Expand Behavioral Health Workforce Now

Summary#

This bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to States within 12 months after the bill becomes law. The guidance must describe strategies under Medicaid and CHIP to increase education, training, recruitment, and retention of mental health and substance use disorder care providers who participate in Medicaid or CHIP. The guidance should focus on improving workforce capacity in rural and underserved areas and must include strategies on using section 1115 waivers and authorities under titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act.

What it means for you#

• Federal: HHS must prepare and publish guidance for States within one year of enactment.
• States: May use the guidance to plan or change Medicaid and CHIP approaches to support provider education, training, recruitment, and retention.
• Providers and patients: The guidance aims to help increase the number and training of behavioral health providers in rural and underserved areas, but the bill itself only requires guidance, not specific funding or program changes.

Expenses#

No publicly available information. The bill text does not specify funding sources, cost estimates, or new spending.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s sponsors, Joe Neguse and Glenn Thompson, seek to expand the behavioral health workforce by directing HHS to advise States on how to use Medicaid and CHIP authorities (including section 1115 waivers and titles XIX and XXI) to improve provider education, training, recruitment, and retention, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.