House passes bill to reauthorize, expand federal behavioral health programs

The House last night voted 402-20 to pass the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-being Act, bipartisan legislation that includes reauthorization through 2027 of more than 30 programs that support mental health care, prevention, education and workforce training. The bill includes AHA-supported legislation that would reauthorize and expand a program that addresses maternal mental health and substance use disorders, and require the Health and Human Services Secretary to maintain a national hotline to provide mental health and substance use disorder resources to pregnant and postpartum women and their families. Among other provisions, the bill would establish a Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating Office within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and require the Health and Human Services Secretary to publish best practices for a crisis response continuum of care. The legislation now goes to the Senate for consideration.