House Bill 335 Would Eliminate Services and Negatively Impact the Health of 2.9 Million Pennsylvanians and Their Families

Recently, Lindsay Osterhout, OBL Managing Partner Administrative Division, met with case management staff at Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, Inc (SPHS) in Charleroi, PA. Among other local news, they discussed new proposed state legislation, HB 335, and the devastating effects it would have on our community.

HB 335, sponsored by Representative Seth M. Grove, would eliminate the current Behavioral HealthChoices (BHC) program thereby making it difficult for counties to provide coordinated and integrated human services and negatively impact the health of 2.9 million Pennsylvanians and their families. BHC is the statewide program through which every county delivers mental health and drug and alcohol services to vulnerable Pennsylvanians enrolled in the Medical Assistance program, and their families. The program, created 21 years ago, has allowed Pennsylvanians to receive needed mental health services.

We at Osterhout Berger Disability Law, frequently work with disability claimants who rely on these services to manage their care. If these programs are eliminated, it will be very difficult for our claimants to find affordable care to manage their symptoms. We are concerned that HB 335 passes, we will see tragic consequences. Several health and human services agencies have signed onto a letter opposing this legislation. Read the letter that was sent to Members of the House of Representatives HERE. Please consider contacting your state representatives and urge them to oppose this bill. Locate your legislator using this LINK.

We value our community partnership with SPHS and thank them for bringing this proposed legislation to our attention.