HARRISBURG – Marking May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the state House of Representatives today voted unanimously to approve legislation, authored by Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), to remove bureaucratic barriers to behavioral health services for individuals seeking immediate treatment.
House Bill 1997 would allow patients in crisis to be instantly “deemed eligible” for care at a behavioral health facility while their Medical Assistance application is being reviewed.
“When behavioral health emergencies arise, individuals who are unable to receive immediate care at the appropriate facility are forced to incur costly bills for emergency room visits, or in worse-case scenarios, they become involved with the criminal justice system,” Bernstine said. “This legislation will help people experiencing a mental health crisis gain access to more affordable and appropriate care quickly.”
Individuals at risk for behavioral health emergencies are generally eligible for Medical Assistance, but are often unaware of eligibility or incapable of enrolling due to chronic mental illness.
“This necessary legislation will ensure our most vulnerable citizens have access to the services needed to put them on the path to recovery,” Bernstine said. “I was pleased to see House Bill 1997 garner overwhelming bipartisan support in the House.”
Rep. Pamela DeLissio (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) co-authored the legislation with Bernstine.
“Skilled nursing facilities have had the ability to ‘deem’ residents Medicaid eligible for decades and hospitals have had this opportunity more recently,” said DeLissio. “Including behavioral health facilities is long overdue, and I am grateful Rep. Bernstine and I could work together to make this happen.”
House Bill 1997 now awaits consideration by the state Senate.
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