New spending bill was just passed....few key point

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BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
The legislation would provide funding for several programs addressing mental illness,
substance use disorder, and crisis response, including Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Block Grants and specific programs for pediatric, maternal, and veterans’ mental
health. In addition to these appropriations, the legislation would add coverage for
© 2022 American Hospital Association | www.aha.org Page 6 of 10
intensive outpatient programs and services furnished by marriage and family therapists
and mental health counselors under Medicare and would eliminate the opt-out for nonfederal governmental health plans for mental health parity requirements. The legislation
also would require updates to Medicaid policies for mental health, including requiring a
searchable directory of providers and guidance from CMS on access to crisis response
networks under Medicaid.

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Finally, the legislation also addresses the work of other agencies with responsibilities
during the pandemic. The legislation would direct HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support continued access to mental health
and substance use disorder services during PHEs. It also would reauthorize programs
to improve the provision of trauma care, including in rural areas, by increasing
coordination and situational awareness within emergency medical and trauma systems
and identifying and disseminating best practices, and would direct the Administration for
Strategic Preparedness and Response to support the coordination of emergency
medical services and trauma care during a PHE.

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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. $7.5
billion, an increase of $970 million to invest in several mental health
programs to expand access to services.
 $2.8 billion, an increase of $707 million, for mental health, including
$385 million for the Certified Community Behavioral Health
Centers.
 $502 million, an increase of $390 million, to support the new 988
number and Behavioral Health Crisis Services.
 $20 million, an increase of $10 million to create mobile behavioral
health crisis response teams.

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