This bill, the "9-8-8 Crisis Response Act," amends parts of the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act to expand federal support for mental health crisis response. It increases grant funding for a Mental Health Crisis Response Partnership pilot program and lets states use Medicaid to pay for more crisis services. The bill adds "regional and local lifeline call center operations" and "crisis receiving and stabilization facilities" to the list of services states may cover. It defines what a crisis receiving and stabilization facility must provide, including short observation beds, 48-hour stabilization psychiatric beds with withdrawal management and 24-hour medical monitoring, 24/7 services on a sliding payment scale, a "no-wrong-door" admission policy for first responders and families, and an average stay under 150 hours. The bill also provides a $5,000,000 appropriation to the Secretary for related activities and changes timing language so these Medicaid options apply as if included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
If your state chooses to use this Medicaid option, Medicaid may help pay for local 9-8-8 lifeline operations, mobile crisis teams, and crisis stabilization facilities that meet the bill's definition. The bill keeps the federal matching rate at 85 percent for these services when provided under the option. The bill sets standards for crisis facilities, such as 24/7 availability, non-discrimination on ability to pay or clinical history, and short stays.
The bill's sponsors present it as a measure to promote access to mental health crisis response services by expanding what Medicaid can cover and by boosting funding for crisis response programs and lifeline call centers.
No publicly available information on opposition or specific objections in the bill text or provided metadata.