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Community mental health
services would improve under Hinkle's bill
Legislation awaits governor's signature
Legislation that would
improve community mental health services unanimously passed the Senate
today and cleared the House 96-1 on Feb. 16. The measure is now on its
way to the governor for signature.
House Bill 2654 would direct the Department of Social and Health
Services (DSHS) to prepare a report on strategies for developing
consumer and family-run mental health services. These services generally
consist of programs in which a majority of the board, staff, and
membership of the program are persons with mental illnesses or family
members of persons with mental illnesses.
Rep. Bill Hinkle,
R-Cle Elum, sponsored the legislation and believes it will help families
struggling with mental illness receive the care and support they need.
"Individuals and families
helping one another deal with mental illness will go a long way to
improving lives and providing real assistance to those in need," says
Hinkle. "Too many times people with mental illnesses fall through the
cracks and end up in jail or in a hospital. This bill will be another
tool to avoid those outcomes."
Under this legislation,
DSHS is also required to investigate the potential of using Medicaid
funds for these services. Hinkle believes this is a good way to provide
more options and choices for those requiring community mental health
services.
"We are opening up doors
for people with mental illnesses that were previously closed," add
Hinkle. "It is an opportunity to receive treatment close to home from
people who have been there before."
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For more information, contact:
Mike Deising, Public
Information Officer - (360) 786-7698
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