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Judith Anne, The following is the text that introduces the plan. I do not see a forced exam in here, so I'm not sure where that comes from. I did not see that in the steps either, but it may be described somewhere else. I just don't know. But there's plenty here to make me wary.

President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health

On April 29, 2002, the President issued Executive Order 13263 establishing the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Composed of fifteen members representing providers, payers, administrators, and consumers of mental health services, as well as family members of consumers, and seven ex officio members, the Commission was charged with conducting “a comprehensive study of the United States mental health service delivery system, including public and private sector providers,” and was directed to advise the President on methods of improving the system. In July 2003, the Commission issued its recommendations in a final report entitled Achieving the Promise, Transforming Mental Health Care in America. See http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov/reports/reports.htm. The report identifies barriers to care within the mental health system and examples of community-based care models that have proven successful in coordinating and providing treatment services.

The Commission concluded that the mental health service delivery system in the United States must be substantively transformed. In the transformed system: 1) Americans understand that mental health is essential to overall health; [I agree] 2) mental health care is consumer and family-driven; [that's good, I agree] 3) disparities in mental health services are eliminated; [does that mean federal oversight?] 4) early mental health screening, assessment, and referral to services are common practice; [is this a coercive measure? it doesn't say that it is. If not, then I would have to agree] 5) excellent mental health services are delivered and research is accelerated; [depends on details] and 6) technology is used to access mental health care and information [depends on details].

The Commission also concluded that the roles played by states must be central to the transformation process, but states must rely heavily upon the involvement of consumers in research, planning, and evaluation activities. At the same time, the coordinated efforts of more than 25 Federal agencies must undergird and reinforce the states’ processes. Every adult with a serious mental illness or child with a serious emotional disturbance must have an individualized plan of care coordinating services among programs and across agencies. Every state must have a comprehensive mental health plan, the ownership of which is shared by all state agencies impacting the care of persons with serious mental illnesses.