The 21st Century Cures Act bill has many positive features for the provision of mental health care – but it also puts many of the problems facing the system in the spotlight, says James Reinhard, the associate director for psychiatry in Virginia Tech’s Cook Counseling Center

The legislation received bipartisan support in the House and Senate, and was signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday.

Quoting“It seems to bolster the parity in making reimbursement for mental health treatment on par with other medical illnesses. The issues it does not address is the disparity of treatment for those that are insured and those uninsured or do not qualify for Medicaid.”

Background James Reinhard is a board certified psychiatrist who has completed a fellowship at Harvard Medical School’s Program in Psychiatry and the Law and has additional board certification in forensic psychiatry. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and was appointed by two previous governors as Commissioner of Virginia’s public mental health system from 2002 to 2010 prior to coming to Virginia Tech.

Schedule an interviewTo secure an interview with Reinhard, contact Bill Foy in the Media Relations office at 540-231-8719 or 540-998-0288.

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