The ENHANCED Act – Summary & Brief

“Establishing a Network of Health Advancing National Centers of Excellence for Depression Act of 2009”

• On December 3, 2009 Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), introduced the companion bill to the ENHANCED Act in the House of Representatives, the bill number is H.R. 4204.
• Co-sponsors of the bill include: Daniel Maffie (D-NY), Tim Murphy (R-PA), and John Yarmuth (D-KY)
• On October 22, 2009, Senator Stabenow (D-MI), introduced the ENHANCED Act of 2009, in the Senate, the bill number  S.1857.
• Co-sponsors of the bill include: Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX), John F. Kerry (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI), and George Voinovich (R-OH)
• This bill would establish a national network of centers of excellence for the treatment of depressive disorders[i].
• The goal of the bill is to increase the number of people with depressive disorders who receive appropriate and evidence-based treatment, and to establish a national resource to develop and disseminate evidence-based interventions, provide public and professional education, and eradicate the stigma associated with depressive disorders.  
• Over 30 organizations are offering support to this legislation including: Mental Health America (MHA), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

 
What the ENHANCED Act of 2009 will do:

• Create a network with a pathway for developing and expanding depression centers of excellence with a goal of increasing access to the most appropriate and evidence-based depression care.
• Develop and disseminate evidence-based treatment standards, clinical guidelines, and protocols to improve accurate and timely diagnosis of depression and bipolar disorders.
• Expand multidisciplinary, translational, and patient-oriented research by fostering the collaboration of academic and community-based service centers.
• Contribute data to a national database for multidisciplinary, large-sample effectiveness studies; create a repository of evidence-based interventions and disease management programs for depression and bipolar disorders.
• Use network of centers as a sustainable national resource for public and professional education and training, to advance knowledge and eradicate the stigma associated with depression and mood disorders.

 
Click here to download ENHANCED Fast Facts  PDF
 
Please click here for a full text PDF of the H.R. 4204 as introduced to the Senate.
 
Please click here for a full text PDF of S. 1857 as introduced to the House of Representatives.

 
 
Writing Congress
 
 
In the crucial days ahead, leaders in Washington will be watching their districts very closely to see how constituents react. So we must publicly show that voters understand and support this Act to develop comprehensive depression centers..
 
Will you help make the case for The ENHANCED Act of 2009 by writing a quick letter to your legislator?
 
Click here to send an e-mail to your Senator  
 
Click here to send an e-mail to your State Representative
 

[i] Depressive disorder means a mental or brain disorder relating to depression, including major depression, bipolar disorder, and related mood disorders.