WASHINGTON, DC - The 21st Century Cures Act does more than accelerate the critical cycle of discovering new cures and treatments, developing them, and delivering them. The landmark law also made a number of important mental health reforms. Many of these reforms received critical resources in a government funding package that was signed into law by President Trump last month.
A provision in the law required the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Action Plan, which includes actions already taken and those to be taken in regard to the implementation of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA).
“The release of this plan follows critical input from individuals who are directly and indirectly impacted by mental health and substance use disorder," said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), and Energy Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). “The prevalence of individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) has risen in recent years, and many of these same people have a diagnosable mental illness. It’s imperative we have a guide in how we help treat these vulnerable patients."
Learn more about HHS’ efforts HERE.
