Treatment Advocacy Center

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Treatment Advocacy Center We are a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of serious mental illness.

Since its founding in 1998, TAC has grown to be a respected, independent voice for reforming treatment laws nationwide. We engage in a wide range of activities and projects aimed at increasing treatment for people with severe mental illnesses. Twenty-two states have made important changes to their treatment laws as a direct result of our advocacy since we were founded, and more progress is on the horizon. This website is designed to provide the public and policy makers with a reliable source of information about state treatment laws and family members with information and resources for helping loved ones with severe mental illness.

Advocacy Spotlight! With guidance and technical assistance from TAC, advocates in Maryland worked tirelessly to get a wi...
10/12/2026

Advocacy Spotlight!

With guidance and technical assistance from TAC, advocates in Maryland worked tirelessly to get a win with bipartisan passage of MD SB 707 in April 2026. This bill clarifies when a person with serious mental illness (SMI) may be considered a danger to themselves, helping people in acute psychiatric crises to access care sooner. Read TAC’s SMI Advocate newsletter for more about grassroots work to improve treatment access for people experiencing serious mental illness (SMI) with psychosis in Maryland and nationwide: TAC_SMINewsletter_7.2026.pdfhttps://www.tac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TAC_SMINewsletter_7.2026.pdf

Action Alert! The IMD Care Act (H.R. 10647) is a step in the right direction to improve access to inpatient care for peo...
10/09/2026

Action Alert! The IMD Care Act (H.R. 10647) is a step in the right direction to improve access to inpatient care for people with serious mental illness (SMI). The act would give states a new Medicaid pathway to cover short-term hospital care within Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMDs). Use TAC’s Action Center to contact your elected U.S. representative today and ask them to co-sponsor this important legislation: https://www.tac.org/tac-action-center/

What questions do you have about IMD exclusion? Let us know in the comments below.

Advocacy Spotlight! With strategic assistance from Leslie Carpenter, TAC’s senior legislative advocacy manager, Colorado...
10/07/2026

Advocacy Spotlight!

With strategic assistance from Leslie Carpenter, TAC’s senior legislative advocacy manager, Colorado Mad Moms worked hard to get CO HB1002 passed. This bill tightens verification requirements for behavioral health care providers so that individuals seeking care can locate real, available providers. The Mad Moms welcomed Carpenter as a guest panelist during their Day of Advocacy at the Colorado State Capitol on Feb. 19, 2026. Read TAC’s SMI Advocate newsletter for more about grassroots work in Colorado and nationwide: TAC_SMINewsletter_7.2026.pdfhttps://www.tac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TAC_SMINewsletter_7.2026.pdf

Advocacy Spotlight! Jerri Clark (center), TAC’s senior advocacy and communications manager, was keynote speaker for an a...
10/05/2026

Advocacy Spotlight!

Jerri Clark (center), TAC’s senior advocacy and communications manager, was keynote speaker for an all-day Criminal Justice and Mental Health Symposium in Salt Lake City, Utah. Organizers Debra Widmer (left) and Sherri Wittwer (right) are fierce advocates working to decriminalize serious mental illness with psychosis and improve treatment access and quality. The May event included 80 online participants and 100 in-person attendees. Read TAC’s SMI Advocate newsletter for more about grassroots work in Utah and nationwide: TAC_SMINewsletter_7.2026.pdfhttps://www.tac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TAC_SMINewsletter_7.2026.pdf

TAC is proud to announce the introduction of the IMD Care Act in Congress today. This bipartisan legislation would creat...
10/01/2026

TAC is proud to announce the introduction of the IMD Care Act in Congress today. This bipartisan legislation would create a Medicaid funding pathway for psychiatric hospitals serving adults with SMI by addressing barriers created by the IMD exclusion.

The IMD exclusion is a decades-old Medicaid policy that limits federal reimbursement for care provided in psychiatric hospitals with more than 16 beds, creating barriers to treatment access for people with SMI needing hospital level care.

TAC worked alongside a coalition of mental health advocates and legislative partners to help advance this effort, providing research and policy expertise to support bill sponsor Rep. Cliff Bentz (OR) and co-sponsor Rep. Dan Goldman (NY).

