Suicide Prevention Assistance Act

Bill Number

H.R. 2044

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-11: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2025-03-26T12:56:23Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Suicide Prevention Assistance Act (H.R. 2044) aims to improve early detection and intervention for self-harm and suicide by integrating these services into primary care settings. It establishes a federal grant program to support primary care offices in hiring staff, screening patients, providing short-term help, and making referrals for longer-term care, addressing gaps in mental health support within routine medical visits.

Key Provisions

• Grant Program Establishment: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, awards grants to primary care offices (defined as health care facilities providing basic medical services like check-ups and treatments).
• Supported Activities:
• Hire one or more clinical social workers (professionals trained to provide counseling and support for mental health issues).
• Primary care physicians screen patients for self-harm (intentional injury to oneself) and suicide risk using standards set by HHS.
• Clinical social workers offer short-term prevention services based on screening results and refer patients needing ongoing care to specialized facilities.
• Grant Limitations:
• Maximum of 10 grants nationwide.
• Only one grant per primary care office and per state (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories).
• Each grant is up to $500,000 and lasts 2 years, with options for renewal if requirements are met.
• Application and Standards:
• Offices apply to HHS with required details.
• HHS must develop screening standards within 180 days of enactment, consulting experts from public, private, and non-profit groups focused on self-harm and suicide prevention.
• Reporting Requirements:
• Grantees submit quarterly reports to HHS on patient screenings, services provided, referrals, adherence to standards, and fund use.
• HHS submits biennial reports (every two years) to Congress (specifically the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) and HHS components like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), summarizing program outcomes and evaluations.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill adds a new section (Sec. 520O) to Subpart 3 of Part B of Title V of the Public Health Service Act (a key federal law governing public health programs). It introduces a targeted grant initiative focused on self-harm and suicide prevention in primary care, which was not previously specified in this part of the law. No existing programs are altered or repealed; this expands mental health support without overriding current screening or service guidelines.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: HHS gains responsibility for administering a small-scale program (limited to 10 sites), including developing standards and analyzing reports. This could inform future expansions if evaluations show success, with minimal added burden due to the pilot-like scope. CDC and NIMH may use data to refine broader mental health strategies.
• On Citizens: At-risk individuals (e.g., those showing signs of self-harm or suicidal thoughts) could receive earlier interventions during routine doctor visits, potentially reducing suicide rates and improving access to care in underserved areas. However, benefits are limited to the 10 selected offices, serving as a model rather than widespread coverage.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. health services.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Primary Care Offices: Eligible applicants who must integrate mental health screening and hire social workers, potentially enhancing their services but requiring new staff and reporting.
• Patients and At-Risk Individuals: Primary beneficiaries through improved detection and short-term support in familiar primary care environments.
• Clinical Social Workers: Opportunities for employment to deliver prevention services.
• HHS and Related Agencies: Responsible for oversight, standard-setting, and evaluation, including the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, CDC, and NIMH.
• Congressional Committees: Receive reports to monitor program effectiveness and guide future policy.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens integration of mental health into primary care under federal public health law, promoting evidence-based screening without mandating it for all providers. It emphasizes voluntary grants and consultations with experts, ensuring flexibility while requiring accountability through reports.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Spending Clause (Article I, Section 8) to fund health programs that encourage state and local participation, without compelling action from non-federal entities.
• Political: Represents a focused effort to address the public health crisis of suicide (a leading cause of death in the U.S.), potentially serving as a bipartisan tool for mental health advocacy. The limited scale (10 grants) minimizes fiscal controversy but highlights the need for evaluation to justify broader funding.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-11: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-03-11: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-11: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Suicide Prevention Assistance Act — issued 2025-03-11 — PDF (7 pages)