Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act of 2021

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1205) to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Center for Mental Health Services of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to award grants to implement innovative approaches to securing prompt access to appropriate follow-on care for individuals who experience an acute mental health episode and present for care in an emergency department, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1205.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1205, the Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act.

I would like to begin by recognizing a member of our committee, Representative Ruiz, and his staff for their work on this important legislation. As an emergency room physician himself, Dr. Ruiz knows firsthand the needs of both the medical professional and patients in the ER.

Among those increasing needs is support for mental health services. Research has shown that one in every eight emergency department visits in the U.S. is related to a mental health issue. And since 2009, mental health emergency room visits have substantially increased, most of which is driven by adolescents and young adults. This is especially concerning given the recent report from the Government Accountability Office that found emergency department visits for suicide attempts from mid-March to mid-October 2020 were up 26 percent from 2019.

Now, this bill would help to provide increased access to care for people who report to an emergency department for acute mental health episodes. Under the bill, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to award grants to support innovative approaches for providing follow-on care for individuals treated in the emergency department for acute mental health issues. This includes increasing the number of inpatient psychiatric beds and alternative care settings, supporting a patient's transition to appropriate mental health services, or the use of tele-psychiatric support or other remote psychiatric consultation methods.

Madam Speaker, emergency departments can sometimes feel like a stressful place, especially for people in crisis. However, they are often the last remaining safety net in many communities. We know that follow-up care for people with mental illnesses is linked to fewer repeat emergency room visits and improved mental and physical health. So let's do our part to support the emergency room staff and patients in need by passing this bill today.

Madam Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1205, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, again, we are trying with these series of bills today to address mental and behavioral health problems, and this one deals with the emergency room. So that is very important, and I would urge my colleagues to support it on a bipartisan basis.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1205, Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act of 2021, sponsored by Representative Ruiz.

This bill authorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to award grants to emergency departments for the purpose of supporting follow-up services to patients that present in the emergency department in mental health crisis.

According to SAMHSA's National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care, there is a disconnect in the provision of follow-up services regarding what comes next for patients experiencing a mental health crisis in the emergency department.

If a patient comes in with appendicitis, the emergency room physician can call a surgeon. If the patient has a rash, the emergency department has a roster of dermatologists in clinics; and, in many cases, the physician can even make an appointment for the patient. These partnerships don't always exist for mental health illness.

By authorizing grants to support programs that help those treated at emergency departments expeditiously transition to follow-on care, this bill will remove barriers to care for those experiencing an acute mental health crisis, reduce stigma, and ultimately save lives.

Madam Speaker, one of the great things I have learned being a Member of the House of Representatives is that we have 435 people from all walks of life and they bring all their life experiences to us and create some important legislation.

Dr. Ruiz is an emergency room physician. He knows this firsthand. We are colleagues on the Committee on Energy and Commerce. I know he is passionate about it because it does save lives if we get people the assistance they need.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 6 of House Resolution 380, I move to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 297, H.R. 433, H.R. 478,

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.