Washington, D.C.--The House Energy and Commerce Committee adopted an amendment introduced by Representatives Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) and Doris O. Matsui (D-CA) to revamp America’s mental health centers by updating the definition of Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers as part of the comprehensive health care legislation currently being considered by Congress. The Engel/Matsui amendment was included in the Omnibus Amendment offered by Health Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone in the House Energy and Commerce Committee last night, which passed by a unanimous vote.

The Engel/Matsui amendment strengthens America’s current system of community mental health centers, which is a highly successful model even as it struggles for lack of funding. Currently, community-based mental health programs throughout the country help over six million adults, children, and families conquer mental illness and substance abuse disorders to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

"Improving our mental health delivery system is a critical part of health reform. Our amendment begins the process of establishing national standards of care for persons with serious mental illness and addiction disorder and will bring new reporting and accountability standards to mental health care in an effort to better integrate these providers and services within the larger healthcare system. New York State has one of the world’s largest and most complex mental health systems, annually caring for approximately 688,000 New Yorkers, including over 140,000 children. Mental illness is the leading illness-related cause of disability, a major cause of death from suicide, and a driver of school failure, poor overall health, incarceration and homelessness. This amendment is a significant step along the path to caring for these citizens, and I will continue to work with my colleagues, such as Rep. Matsui, to bring additional improvements in the future,” said Rep. Engel.

“In my hometown of Sacramento, the County-operated mental health center recently stopped accepting new patients due to lack of funding even though the number of mentally ill keeps rising,” said Rep. Matsui. “But by broadening the definition of Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers, the Sacramento center – in addition to centers across the country – finally will have a baseline off of which they can start re-building the community-based mental health system, and help millions of people with mental illness or substance abuse disorders all across the country.”

“The Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies applauds Representatives Engel and Matsui for introducing and promoting Congressional passage of an amendment updating the definition of Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers. They stand out for recognizing the vital role community based mental health and addiction service agencies have in providing comprehensive and quality healthcare service delivery. It is our hope that this amendment will enable behavioral health providers to continue to thrive and serve the thousands of individuals living in New York who require mental health and addiction services. We believe that updating the definition of Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers is the first step to improving the community-based behavioral health sector,” said Phillip A. Saperia, Executive Director of the Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies.

“The introduction of the FQBHC definition is a significant milestone in the history of community mental health centers, which have been largely ignored by the federal government after their creation in 1963,” said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. “The National Council and our members have fought long and hard for this recognition and we are immensely grateful to Representatives Engel and Matsui who have helped reiterate that mental health and addictions are an integral part of health care.”