MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA

ALC · Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Mental Health Substance use disorder H.R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act; specifically, lobbying to amend Medicaid community engagement requirements to require states to perform ex parte verifications for individuals eligible for exceptions due to having a substance use disorder; lobbying House Energy and Commerce (majority and minority) and Senate HELP (majority and minority) on legislative language related to ex-parte verifications and 42 CFR Part 2 that would improve implementation of H.R. 1

Literal federal measure citations: H.R. 1, H.R. 1

BUD · Budget/Appropriations

Appropriations for Mental Health Block Grant at levels contained within H.R. 5304 Appropriations for Parity Enforcement Grants within Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight

Literal federal measure citations: H.R. 5304

HCR · Health Issues

Early Action and Responsiveness Lifts Youth Minds Act H.R. 1735/S.779. Legislation that would allow states to use up to 5% of the Mental Health Block Grant for evidence-based mental health prevention and early intervention activities. REAL Health Providers Act, H.R. 5281. This bill requires Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations to maintain directories of in-network providers and continually ensure their accuracy. Specifically, MA organizations must publish on their websites an accurate directory of in-network providers and regularly update these directories. The bill additionally specifies that if a provider is listed as in-network in this directory when a beneficiary selects and makes an appointment with the provider, but the provider is not actually in-network, the beneficiary is still only responsible for paying in-network cost-sharing requirements. MA organizations must annually evaluate and report on the accuracy of their directories; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and MA organizations must publish this information on their websites. The bill provides funds for these purposes. The Government Accountability Office must report on the bill's implementation. COMPLETE Care Act (S.931/H.R.2509). This bill would increase Medicare reimbursement amounts for the HCPCS billing codes for integrated behavioral health care for three years. The HCPCS codes are 99484, 99492, 99493, 99494, G2214, and G0323. Reimbursement would be 175% of current rates for 2027, 150% for 2028, and 125% for 2029. Promoting Effective and Empowering Recovery Services in Medicare Act H.R. 6841/S. 3521. This bill would allow for Medicare reimbursement for mental health and substance use disorder peer support specialists.

Literal federal measure citations: H.R. 1735, S.779, H.R. 5281, S.931, H.R.2509, H.R. 6841, S. 3521

MMM · Medicare/Medicaid

One Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1). Specifically, lobbying House Energy and Commerce and Senate HELP committees to ask administration to clarify the effect of 42 CFR Part 2 on ex-parte verifications of individuals who are exempt from community engagement requirements.

Literal federal measure citations: H.R. 1