The AHA today expressed support for the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act (H.R.1767/S. 824), bipartisan legislation that would renew and expand an innovative demonstration program that expands access to treatment of mental illnesses and substance use disorders through community-based clinics.
 
To increase access to care, Congress, in the Protecting Access to Medicare Act, authorized demonstration programs in up to eight states to improve community behavioral health services through certified community behavioral health clinics – a new comprehensive treatment model that launched in 2017. Statutory authority for the CCBHC program will end in June 2019 unless Congress acts.
 
“Your timely legislation would renew the CCBHC demonstration program in the original eight states (Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon and Pennsylvania) for two years and expand it to 11 additional states, enabling current patients to continue receiving comprehensive care, and increasing the number of individuals with access to vital services,” AHA said.
 
The legislation was introduced in the House by Reps. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., and in the Senate by Sens. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.

Related News Articles

Headline
The House July 3 voted 218-214 to pass the final version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which enacts many of President Trump’s legislative…
Headline
Jon Ulven, Ph.D., behavioral health psychologist and chair of adult psychology at Sanford Health, details the fragile behavioral health landscape in rural…
Headline
The Senate narrowly passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) on July 1 by a 50-50 tally, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.…
Headline
The AHA June 29 sent a letter to senators urging them to amend the budget reconciliation bill before its final passage in the Senate. The Senate version of the…
Headline
Kevin McEwan, DNP, R.N., chief nursing officer at Madison Memorial Hospital, shares how Medicaid provides vital behavioral health and maternal and child care…
Headline
Boston Medical Center’s Jeff Schneider, M.D., associate chief medical officer, designated institutional official and chair of the Graduate Medical Education…