Patient Advocates: GOP Medicaid Reforms Would Undo Mental Health Gains

The 21st Century Cures bill creates a presidentially appointed head of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ("SAMHSA"), loosens HIPAA privacy regulations, requires reports on the status of mental health and substance abuse patients in hospitals and prisons and grants $1 billion to fight the opioid epidemic. However, advocates for the mentally ill worry Medicaid reforms sought by Republicans would undermine those gains. Cures incorporates mental health legislation from Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), Sen...