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U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack stopped by Pine Rest Mental Health Services to discuss federal efforts to improve the field.

Representatives from Pine Rest and Marion County Public Health told Loebsack about issues they are facing with treating patients, reimbursement rates, staff recruitment, and telemedicine efforts. The representative tells KNIA/KRLS News improving the field is a difficult hurdle to clear, as many different areas impact mental health care.

“I think one of the most important takeaways for me is just how complicated the provision of mental health care is, it involves a lot of different entities,” Loebsack says.

Jean Holthaus with Pine Rest says action needs to be taken to improve the various issues care providers face to help prevent negative consequences of insufficient resources.

“If we don’t address them, we are going to see more and more of those situations that we desperately want to avoid, where there’s tragedy,” she says. “If we can intervene in the beginning stages of mental illness, we don’t get to those places where such tragic things can happen.”

Hear more about Loebsack’s visit on Let’s Talk Pella.