Bill Text: NJ SR93 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass and fund federal "Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-10 - Filed with Secretary of State [SR93 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-SR93-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 93

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED AUGUST 27, 2018

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  VIN GOPAL

District 11 (Monmouth)

Senator  RICHARD J. CODEY

District 27 (Essex and Morris)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Lagana                                                                    

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Urges Congress to pass and fund federal "Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on June 3, 2019, with amendments.

  

A Senate Resolution urging Congress to pass and fund the federal "Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act."

 

Whereas, Mental illness, including disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar, depression, and anxiety, is a significant public health issue in the United States, affecting over 40 million adults in any given year and often seriously interfering with a sufferer's ability to function at work and at home; and

Whereas, If left untreated, mental illness may be deadly, with suicide now representing the 10th leading cause of death in the United States; and

Whereas, Rates of addiction and overdose deaths have increased dramatically in the United States in recent years as a result of the opioid epidemic; and

Whereas, The majority of those suffering from mental illness do not have access to adequate care; and

¹[Whereas, The federal "Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act" is a bill that amends Section 223(d) of the federal "Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014," increasing the number of states that may conduct Medicaid demonstration programs and extending the demonstration period for an additional year, improving access to community mental health treatment by providing outpatient mental health and substance abuse services to individuals; and]¹

Whereas, Section 223(d) of the ¹federal¹ "Protecting Access to Medicare Act of ¹[2014"] 2014," 42 U.S.C. s.1396a,¹ currently provides for the participation of eight states, including New Jersey, in a Medicaid demonstration program; and

Whereas, The Medicaid demonstration program provides vital services to eligible individuals, such as 24-hour mobile crisis intervention, patient-centered treatment, psychiatric rehabilitation services, and intensive, community-based mental health care for members of the armed forces and veterans; and

Whereas, On ¹[October 3, 2017] March 14, 2019¹, Unites States Senators Roy Blunt and Debbie Stabenow and United States Representatives Leonard Lance and Doris Matsui introduced ¹[S.1905/H.R. 3931] S.824/H.R.1767¹, the "Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act,"¹[ in order to allow for an additional 11 states to conduct Medicaid demonstration programs and extend the demonstration period by an additional year] that would amend section 223(d) of the federal "Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014," to increase the number of states that may conduct Medicaid demonstration programs to 11, extend the demonstration period for an additional year, and improve access to community mental health treatment by providing outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment services to individuals¹; and

Whereas, The Senate of the State of New Jersey urges Congress to fully pass and fund the "Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act," so that those suffering from mental illness and addiction may have improved access to treatment and services that they need to get well; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The Senate of this State urges Congress to pass and fund the federal "Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act."

 

     2.   Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States, to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and to every member of Congress elected from this State.