House Committee Advances HR Policy-Supported Mental Health Bill

The Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the bipartisan Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act (H.R. 7666), which boosts collaborative care models, reauthorizes several federal mental health treatment and recovery programs, and improves behavioral and primary health care integration.

The legislation includes the HR Policy-supported Collaborate in an Orderly and Cohesive Manner Act (H.R. 5218), which promotes the uptake of collaborative care models by providing grant funding to remove the barriers primary care practices face when trying to implement the model. The legislation also includes the promotion of additional research to identify other evidence-based models of integrated care.

Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the American Health Policy Institute, said, “Employers are committed to addressing the mental health crisis and improving the wellbeing of their employees. The programs included in the legislation, such as the funding for collaborative care models, address the very real issue of limited access to needed behavioral health providers.”

Outlook: The bill now moves on to the full committee where it is likely to pass and move on to the House floor later this year, perhaps as part of another bill.