Senate Majority Policy Committee Focuses on Mental Health

August 05, 2025

There is a growing need to support mental health and behavioral health care across Pennsylvania.

On Tuesday, Geisinger’s new Behavioral Health Center in Danville hosted the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee for a roundtable on mental health services in urban and rural areas. Throughout the meeting, panelists noted the need for a strong collaboration to support the workforce and improve access and coordination of care.

“What matters most to us is ensuring that every individual who walks through these doors receives care that is evidence-based, dignified, and timely,”  said Ann Blankenhorn, CEO, Geisinger Behavioral Health Danville.

Among the key takeaways from the event:

• Coordinated effort:  Breaking down silos among providers, county agencies, government stakeholders, the judicial system, and community groups can help improve coordination of care, panelists noted.
• Funding uncertainty:  Medicaid is an important funding source for programs and services, but recent developments are causing uncertainty for providers and access to care.
• Supporting patients:  Recovery and skill-based community services are important tools to help reduce hospitalizations and to advance care outside of hospital settings.
  • Panelists also discussed the need to prevent homelessness and incarceration among patients in crisis, finding additional pathways to care across the continuum. This includes a special focus on prevention and routine care.
• Transportation:  Transportation is another key factor to support access to care, especially in rural communities.
• Key issue:  Counties have unique challenges across the care spectrum that require specific, community-based solutions. This can make it harder to prescribe broad solutions and care models across the commonwealth.

HAP continues to focus on initiatives that bolster the infrastructure needed to help patients manage crises and increase services across all care settings to support recovery. Today’s hearing is available to watch online.