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House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	July 21, 2015 01:33 PM
From:	Representative Margo L. Davidson
To:	All House members
Subject:	Assertive Community Treatment Package

In the near future, I plan to introduce a legislative package that will codify Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) within the Mental Health Procedures Act of 1976 and amend the Insurance Company Law of 1921 to provide insurance coverage for ACT services. ACT is a comprehensive community-based mental health treatment program providing services to individuals with serious mental illness where and when they need them — at home, at work or in other community settings. These individuals may experience homelessness, frequent contact with law enforcement, persistent and severe psychiatric symptoms, and reoccurring hospitalization. Within the program, a team of multidisciplinary mental health professionals including, but not limited to, clinicians, certified peer specialists, psychiatrists, registered nurses, and substance abuse specialists work to provide treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to patients. The provided services are individually tailored for each patient to encourage them to find their own residence, maintain solid work in their community, better manage symptoms, and achieve recovery. In 2008, the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) created standards for the development, administration, and evaluation of ACT. When these standards were outlined, the Department of Human Services asserted that ACT was an evidence-based practice that could play a vital role in their efforts to transform Pennsylvania’s mental health service system. Today, these services are offered in 27 counties, and it is my intention to offer this package as a vehicle to expand ACT to each county in Commonwealth. As previously stated, the package will consist of two bills.

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Document #1

Description:	The first piece of legislation will codify the standards and guidelines created by the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services within the Mental Health Procedures Act of 1976. Similar to the guidelines, this legislation will provide for the establishment, organization, treatment, and evaluation of ACT services.

Document #2

Description:	The second piece of legislation will amend The Insurance Company Law of 1921 to require insurance companies to provide health insurance coverage for ACT for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness.