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ICYMI: Murphy Implores Members to Support Minority Mental Health

10/21/15

For Immediate Release: October 21, 2015
Contact: Gretchen Andersen 202.225.2301

(Washington, D.C) – Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA) took to the House floor today to implore members to wake up to minority mental health and support his bipartisan Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, H.R. 2646, which provides treatment to individuals with serious mental illness in underserved populations.

You can watch the clip here.

Murphy’s legislation targets minority mental health by authorizing for the first time in law the Minority Fellowship Program to increase the number of minority mental health providers. Further, the legislation provides alternatives to institutionalization and boosts the number of in-patient psychiatric beds. Additionally, the bill eliminates the two-day doctor rule, which prohibits a patient from seeing two doctors in one day. For minority families this regulation change is vital as it’s incredibly challenging for a low-income family to find time off from work to get their loved one to another doctor. 

“Our mental health system is abusive and neglectful to those with a serious mental illness. Worse yet, those policies disproportionately impact minorities and the poor,” said Murphy. “If you are a minority or low income and have a serious mental illness you will likely end up in prison where 80 percent of inmates don’t receive treatment. If you are poor Medicaid makes it harder for you to access inpatient mental health treatment, won’t let you see two doctors on the same day, and says you can’t take medications your doctor prescribed. Stop this discrimination and pass the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act. People with serious mental illness can and do get better with help. But when there is no help, there is no hope.”

H.R. 2646 currently boasts 143 cosponsors and continues to galvanize support from newspaper editors, physicians, and parents of children with mental illness. More information can be found here. 

Watch Murphy's speech here. 


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In his seventh term representing Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district encompassing suburban Pittsburgh including parts of Allegheny, Washington, Westmoreland and Greene Counties, Rep. Tim Murphy also serves as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve Medical Service Corps as a psychologist treating Wounded Warriors with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury.

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    helpWithFedAgencyAddress District Office
    504 Washington Road
    Pittsburgh, PA 15228    		  
    district 18th District of Pennsylvania  
    academyUSCitizenDate July 1, 2012  
    academyAgeDate July 1, 2012  
    academyApplicationDueDate October 20, 2012  
    repStateABBR PA  
    repDistrict 18  
    repState Pennsylvania  
    repDistrictText 18th  
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    SponsoredBills Sponsored Bills  
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