To amend Public Health Service Act to require community health centers to provide behavioral and mental health and substance use disorder services, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8201
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-25: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-27T08:06:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (H.R. 8201) aims to expand access to mental health and addiction treatment by requiring federally funded community health centers—clinics that serve low-income and underserved communities—to offer behavioral health, mental health, and substance use disorder services as core services. It also provides dedicated funding for these additions.
Key Provisions
- Mandatory Services: Adds "behavioral and mental health and substance use disorder services" (e.g., counseling and therapy for mental health issues and addiction treatment) to the list of required primary health services for community health centers under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.
- Structural Updates: Adjusts the law's wording to properly insert the new service category and removes an outdated exception related to service requirements.
- Funding Allocation: Directs $700 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund (under the Affordable Care Act) to the Secretary of Health and Human Services specifically to support these new services.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands Required Services: Previously, community health centers had to offer basic primary care like check-ups, preventive care, and some referrals, but mental health and substance use services were not explicitly required as core offerings.
- Reallocates Funding: Repurposes part of the existing Prevention and Public Health Fund to prioritize these behavioral health services, marking a shift toward integrating mental health and addiction care into primary care settings.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will oversee $3.5 billion in new funding (over 5 years), potentially increasing administrative duties for monitoring compliance and service delivery at over 1,400 community health centers nationwide.
- On Citizens: Improves access to mental health and addiction services for millions of low-income, uninsured, or underinsured people who rely on these centers, potentially reducing wait times and emergency room visits for behavioral health crises.
- On International Relations: No direct impact.
Main Stakeholders
- Community Health Centers: Must now provide these services or risk losing federal grants.
- Patients: Low-income individuals, rural residents, and underserved populations seeking mental health or addiction care.
- Healthcare Providers: Doctors, therapists, and counselors who may need to expand roles or staffing.
- Federal Government: HHS and Congress, managing funding and oversight.
- Insurers and States: Indirectly affected through reduced pressure on public health systems.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal grant conditions on community health centers, enforceable through funding withholding; no major challenges to federal authority anticipated as it builds on existing Public Health Service Act programs.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power to set conditions on federal funds for public health.
- Political: Signals bipartisan priority on the mental health and opioid crises but may spark debate over reallocating Prevention Fund dollars from other public health initiatives.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-25: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- 2026-06-25: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-04-06: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 2026-04-06: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-04-06: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-06: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend Public Health Service Act to require community health centers to provide behavioral and mental health and substance use disorder services, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-04-06 — PDF (3 pages)