A bill to improve outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries with major depressive disorder or other mental health conditions.

Bill: 118-s-708
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2023-03-08
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug therapy

Medicaid

Mental health

Prescription drugs

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2023-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-03-08
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill requires the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services to issue guidance for state Medicaid programs on best practices to support individuals with major depressive disorder or other mental health conditions, including options that include pharmacogenetic testing.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 708 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 8, 2023 Mr. Brown (for himself and Mr. Scott of South Carolina ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To improve outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries with major depressive disorder or other mental health conditions.

1. Guidance relating to Medicaid coverage of genetic testing to improve outcomes for beneficiaries with major depressive disorder or other mental health conditions Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall issue guidance for State Medicaid programs through a State Medicaid Director letter that specifies best practices to improve outcomes for individuals eligible for medical assistance under State Medicaid programs who have major depressive disorder or other mental health conditions. The guidance shall include coverage policy examples utilizing pharmacogenetic testing to support clinicians seeking medication options to treat patients and reduce trial and error from the Medicare program or from issuers of individual or group health insurance coverage.