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Congressman Tim Murphy's Mental Health Bill Advances

PITTSBURGH (News Radio 1020 KDKA) - The U.S. House has overwhelmingly approved Congressman Tim Murphy's mental health reform bill.

The House actually passed the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act in July, but it was amended in the Senate.

The Upper St. Clair Republican says they worked on a compromise that was attached to a bigger bill - the 21st Century Cures Act.

There has been a lot of negotiation, so Murphy expects the Senate to approve the $6.3 billion bill on Tuesday, and President Barack Obama to sign it.

Murphy tells the "KDKA Morning News" he expects the Senate to vote either Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

Murphy explained one of the first things that will change when the bill passes.

"There will be a new office, The Assistant Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use. There are 112 federal programs in mental health, including 26 homeless programs, they just don't work together, this will restructure them," Murphy said.

The bill will also increase the number of providers for the mentally ill and give states options to increase the number of psychiatric beds available.

Murphy adds it will "take some time" for the bill's impact to reach the state and local levels.

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