Pete Earley

Last week’s subcommittee markup of Rep. Tim Murphy’s Helping Families In Mental Health Crisis Act is a step forward in the legislative process that ultimately could restructure our mental health care system. I asked two advocates with opposing points of view to share their thoughts about the more than ten hour markup session and explain why they are either against or support Murphy’s bill. Today (Tuesday – 11-10-15), I am posting a blog by Leah Harris, who opposes the Murphy bill. On Thursday (11-12-15), I will publish a blog written by D. J. Jaffe, who is a staunch supporter. I am grateful to Leah and D. J. for articulating their much different perspectives.

Change is a Choice: Reflections on the Markup of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act

By Leah Harris, Campaign for Real Change in Mental Health Policy

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.” — C. S. Lewis

I spent several hours reviewing the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee markup of “The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis” Act (H.R. 2646). Some supporters of the Murphy Bill claim that Democratic objections to the bill should be dismissed as typical partisan wrangling. But this markup was much less a matter of partisan politics and much more a question of just how to fix our broken system. It is a battle about resources: whether to focus on funding a few costly, late-stage crisis interventions that only apply to a very small subset of people, or to reform the system from the ground up with a focus on preventing the very crises that the bill purports to address. It is a battle between outdated, authoritarian approaches to care, versus collaborative, person-centered approaches that represent the latest in science and good medicine.

At the markup, Democrats put forward the same arguments against the bill that have been made by mental health service users and advocates since the first version of the legislation was introduced in December 2013. The laundry list of objections to the bill are far too numerous to reiterate in this piece, but can be found  here  and  here. Arguments against the Murphy bill have rarely been heard in the mainstream media, which overwhelmingly endorse the bill and fail to include critical perspectives. For this reason, I was heartened to see clear critiques of the bill finally make it into the public record.

Click to continue…

Brain Wilson, Paul Dano, Al Jardine

It’s been quite a week.

Rep. Tim Murphy’s backers claimed victory in first markup round,  Patrick Kennedy called on Republicans and Democrats to stop partisan squabbling, and the Tampa Bay Times & Herald Tribune published an alarming investigative series about Florida’s unsafe state mental hospitals.

Oh yeah, legendary Beach Boy Brian Wilson also was in town.  Here’s a recap.

TAC Declares Victory

*”A Major Victory for Mental Health Reform,” The Treatment Advocacy Center declared after Wednesday’s exhaustive markup session for Rep. Tim Murphy’s Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (HR2646). “After nearly 12 hours in markup, the bill was moved to the Energy and Commerce Committee with a bipartisan vote of 18 ayes and 12 nays. All provisions to help the most severely mentally ill remain.” 

You might recall that the Treatment Advocacy Center, which was created by mental health lightening rod Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, has played an ongoing and powerful role in the drafting of Murphy’s bill.

Click to continue…

(Updated 11:30 am Thursday)

As expected, Democratic opponents to Rep. Tim Murphy’s Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act objected strongly Wednesday to the bill as written and introduced a slew of amendments in what turned into an exhausting hearing.  Those amendments were rejected. (See Shannon Muchmore’s story below)

I will post further reviews and analysis shortly. Meanwhile, you can watch the entire hearing above. Skip the first 36 minutes and 47 seconds in the first video. Yep, that’s all it takes for the  subcommittee to approve several other bills. And then the Pennsylvania Republican’s legislation  is brought before the subcommittee and the arguing starts and continues and continues and continues.

Although these two videos add up to ten hours, they are interesting to watch because viewers get to hear the differing views. From the subcommittee markup, Murphy’s bill goes to a full committee markup where attempts to change it will be made once again. Then, if it passes from the committee to the House floor, it will face more potential changes. From there, it will go to a committee to be merged with the Senate version, where it will face more potential changes.

Meaning, this is simply the first round.

Grab some popcorn,  several drinks, find a comfortable seat and watch our elected leaders all agree that our mental health system is a complete mess, but disagree completely on how to fix it.

Here is a report from Modern Healthcare reporter Shannon Muchmore.

Click to continue…

The House began marking up Rep. Tim Murphy’s Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis  Act Tuesday afternoon along party lines, with Democrats attacking the Pennsylvania Republican’s bill.
I’ve posted the entire hearing above, but all you have to do is watch the opening statement by Texas Democrat Gene Green followed by a statement by Murphy to see how the two sides differ.
On Wednesday, the Democrats will begin offering amendments and there was speculation late today that the opponents will add so many changes that  the bill will be withdrawn.

Here’s a list of key players.

Click to continue…

Rep. Tim Murphy discusses his bill at International Bipolar Foundation breakfast (Photo by John David Coppola)

The Washington Post’s lead editorial Monday was a strong endorsement of Rep. Tim Murphy’s Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, H.R. 2646, which calls for major changes in how future mental health services would be delivered. The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will begin markup hearings on Murphy’s bill, starting today (Tuesday November 3) at 3 p.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building for opening statements only.  The subcommittee will reconvene on Wednesday, November 4, at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn to consider amendments to the bill.

Wednesday’s hearing is important because other committee members will offer specific amendments as the bill is read, one section at a time. This is when critics of the bill have an opportunity to amend the sections they don’t support.  You will remember that Democrats kept Murphy’s bill bottlenecked in committee because of complaints from Curtis Decker, executive director of the National Disability Rights Network, the National Empowerment Center, Mental Health America, and the Bazelon Center For Mental Health Law.

With 156 co-sponsors,  H.R. 2646 is being supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Treatment Advocacy Center, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Psychological Association and American Psychiatric Association.

Click to continue…

I love talking about the power of an individual to help change our world, which is why I have posted several blogs about Jennifer Marshall, who along with Anne Marie Ames, launched This Is My Brave, a non-profit organization that produces professional quality stage shows that feature men and women talking openly and frankly about their mental disorders and recovery.

So I was thrilled when I saw Jennifer’s smiling face on the Fall 2015 cover of BP (Bipolar Magazine).

After launching their first show here in Virginia, Jennifer and Anne Marie have gone national, most recently producing a successful show in New York City and now moving on to Los Angeles. (My son Kevin, was an original cast member in Va.) Jennifer and Anne Marie are incredible advocates who are fearless in their efforts to fight stigma and increase understanding.

Click to continue…