---
title: "Psych News Alert: Major Health Legislation Passes Final Hurdle"
description: By a vote of 94-5, the U.S. Senate today passed the 21 st Century Cures Act, one of whose goals is to improve and reform the American men...
---

[Psych News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org)

# [Psych News Alert: Major Health Legislation Passes Final Hurdle](https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/12/major-health-legislation-passes-final.html)

 Written by [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) | 12/7/16 5:00 AM

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By a vote of 94-5, the U.S. Senate today passed the 21st Century Cures Act, one of whose goals is to improve and reform the American mental health system. The House passed the same legislation a week ago, and it now goes to the White House for President Barack Obama’s signature

“The bipartisan passage of the 21st Century Cures Act is an example of the progress we can make when people from both parties work together to improve the health of our families, friends, and neighbors,” said the president in a [statement](https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/12/07/statement-president-senate-passage-hr-34-21st-century-cures-act).

The bill includes elements of legislation previously put forth by Reps. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) in the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, as well as provisions in the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016, sponsored by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.)

APA noted its approval of the Senate action.

“This long-awaited and much-needed mental health reform will help to increase access to care and improve the quality of care for people with mental health and substance use disorders, especially for the 13 million Americans living with serious mental illness,” said APA President Maria A. Oquendo, M.D., Ph.D., in a statement. “The bill will toughen enforcement of existing parity laws, helping to ensure that mental health care services are covered just like other health care services.”

These are among the legislation's provisions:

“We look forward to working with the administration and Congress to help ensure resources are available for full implementation,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A.

(Image: kropic1/shutterstock.com)

[View full post](https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/12/major-health-legislation-passes-final.html)

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