groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, geo-
graphic, religious, linguistic, and class backgrounds, 
and different genders and sexual orientations, as 
specified in subsection (b)(2).’’. 
TITLE III—BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 
CRISIS SERVICES EXPANSION 
SEC. 301. CRISIS RESPONSE CONTINUUM OF CARE. 
Subpart 3 of part B of title V of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–31 et seq.), as amended by 
section 106, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘SEC. 520O. CRISIS RESPONSE CONTINUUM OF CARE. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
standards for a continuum of care for use by health care 
providers and communities in responding to individuals, 
including children and adolescents, experiencing mental 
health crises, substance related crises, and crises arising 
from co-occurring disorders (referred to in this section as 
the ‘crisis response continuum’). 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) SCOPE
OF
STANDARDS.—The standards 
established under subsection (a) shall define— 
‘‘(A) minimum requirements of core crisis 
services, as determined by the Secretary, to in-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:40 Mar 29, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7232.IH
H7232
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
clude requirements that each entity that fur-
nishes such services should— 
‘‘(i) not require prior authorization 
from an insurance provider nor referral 
from a health care provider prior to the de-
livery of services; 
‘‘(ii) serve all individuals regardless of 
age or ability to pay; 
‘‘(iii) operate 24 hours a day, 7 days 
a week, and provide care to all individuals; 
and 
‘‘(iv) 
provide 
care 
and 
support 
through resources described in paragraph 
(2)(A) until the individual has been sta-
bilized or transfer the individual to the 
next level of crisis care; and 
‘‘(B) psychiatric stabilization, including the 
point at which a case may be closed for— 
‘‘(i) individuals screened over the 
phone; and 
‘‘(ii) individuals stabilized on the 
scene by mobile teams. 
‘‘(2) IDENTIFICATION
OF
ESSENTIAL
FUNC-
TIONS.—The Secretary shall identify the essential 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:40 Mar 29, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7232.IH
H7232
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
functions of each service in the crisis response con-
tinuum, which shall include at least the following: 
‘‘(A) Identification of resources for referral 
and enrollment in continuing mental health, 
substance use, or other human services relevant 
for the individual in crisis where necessary. 
‘‘(B) Delineation of access and entry 
points to services within the crisis response con-
tinuum. 
‘‘(C) Development of and adherence to pro-
tocols and agreements for the transfer and re-
ceipt of individuals to and from other segments 
of the crisis response continuum segments as 
needed, and from outside referrals including 
health care providers, law enforcement, EMS, 
fire, education institutions, and community- 
based organizations. 
‘‘(D) Description of the qualifications of 
crisis services staff, including roles for physi-
cians, licensed clinicians, case managers, and 
peers (in accordance with State licensing re-
quirements or requirements applicable to Tribal 
health professionals). 
‘‘(E) Requirements for the convening of 
collaborative meetings of crisis response service 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:40 Mar 29, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7232.IH
H7232
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
providers, first responders, such as paramedics 
and law enforcement, and community partners 
(including National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 
or 9–8–8 call centers, 9–1–1 public service an-
swering points, and local mental health and 
substance use disorder treatment providers) op-
erating in a common region for the discussion 
of case management, best practices, and general 
performance improvement. 
‘‘(3) SERVICE CAPACITY AND QUALITY STAND-
ARDS.—Such standards shall include definitions of— 
‘‘(A) adequate volume of services to meet 
population need; 
‘‘(B) appropriate timely response; and 
‘‘(C) capacity to meet the needs of dif-
ferent patient populations who may experience 
a mental health or substance use crisis, includ-
ing children, families, and all age groups, cul-
tural and linguistic minorities, individuals with 
co-occurring mental health and substance use 
disorders, individuals with cognitive disabilities, 
individuals with developmental delays, and indi-
viduals with chronic medical conditions and 
physical disabilities. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:40 Mar 29, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7232.IH
H7232
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(4) OVERSIGHT
AND
ACCREDITATION.—The 
Secretary shall designate entities charged with the 
oversight and accreditation of entities within the cri-
sis response continuum. 
‘‘(5) IMPLEMENTATION TIMEFRAME.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this title, 
the Secretary shall establish the standards under 
this section. 
‘‘(6) DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, di-
rectly or through grants, contracts, or inter-
agency agreements, shall collect data and con-
duct evaluations with respect to the provision of 
services and programs offered on the crisis re-
sponse continuum for purposes of assessing the 
extent to which the provision of such services 
and programs meet certain objectives and out-
comes measures as determined by the Sec-
retary. Such objectives shall include— 
‘‘(i) a reduction in reliance on law en-
forcement response to individuals in crisis 
who would be more appropriately served by 
a mobile crisis team capable of responding 
to mental health and substance related cri-
ses; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:40 Mar 29, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7232.IH
H7232
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS