Stopping the Mental Health Pandemic Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 588 To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States, political subdivisions of States, Indian Tribes and Tribal orga- nizations, community-based entities, and primary care and behavioral health organizations to address behavioral health needs caused by the public health emergency declared with respect to COVID–19. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 28, 2021 Ms. PORTER (for herself, Mr. VAN DREW, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. TRONE, Ms. UNDERWOOD, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. RYAN, Mr. PA- NETTA, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. MOORE of Wis- consin, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. BASS, Ms. SEWELL, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. RASKIN, Ms. HOULAHAN, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. GARCI´A of Illi- nois, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. MCKINLEY, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mrs. KIM of Cali- fornia, Mr. CA´RDENAS, and Mr. CROW) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States, political subdivisions of States, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, community-based entities, and primary care and behavioral health organi- zations to address behavioral health needs caused by the public health emergency declared with respect to COVID–19. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:47 Feb 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H588.IH H588 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 588 IH SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stopping the Mental 2 Health Pandemic Act’’. 3 SEC. 2. GRANTS TO SUPPORT INCREASED BEHAVIORAL 4 HEALTH NEEDS DUE TO COVID–19. 5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 6 Assistant Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use, 7 shall award grants to States, political subdivisions of 8 States, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, commu- 9 nity-based entities, and primary care and behavioral 10 health organizations to address behavioral health needs 11 caused by the public health emergency declared pursuant 12 to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 13 247d) with respect to COVID–19. 14 (b) USE OF FUNDS.—An entity that receives a grant 15 under subsection (a) may use funds received through such 16 grant to— 17 (1) increase behavioral health treatment and 18 prevention capacity, including to— 19 (A) promote coordination among local enti- 20 ties; 21 (B) train the behavioral health workforce, 22 relevant stakeholders, and community members; 23 (C) upgrade technology to support effective 24 delivery of health care services through tele- 25 health modalities; 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:47 Feb 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H588.IH H588 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 588 IH (D) purchase medical supplies and equip- 1 ment for behavioral health treatment entities 2 and providers; 3 (E) address surge capacity for behavioral 4 health needs such as through mobile units; and 5 (F) promote collaboration between primary 6 care and mental health providers; and 7 (2) support or enhance behavioral health serv- 8 ices, including— 9 (A) emergency crisis intervention, includ- 10 ing mobile crisis units, 24/7 crisis call centers, 11 and medically staffed crisis stabilization pro- 12 grams; 13 (B) screening, assessment, diagnosis, and 14 treatment; 15 (C) mental health awareness trainings; 16 (D) evidence-based suicide prevention; 17 (E) evidence-based integrated care models; 18 (F) community recovery and peer supports; 19 (G) outreach to underserved and minority 20 communities; and 21 (H) for front line health care workers. 22 (c) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give priority to 23 applicants proposing to serve areas with a high number 24 of COVID–19 cases. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:47 Feb 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H588.IH H588 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 588 IH (d) EVALUATION.—An entity that receives a grant 1 under this section shall prepare and submit an evaluation 2 to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and con- 3 taining such information as the Secretary may reasonably 4 require, including— 5 (1) an evaluation of activities carried out with 6 funds received through the grant; and 7 (2) a process and outcome evaluation. 8 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 9 out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 10 $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 and 2022, to 11 remain available until expended. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:47 Feb 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H588.IH H588 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS