State Rep. Matthew Bierlein, of Vassar, has introduced legislation that will improve mental health care needs and provide solutions for urgent situations.

Bierlein’s plan requires psychological evaluations in emergency rooms for mental health episodes to be completed within three hours by a preadmission screening unit. If the evaluation cannot be completed within three hours, a clinically qualified individual may perform the assessment.

“Unfortunately, there has been an alarming and growing trend of children and adults being admitted into emergency rooms due to a mental health crisis only to be forced to wait weeks for an evaluation or referral for treatment,” Bierlein said. “These delays can lead to heartbreaking outcomes. Time saves lives. No person should be forced to wait this length of time for urgent mental health care, and this plan will allow highly trained mental health professionals to conduct assessments and screenings so we can get people referred faster and deliver results.”

Bierlein also noted that on top of a shortage of available mental health professionals to conduct evaluations, long wait times for treatment can be due to a lack of inpatient psychiatric beds. As chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Public Health and Food Security, he has led hearings during the current legislative term on areas where mental health in Michigan can be shored up to get people care, including the shortage of beds and increased mental health services within the criminal justice system.

“Michigan must confront a growing behavioral health crisis that impacts families, communities, health care workers and law enforcement every single day,” Bierlein said. “We need reforms that prioritize this issue, and this bill is a needed part of the equation. I will continue working to deliver a better way forward for our state regarding mental health care.”

House Bill 5334 will soon be formally read into the record.

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Matthew Bierlein introduces House Bill 5334 on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the state Capitol in Lansing.