Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2023

To increase language access to behavioral health services at eligible health centers, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2023 2. Demonstration program to increase language access at eligible health centers (a) Grants The Secretary shall carry out a demonstration program consisting of awarding grants to eligible health centers to recruit, hire, employ, and supervise qualified behavioral health professionals who— (1) are proficient in speaking and understanding both spoken English and at least one other spoken language, including any necessary specialized vocabulary, terminology, and phraseology; (2) are able to effectively, accurately, and impartially communicate directly with limited English proficient individuals in their primary language; and (3) are, or will be, employed— (A) directly by the eligible health center; or (B) through a contract between the eligible health center and the qualified behavioral health professional under which such professional provides services as part of the eligible health center's workforce or under supervision by the health center, in order to provide behavioral health services in another language. (b) Preference In selecting grant recipients under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give preference to eligible health centers at which at least 10 percent of the patients are best served in a language other than English, as indicated by data in the Uniform Data System of the Health Resources and Services Administration (or any successor database). (c) Outreach An eligible health center receiving a grant under this section shall use a portion of the grant funds to disseminate information about the behavioral health services supported through the grant. (d) Reports (1) Initial report Not later than 6 months after the first grants are awarded under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and other appropriate congressional committees, a report on the implementation of the program under this section. Such report shall include— (A) the languages spoken by the qualified behavioral health professionals recruited pursuant to a grant under subsection (a); (B) the eligible health center at which each such professional was placed; (C) how many eligible health centers received grants under subsection (a); (D) an analysis, conducted in consultation with the eligible health centers receiving grants under subsection (a), of the effectiveness of such grants at increasing language access to behavioral health services; and (E) best practices, developed in consultation with eligible health centers receiving grants under subsection (a), for the recruitment and retention of qualified behavioral health professionals at such health centers. (2) Final report Not later than the end of fiscal year 2026, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and other appropriate congressional committees, a final report on the implementation of the program under this section, including the information, analysis, and best practices described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1). (e) Definitions In this section: (1) The term eligible health center 42 U.S.C. 254b (2) The term qualified behavioral health professional (A) a behavioral and mental health professional (as defined in section 331(a)(3)(E)(i) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254d(a)(3)(E)(i) (B) a substance use disorder counselor; (C) an occupational therapist; or (D) an individual who— (i) has not yet been licensed or certified to serve as a professional listed in any of subparagraphs (A) through (C); and (ii) will serve at the eligible health center under the supervision of a licensed individual or certified professional so listed. (3) The term Secretary (f) Funding Subject to the availability of appropriations, out of amounts otherwise appropriated under section 760(g) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 294k(g)

Summary: Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award supplemental grants to certain federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) for recruiting and retaining mental health care providers who are fluent in another language besides English. HHS must award the grants to FQHCs that are already receiving federal assistance to support outpatient primary care for low-income individuals or other underserved populations. Additionally, HHS must give preference to FQHCs where at least 10% of the patients are best served in a language other than English.