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Proposed legislation to amend the Minors Consent Act (Act 147 of 2004) signed into law: Act 65 of 2020 - highlights below Since the enactment of Act 147 of 2004 (Minors Consent Act-Act), attempts to amend the Act have occurred over numerous legislative sessions. With the advent of the opioid epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic and the focus on early/preventive mental health and substance use interventions, legislators have been focused on amending the law to allow more parent involvement with children between the ages of 14-17. House Bill 672 (Printer’s Number 2004) was introduced by Representative Jason Ortitay (R-Allegheny/Washington) during the 2019-2020 legislative session. Based on constituent complaints about the inability of parents to consent for mental health treatment and/or have access to their children's medical records (along with the ambiguities with the Act), Ortitay contacted the PA Department of Human Services and the PA Department of Health for clarifications/interpretations to the current law and to seek remedies/alternatives to concerns. When he did not receive a response to his satisfaction, he introduced the bill. As has occurred in the past, legislative activity on this proposed legislation was slow and stalled after it received committee consideration and passage in the House in June of 2019. The Society, along with our colleagues at the PA Medical Society, expressed our opposition/concerns with the bill as written. A copy of the letter is enclosed here . The bill sat stagnant in the PA Senate until June of this year. The bill then flew under the radar of COVID-19 and police reform bills and passed the Senate in late June. Act 65 became law on July 23, 2020. A comprehensive analysis is currently being done by Deborah Ann Shoemaker, our lobbyist. This information will be provided in future member communications. In the interim, a copy of the bill is enclosed here for your convenience. Wolf Administration creates Trauma-Informed Pennsylvania plan: additional details In early May, Governor Wolf’s Office of Advocacy and Reform (OAR) announced the creation of a volunteer think tank to work towards making our commonwealth a trauma-informed state. This initiative is one of the numerous projects under the governor’s Mental Health Matters: Reach Out PA campaign. The plan focuses on six key areas: Ensuring that PA state culture is trauma-informed through universal training Ensuring all state agencies’ policies and practices are trauma-informed and more focused on prevention and healing Mandating that all licensed and funded entities become trauma-informed Building and supporting grass roots / community-based efforts to become trauma-informed in every part of the commonwealth Recognizing and healing from the traumas of major crisis like COVID-19 Preventing and healing racial, communal and historical traumas, whether they be individual or systemic. For more information, or to get the comprehensive plan, access the OAR’s website. APA UPDATES Reminder: Additional Input sought by APA’s Presidential Task Force (Task Force) to Address Structural Racism Richard Silbert, MD, DLFAPA, PaPS President, was contacted via the APA Presidential List serve to solicit member input on institutional racism within the APA. Click here to take the survey. The survey will be open from July 23 to August 6 . Part two of the APA town hall on structural racism will be held on Monday, August 24th from 8-9:30 PM. To register, to get results on the first survey, along with additional materials on the Task Force are available here. Free Confidential Referral Service for APA Members Introduced Mental health professionals can submit questions about COVID-19 and bipolar disorder, major depression, and schizophrenia and receive evidence-based guidance from SMI Adviser's team of national experts within a day. Ask about medications, resources for families, telehealth options, and much more. This is a completely confidential and free service. Request a consult.
For more information, or to get the comprehensive plan, access the OAR’s website. APA UPDATES Reminder: Additional Input sought by APA’s Presidential Task Force (Task Force) to Address Structural Racism Richard Silbert, MD, DLFAPA, PaPS President, was contacted via the APA Presidential List serve to solicit member input on institutional racism within the APA. Click here to take the survey. The survey will be open from July 23 to August 6 . Part two of the APA town hall on structural racism will be held on Monday, August 24th from 8-9:30 PM. To register, to get results on the first survey, along with additional materials on the Task Force are available here. Free Confidential Referral Service for APA Members Introduced Mental health professionals can submit questions about COVID-19 and bipolar disorder, major depression, and schizophrenia and receive evidence-based guidance from SMI Adviser's team of national experts within a day. Ask about medications, resources for families, telehealth options, and much more. This is a completely confidential and free service. Request a consult.