Passage of Miotcra and Mental Health Parity

Miotcra

The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization Act of 2008

S.2304

Purpose

To promote public safety and community health by facilitating collaboration among the criminal justice, juvenile justice, mental health treatment system and substance and in treating such individuals with those systems.

Sponsors

Senator Edward Kennedy

Senator Patrick Leahy

Senator Pete Domenici

Senator Arlen Spector

Backround

The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act [MIOTCRA], passed unanimously by both Houses of the Congress and signed into law by the President in 2004, authorized the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration program [JMHCP] . The program received $5million ,out of a possible authorized $50. Million, in both FY2006 and FY2008.The Bureau of Justice Assistance [BJA], a division of the office of Justice Programs in the U.S , Department of Justice, administers the program

The bill which reauthorizes MIOYCRA for an additional $50million per year for five years also expands training for law enforcement receiving centers to identify and respond appropriately to individuals for mental health and substance abuse treatment needs.

Mental Health .Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

After sitting in Congress for 15 years, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, H.R. 1424, has finally passed both chambers of Congress and has signed into law by the president. The Act requires certain insurers to ensure that the mental health coverage is comparable to benefits provided for physical health care.. The Act will likely increase services available to individuals with behavior health disorders released., from jail or prison .The Act which also covers substance abuse disorders is anticipated to affect 36 million people.

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