Families Rights Matter2 Urges National HIPAA Modernization to Protect Loved Ones in Crisis

KANSAS CITY, KS, April 12, 2026 – Families Rights Matter2, spearheaded by Army veteran and national advocate Leon Shelmire Jr., has unveiled a comprehensive 10-Point HIPAA Modernization Plan. This critical initiative calls for immediate national enactment across all U.S. states and territories, responding to a disturbing trend of families being excluded from psychiatric emergencies, often with tragic consequences reported by major news outlets nationwide.

The plan directly addresses systemic gaps in current HIPAA interpretation, where a lack of clarity and standardized protocols frequently impedes vital family communication. Each point is linked to real-world incidents, illustrating how modernized laws—mandating aspects like family communication, standardized training, and emergency consent exceptions—could have profoundly altered outcomes and saved lives during mental health crises.

Beyond communication, the plan advocates for crucial reforms including required safety updates, a duty to consider family input, and modernizing HIPAA to cover 988 and crisis lines. It further pushes for mandatory state intervention after repeated crisis holds, specialized police crisis response units, and dedicated mental health treatment units within correctional facilities, aiming to create a robust and effective national crisis response framework.