The Assembly Human Services Committee today heard testimony from invited stakeholders to discuss emergency services provided to persons experiencing a mental health crisis.

NJHA’s Neil Eicher and Dr. Joseph Miller, corporate director of Neurosciences and Behavioral Health at Meridian Health, testified together on the way hospitals treat patients who present at hospitals for mental health services.

Eicher emphasized that more than half a million patients with behavioral health issues were treated and released from hospital emergency departments in 2012. Hospitals have seen the increase is visits across all payer types, age groups and counties.

Committee members asked questions ranging from the impact that the closure of Hagedorn Psychiatric Facility has had on hospitals to the impact Hurricane Sandy has had on the population.

In other action, the Assembly Homeland Security Committee approved a measure backed by NJHA that would require healthcare facilities to be generator-ready within three years and also provide low rate interest loans to achieve this goal. NJHA registered its support to A-1342, sponsored by Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-union.)