Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Examining America’s Mental Health Services Act of 2013”.
Examining America’s Mental Health Services Act of 2013
A BILL
To provide for a study by the Institute of Medicine on gaps in mental health services and how these gaps can increase the risk of violent acts.
Sec. 2 Study on gaps in mental health services
Study— The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall enter into an agreement with the Institute of Medicine (or, if the Institute declines to enter into such an arrangement, another appropriate entity) to conduct a comprehensive study on—
gaps in mental health services, including treatment services, whether publicly or privately funded; and
how these gaps can increase the risk of violent acts.
Considerations— The study under subsection (a) shall include consideration of—
gaps in mental health treatment services for adults and children with severe and persistent mental illness;
barriers to receiving mental health services that result in high rates of untreated mental illness; and
the availability of interventions such as assisted outpatient treatment designed to reach individuals with untreated severe mental illness.
Report— The Secretary shall ensure that, not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act—
the study under subsection (a) is completed; and
a report on the findings and conclusions of such study is submitted to the Congress.