Strengthening 9-8-8 Lifeline and Expanding Access to Mental Health Crisis Care.
This Act aims to significantly improve the mental health and substance use crisis response system, focusing on the 9-8-8 Lifeline. Citizens will gain better access to immediate crisis help, as the bill provides funding to upgrade call centers, hire more staff, and expand crisis services covered by insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, group plans). It also mandates a national media campaign to increase awareness of suicide prevention and available support resources.
Key points
Improved 9-8-8 Lifeline: $441 million is authorized for technology upgrades, training, and hiring staff at regional and local crisis centers, leading to faster and more effective help.
Wider Crisis Coverage: Crisis response services (e.g., mobile crisis teams, stabilization facilities) will be mandatory coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and most private health plans, reducing out-of-pocket costs for citizens during mental health emergencies.
Workforce and Infrastructure Boost: The Act authorizes $1 billion for capital grants for health centers and stabilization programs and increases funding for behavioral health workforce training, including crisis management specialists.
9-1-1 and 9-8-8 Integration: An expert panel will be established to develop training protocols for 9-1-1 dispatchers to appropriately transfer individuals experiencing a mental health crisis to the 9-8-8 system, aiming to divert mental health emergencies from law enforcement response.
Expired
Citizen Poll