NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

HCR · Health Issues

SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2483), all provisions related to the continued bolstered funding for substance use disorder treatment and recovery. COMPLETE Care Act (S. 931/H.R. 2509), all provisions related to providing incentives for behavioral health integration. EARLY Minds Act (S. 779/H.R. 1735), all provisions related to allowing states to allocate up to five percent of their Mental Health Block Grant funding for prevention and early intervention activities. Building Capacity for Care Act (H.R. 2223), all provisions related to creating grants, loans, and loan guarantees to fund the construction, renovation, or purchase of behavioral health facilities that provide short-term inpatient care, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient care, and/or crisis stabilization. Expanding Student Access to Mental Health Services Act (H.R. 1649), all provisions related to improving mental health services for students. PEER Mental Health Act (H.R. 1448), all provisions related to awarding grants to train teachers, school personnel, parents/caregivers and students in mental health first aid. Parity Enforcement Act (H.R. 957), all provisions related to imposing civil monetary penalties for violations of mental health parity requirements. Telehealth Access for Tribal Communities Act of 2025 (H.R. 2639), all provisions related to providing access to healthcare services through audio-only telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries in tribal communities. Treatment and Homelessness Housing Integration Act of 2024 (H.R. 577), all provisions related to establishing a five-year demonstration program to refer qualified participants within the Continuum of Care Program to the nearest Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic. Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act of 2025(H.R. 136), all provisions relating to requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to report on the deaths of covered veterans who died by suicide during the last five years. Farmers First Act (Not yet introduced), all provisions related to grant recipients under the bill establishing referral relationships with Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. Strengthening Our Pediatric Mental Health Workforce Act (No bill number yet assigned), all provisions related to increasing the education, training, recruitment, and retention of pediatricians, child and adolescent psychiatrists, and other pediatric mental and behavioral health providers. STAR Plus Scholarship Act (H.R. 3655), all provisions related to creating a scholarship program for students pursuing a degree to provide substance use disorder treatment, mental health and behavioral health services. PEER Support Act (H.R. 2741/S. 1329), all provisions related to background screenings for peer specialists, creating a statutory definition in the Medicare program for peer specialists, and establishing the Office of Recovery. Building Capacity for Care Act (H.R. 2223), all provisions related to creating grants, loans, and loan guarantees to eligible facilities to address the behavioral health crisis and close gaps in the care continuum. OMB Deregulatory RFI [2025-06316], provided comment on RFI. CMS Medicare Deregulatory RFI, provided comment on RFI. CMS Health Tech RFI [2025-08701], provided comment on RFI. ONDCP 2026 strategy RFI, provided comment on RFI.

Literal federal measure citations: H.R. 2483, S. 931, H.R. 2509, S. 779, H.R. 1735, H.R. 2223, H.R. 1649, H.R. 1448, H.R. 957, H.R. 2639, H.R. 577, H.R. 136, H.R. 3655, H.R. 2741, S. 1329, H.R. 2223

MMM · Medicare/Medicaid

One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), all provisions related to Medicaid. H. Con. Res. 14, all provisions related to House Energy and Commerce Committee instructions and Senate Finance Committee spending instructions. Reentry Act of 2025 (H.R. 2586), all provisions related to allowing Medicaid coverage for eligible incarcerated individuals to be re-established up to 30 days before their release from jail or prison. Due Process Continuity of Care Act (H.R. 1510), all provisions related to amending the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy to allow incarcerated individuals to sustain their Medicaid coverage prior to a conviction. Legislative proposals that would make changes to Medicaid, education and engagement on the Medicaid program, its impact on mental health and substance use services, and implications for the workforce. CY26 Medicare Advantage [RIN 0938-AV40], provided comment on the proposed rule.

Literal federal measure citations: H.R. 1, H. Con. Res. 14, H.R. 2586, H.R. 1510

LAW · Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice

Reentry Act of 2025 (H.R. 2586), all provisions related to allowing Medicaid coverage for eligible incarcerated individuals to be re-established up to 30 days before their release from jail or prison. Due Process Continuity of Care Act (H.R. 1510), all provisions related to amending the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy to allow incarcerated individuals to sustain their Medicaid coverage prior to a conviction. HALT Fentanyl Act (S.331/H.R. 27), all provisions related to amending the Controlled Substances Act with respect to the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances.

Literal federal measure citations: H.R. 2586, H.R. 1510, S.331, H.R. 27

BUD · Budget/Appropriations

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations, support of funding for mental health and substance use programs including the CCBHC-E program, Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT), Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI) Grants and Technical Assistance, Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUPTRS BG), and Community Mental Health Service Block Grant (MHBG).