House Adopts Tonko Amendment to Upgrade Mental Health Crisis Response Systems

Source: House Representative Paul D. Tonko (D-NY, 20th)

Washington, D.C. - September 14, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously to adopt an amendment by New York Congressman Paul D. Tonko that would allocate $12.5 million to states to establish real-time bed registries to assist individuals experiencing a psychiatric or substance abuse crisis.

Rep. Paul Tonko: “When a person is going through a mental health or substance use crisis, getting immediate and effective treatment can be a matter of life and death. Today, many states today lack a reliable system for keeping track of which treatment facilities have space available, meaning vulnerable patients are left waiting while overburdened healthcare workers call each area hospital, one by one, in the hope that they can find an appropriate placement. Even at its best, this is an inefficient and time-consuming process. At its worst, the results are tragic. By streamlining the process of finding the appropriate treatment placement for patients in crisis, this program promises to save lives, increase system efficiency, and provide a higher standard of care for those who urgently need it.”

The Strengthening Community Crisis Response Systems grant program was authored by Rep. Tonko and included as part of the 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law by former President Obama.

Bed registries supported by this legislation would collect and provide real-time Internet-based information regarding available beds, the type of patient that may be admitted, the level of security provided, and any other information that may be necessary to allow for the proper identification of appropriate facilities for treatment of individuals in psychiatric or substance abuse crisis.

These systems include psychiatric hospitals, crisis stabilization centers, first responders, emergency health care providers, primary care providers, law enforcement, court systems, health care payers, social service providers, behavioral health providers, and residential community resources.