Access to Mental Health Services Act
Bill: H.R.8892 | Sponsor: Rep. Sewell, Terri A. (D-AL)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Access to Mental Health Services Act
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), jointly with other relevant agencies, to conduct outreach about the federal requirements relating to the availability of, and limitations for, coverage of mental health and substance use disorder crisis services under private health insurance plans.
HHS also must report about the coverage of such services under private insurance plans, including what services are covered, the types of providers furnishing the services, and common reimbursement approaches.

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a 
 public outreach campaign to inform individuals covered under a group 
health plan or group or individual health insurance coverage of Federal 
   requirements relating to mental health and substance use disorder 
                crisis services, 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 ``Access to Mental Health Services 
Act''.

SEC. 2. OUTREACH AND REPORT ON ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE 
              USE DISORDER CRISIS SERVICES UNDER GROUP HEALTH PLANS AND 
              HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.

    (a) Outreach.--Not later than January 1, 2024, the Secretaries of 
Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury shall initiate a 
joint public outreach campaign to inform individuals covered under a 
group health plan or group or individual health insurance coverage (as 
such terms are defined in section 2791 of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 300gg-91)) of Federal requirements relating to the 
availability of, and limitations on the imposition of financial 
requirements or treatment limitations for, benefits for mental health 
and substance use disorder crisis services under such plans and 
coverages. Such outreach shall emphasize the benefits of such mental 
health and substance use disorder crisis services, including improved 
individual well-being, and seek to reduce perceived stigma associated 
with accessing such mental health and substance use disorder crisis 
services.
    (b) Report.--Not later than January 1, 2024, the Secretaries of 
Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury shall submit to 
Congress a joint report on--
            (1) coverage of mental health and substance use disorder 
        crisis services under a group health plan or group or 
        individual health insurance coverage, including--
                    (A) which mental health and substance use disorder 
                services are covered as crisis services;
                    (B) the type of health care providers furnishing 
                such services; and
                    (C) common reimbursement approaches and billing 
                codes used with respect to such services;
            (2) barriers to individuals covered under a group health 
        plan or group or individual health insurance coverage accessing 
        mental health and substance use disorder crisis services, 
        including geographic barriers and barriers caused by a limited 
        availability of such mental health and substance use disorder 
        crisis services in certain service areas; and
            (3) issues relating to unexpected bills such individuals 
        may receive after being furnished such services in certain 
        service settings.
    (c) Funding.--In addition to amounts otherwise available for such 
purposes, there is appropriated $20,000,000, to remain available until 
expended, for purposes of carrying out this section.
                                 <all>