The IMD Care Act reflects what can be achieved when advocates and lawmakers work together to expand access to appropriate psychiatric treatment. TAC looks forward to supporting the legislation as it moves through Congress.

For more about the bill: Congressmen Bentz and Goldman Introduce the IMD CARE Act for Patients Suffering from Serious Mental Illnesses | Representative Cliff Bentz https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-bentz-and-goldman-introduce-the-imd-care-act-for-patients-suffering-from-serious-mental-illnesses

Pictured (left to right): Leslie Carpenter (TAC), Keilah Ilinykh (Office of Rep. Cliff Bentz), and Michael Gray (Tulipifera Strategies).

Involuntary psychiatric treatment, also called civil commitment or court-ordered treatment, is a necessary part of the c...
09/30/2026

Involuntary psychiatric treatment, also called civil commitment or court-ordered treatment, is a necessary part of the care continuum for people with SMI who are unlikely to engage in treatment voluntarily and who will likely experience significant harm if left untreated. While passing a law does not always automatically create a fully operational treatment program, it establishes the legal framework for treatment access and rights protections, creating opportunities for meaningful and lasting improvements for people with SMI.

To learn more about involuntary treatment laws and how you can support improvements in your state, read the full SMI Digest here: https://www.tac.org/smi-digest-involuntary-treatment-laws/ https://www.tac.org/?p=36580

When lack of insight prevents someone from seeking care, states need laws that make treatment possible. “Grading the Sta...
09/25/2026

When lack of insight prevents someone from seeking care, states need laws that make treatment possible.

“Grading the States,” TAC’s newest report, highlights key areas for reform within state involuntary treatment laws. These recommendations reflect a modern clinical understanding of psychosis and anosognosia. Individuals experiencing an altered perception of reality often have impaired decision-making capacity and are therefore unable to recognize their need for treatment or seek voluntary care. As a result, court-ordered treatment may be the only viable pathway to care, stabilization, and recovery. Learn more about your state’s commitment laws and areas for reform: https://www.tac.org/reports_publications/grading-the-states-an-analysis-of-u-s-psychiatric-treatment-laws/

From a C+ to an A+: Kentucky shows what's possible when mental health reform gets done.In August, Kentucky passed HB 485...
09/23/2026

From a C+ to an A+: Kentucky shows what's possible when mental health reform gets done.

In August, Kentucky passed HB 485, which clarifies procedures for involuntary commitment and updates key definitions related to mental illness within state law. In TAC’s 2026 “Grading the States” report, Kentucky ranked as the top state for effective involuntary mental illness treatment laws. Kentucky’s grade rose from a C+ to an A+ since TAC’s 2020 “Grading the States” report.

“This legislation is a great example of what can happen when people come to the table willing to listen, work together, and find common ground,” House Majority Whip Jason Nemes said in a statement. Read the full story here: Kentucky celebrates mental health reform implementation - The Lexington Times https://lexingtonky.news/2026/08/17/kentucky-celebrates-mental-health-reform-implementation/, or visit our website to read “Grading the States” and learn more about opportunities for reform in your state.

Access to care shouldn't depend on your ZIP code.In our 2026 “Grading the States” report, TAC evaluated the quality of e...
09/21/2026

Access to care shouldn't depend on your ZIP code.

In our 2026 “Grading the States” report, TAC evaluated the quality of every state’s court ordered treatment laws, based on whether they permit evaluation and treatment in a timely manner, for sufficient duration, and in ways that support stabilization and long-term well-being. Modernizing involuntary treatment laws is an essential and immediately available policy lever for improving access to care for people with SMI. To learn more about SMI treatment laws in your state, read the full report: https://www.tac.org/reports_publications/grading-the-states-an-analysis-of-u-s-psychiatric-treatment-laws/

Join the AOT Learning Network webinar on September 17 at 3 p.m. ET as Dr. Allison Harvey shares practical, evidence-base...
09/11/2026

Join the AOT Learning Network webinar on September 17 at 3 p.m. ET as Dr. Allison Harvey shares practical, evidence-based strategies for addressing sleep disturbances and supporting recovery for AOT participants in community mental health settings.

🔗 Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_evoPe8E9T1-XtMuxgtKlAQ #/registration

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