08/03/2017 By Brianna Ehley

The Senate today confirmed Elinore McCance-Katz to be the first HHS assistant secretary for mental health and substance abuse — a position created under mental health reform legislation enacted last year.

A clinical psychiatrist who served as the first chief medical officer for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. McCance-Katz resigned in 2015 amid disagreements with SAMHSA leadership and has been publicly critical of their work, which she says prioritizes recovery programs over treatment for serious mental illness. She will now return as the agency's top official.

The assistant secretary for mental health post was created as part of the 21st Century Cures legislation. It was designed to give the mental health agency a seat at the table at HHS and elevate behavioral health issues amid a nationwide opioid epidemic, and record high suicide rates.

Katz has support from mental health advocacy groups focused on treatment, including the American Psychiatric Association, the Treatment Advocacy Center and the LEAP Institutes. 
Click here for the entire article.