Washington, D.C. to lobby on Capitol Hill for legislation that supports the mental health community. We addressed many issues effecting the industry (a list of the agenda we addressed can be found at the National Council for Community Mental Health website), but I particularly focused on one that effects the users of our Electronic Medical Record systems: The Support the Community Mental Health Services Act (H.R 5176/S. 2182).
This act addresses the need to provide funding to co-locate primary care/chronic care services at CMHCs; to integrate treatment for co-occuring mental heath and substance abuse disorders; to provide funding for workforce recritment and retention; to enhance behavioral health eduction and training; to provide funding for telepsychiatry and patient education; and finally one that directly impact users of electronic health records, psychiatric software, and medication management systems. This final measure would require the Secretary of HHS to collaborate with the Office of the national coordinator to develop a plan to ensure that components of the National Health Information Infrastructure address the needs of behavioral and substance abuse providers.
I met with Senator Hilary Clinton, Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Steve Israel and got very good response from all offices. We requested that they co-sponsor the legislation and endorse it. I recommend that each of you communicate with your local legislators and request the same. It is easier than you think.
