By The Staff | The Save Jersey Blog
Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) helped secure sweeping mental health reforms on Wednesday when the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (H.R. 2646) passed the U.S. House of Representatives 422-2.
“Two-and-one-half years later I am proud that the House stands poised today to pass the most significant reform to our Nation’s mental health programs in decades,” explained Lance on the House Floor. “This bill also includes provisions I championed to help provide early detection to eating disorders and improve access to treatment coverage. This is a historic achievement as it marks the first time Congress has addressed eating disorders specifically through legislation.”
H.R. 2646’s goal is to improve the quality, and expand access to, so-called community mental health centers. It augments resources and psychiatric care for patients and families to expand both inpatient and outpatient treatment options and aids both families and physicians in making informed decisions.
The legislative package also includes the Anna Westin Act designed to help train mental health professionals and school personnel to identify and treat eating disorders.
A recent study suggested that four out of ten Americans have either personally grappled with an eating disorder or know someone who has one.
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