SUPPORT Act
Bill: S.3476 | Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray (D-NM)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Securing Uninterrupted Pandemic Preparation Of Resources and Therapies Act or the SUPPORT Act
This bill expressly incorporates the provision of mental health and substance use disorder services during public health emergencies into the authorities and other activities of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Additionally, SAMHSA must report to Congress about recommendations to improve the provision of such services during public health emergencies.
The Government Accountability Office must also report on SAMHSA's programs and activities for supporting the provision of such services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To provide for mental health and substance use disorder services in 
     response to public health emergencies, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Securing Uninterrupted Pandemic 
Preparation Of Resources and Therapies Act'' or the ``SUPPORT Act''.

SEC. 2. SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 
              SERVICES IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES.

    (a) Authorities.--Section 501(d) of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 290aa(d)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (24) and (25) as paragraphs 
        (25) and (26), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (23) the following:
            ``(24) support the continued access to, or availability of, 
        mental health and substance use disorder services during, or in 
        response to, a public health emergency declared under section 
        319, including in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for 
        Preparedness and Response, as appropriate, in preparing for, 
        and responding to, a public health emergency;''.
    (b) Strategic Plan.--Section 501(l)(4) of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa(l)(4)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) specify a strategy to support the continued 
                access to, or availability of, mental health and 
                substance use disorder services, including to at-risk 
                individuals (as defined in section 2802(b)(4)), during, 
                or in response to, public health emergencies declared 
                pursuant to section 319.''.
    (c) Biennial Report Concerning Activities and Progress.--Section 
501(m) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa(m)) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (7) as 
        paragraphs (5) through (8), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) a description of the Administration's activities to 
        support the continued provision of mental health and substance 
        use disorder services, as applicable, in response to public 
        health emergencies declared pursuant to section 319;''; and
            (3) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as 
                subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
                following:
                    ``(D) relevant preparedness and response 
                activities;''.
    (d) Advisory Councils.--Not later than one year after the enactment 
of this Act, the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance 
Use shall issue a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
the House of Representatives, reflecting the feedback of the advisory 
councils for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the Center for 
Substance Abuse Prevention, and the Center for Mental Health Services, 
pursuant to section 502 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
290aa-1), and including recommendations to improve the continued 
provision of mental health and substance use disorder services during a 
public health emergency declared under section 319 of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 247d), and the provision of such services as part of the public 
health and medical response to such an emergency, consistent with title 
XXVIII of such Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh et seq.).
    (e) GAO Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives a report on programs and activities of the Substance 
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support the 
continued provision of mental health and substance use disorder 
services and related activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, including 
the provision of such services as part of the medical and public health 
response to such pandemic. Such report shall--
            (1) examine the role played by the advisory councils 
        described in section 502 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
        U.S.C. 290aa-1) and the National Mental Health and Substance 
        Use Policy Laboratory established under section 501A of such 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa-0) in providing technical assistance and 
        recommendations regarding the activities to support the 
        response of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
        Administration to the public health emergency declared under 
        section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) 
        with respect to COVID-19;
            (2) describe the manner in which existing awardees of 
        mental health and substance use disorder programs altered 
        delivery of services during such public health emergency; and
            (3) describe activities of the Substance Abuse and Mental 
        Health Services Administration to support the response to such 
        public health emergency, including through technical 
        assistance, provision of services, and any flexibilities 
        provided to such existing awardees.
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