Sens. Ron Wyden (R-OR) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) gathered input from health care stakeholders to gain greater insight in understanding and addressing the mental health crisis.
“Far too frequently, Americans struggle to access timely, affordable, high-quality behavioral health care and substance use disorder services— a crisis which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the legislators wrote. “This input from members of the mental health care community will assist the committee in its work to come. We look forward to working with our colleagues on the committee as we develop bipartisan solutions to remove barriers to mental health care in America.”
The request for information was sent out in September and the lawmakers received responses from 321 stakeholder. One of them was from AARP.
“AARP, on behalf of our nearly 38 million members and all older Americans nationwide, appreciates the Senate Finance Committee’s bipartisan effort to examine behavioral health care needs and assess the factors contributing to gaps in care,” Bill Sweeney, AARP senior vice president, Government Affairs, wrote. “The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated unmet behavioral health needs and highlighted the ongoing struggle that individuals face in accessing timely, quality mental health care and substance use disorder services. Mental illness affects people of all ages and incomes and can be as debilitating as any other major medical illness. We recommend greater coordination between federal agencies and departments, as there are many agencies engaged in behavioral health services and workforce development.”
Wyden is chair of the Senate Finance Committee while Crapo is the ranking member on the committee.