Improving Access to Behavioral Health Integration Act

Bill: 117-s-4306
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2022-05-25
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2022-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-05-25
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Improving Access to Behavioral Health Integration Act</strong></p> <p>This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and expands a program that supports mental and behavioral health education and training for health care providers.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill expands the program by establishing grants for primary care practices to hire behavioral health providers or otherwise facilitate the adoption of models to integrate behavioral health and primary care. The Department of Health and Human Services must develop reporting requirements and metrics to measure the uptake of such models by primary care practices.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4306 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 25, 2022 Ms. Smith (for herself and Mr. Moran ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To support behavioral health integration into primary care practices, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Access to Behavioral Health Integration Act . 2. Program to support behavioral health integration Section 760 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 294k ) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by striking Training demonstration program and inserting Program to support behavioral health integration ; (2) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (B) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking the period and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (4) supporting primary care practices in implementing evidence-based behavioral health integration programs that involve professionals whose primary job function is the direct screening, diagnosis, treatment, or recovery support of patients with or in recovery from a behavioral health disorder, such as physicians, psychiatric nurses, social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, occupational therapists, psychologists, and peer support specialists. ; (3) by adding at the end of subsection (b) the following: (4) Behavioral health integration programs A recipient of a grant under subsection (a)(4) shall use the grant funds to— (A) hire physicians, psychiatric nurses, social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, occupational therapists, psychologists, or peer support specialists to provide behavioral health services; (B) identify and enter into contractual relationships with health care providers or vendors offering care management and behavioral health consultation to facilitate the adoption of behavioral health integration models; or (C) for such other purposes as the Secretary determines appropriate. ; (4) by adding at the end of subsection (c) the following: (4) Behavioral health integration programs To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a)(4), an entity shall be a primary care practice, including adult primary care practices and pediatric primary care practices. ; (5) by adding at the end of subsection (d) the following: (3) Behavioral health integration programs In awarding grants under subsection (a)(4), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that— (A) demonstrate a pathway to financially sustain the behavioral health integration program beyond the initial grant period, such as participation in value-based behavioral health integration models; (B) have the capacity to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder services in areas with demonstrated need, as determined by the Secretary, such as Tribal, rural, or other medically underserved communities; or (C) are practices that are eligible for technical assistance under section 1848(q)(11) of the Social Security Act on the basis of the number of professionals. ; (6) in subsection (f)— (A) by striking demonstration program each place such term appears and inserting program ; (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following: (C) an analysis of the uptake of behavioral health integration models in primary care practices; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (3) Metrics for measuring the uptake of behavioral health integration models For purposes of the reporting requirement under paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary shall develop evidence-based metrics and reporting requirements to measure the uptake of behavioral health integration models by primary care practices, including by measuring the increase in provider capacity, patient access to behavioral health care, and patient outcomes. The Secretary shall consult with primary care and behavioral health professionals, and patient advocates when developing measures and performance metrics. (4) Publication of data The Secretary shall make public aggregate evaluation results collected through the study under paragraph (1) to facilitate identifying best practices and promising models for scale with respect to behavioral health integration programs. ; and (7) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows: (g) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated, for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027— (1) to carry out the grant programs under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a), $10,000,000; and (2) to carry out the grant program under subsection (a)(4), $30,000,000. .