"Testimony of Dr. Bob Vero, CEO, Centerstone of Tennessee
On behalf of Centerstone, I would like to personally thank Senator Alexander and Senator Harkin for the opportunity to comment on the state of the U.S. Mental Health System from the community mental health perspective. I hope what I share will assist the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee as you seek to gain an understanding of opportunities to address the gaps and barriers within our mental healthcare system....
"I chose this field nearly four decades ago because I thought that effective treatment for mental illness could have an equal or even more profound impact on families than treatment for heart disease and cancer. In school, I saw my inspired, intelligent friends devastated by anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. I witnessed how trauma could weaken even the strongest of my colleagues...."
"We know from the research that the right care at the right time has a huge potential to reduce the occurrence of mental illnesses, the severity of those illnesses, and their impact on people’s lives. Early mental health interventions for young children and families can reduce risk factors for mental illness and increase protective factors that build resiliency.3 If children impacted by multiple traumatic experiences do not get the care they need, it can have serious, life-long consequences.4 ...
"Currently, there is no guidance issued ensuring that behavioral health has a seat at the table for Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) and other care coordination models being adopted across the U.S. It would be helpful, in the final Affordable Care Act (ACA) guidelines, for Congress to set forth instructions for the coverage of mental health and substance abuse services in the care and coverage models established by the ACA...."
PDF from senate.gov:
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