National Association of Counties
On May 18, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced six bipartisan bills out of committee. Two of the six bills would support key mental health programs for counties: the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 (H.R. 7666) and the Keeping Incarceration Discharges Streamlined for Children and Accommodating Resources in Education Act (KIDS CARES Act) (H.R. 7233).
If enacted, H.R. 7666 would reauthorize over 30 key programs under the Health Resources and Services (HRSA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that are due to expire at the end of Fiscal Year 2022 on October 1, 2022. Key provisions in the bill include:
Other key highlights include:
Additionally, H.R. 7233 – which was passed with unanimous support – would require state Medicaid agencies to cover mental health screenings for justice-involved youth. Most notably, a bipartisan amendment to the bill would advance a key priority for counties through the removal of the Medicaid inmate exclusion policy (MIEP) for juveniles pending disposition of charges. This provision supports a long-standing county policy priority to amend the MIEP for pre-trial detainees, given the detrimental impact of this policy on access to health services and behavioral health treatment.
As key administrators of local behavioral health services, counties applauded the introduction of the H.R. 7666. In response to the package, NACo sent a letter to committee leadership outlining additional measures for improving the provision of behavioral health services in counties. We will continue to work collaboratively with congressional policy makers to advance these and other policies that will improve and increase access to mental and behavioral health services for county residents.
Click here to view the full list of bills and amendments considered. The bill now moves to the full House for a floor vote in the coming weeks.
<p>When determining local jail population drivers, counties may choose to look at neighboring counties’ data or others within their state and/or nationally as comparisons.
<p>Join NACo and the <a href="https://familiarfaces.naco.org/" target="_blank">Familiar Faces Initiative (FFI)</a> for a series of webinars highlightin
<p>Reducing length of stay during the pretrial period will decrease jail populations and allow people to return to the community more quickly to assist with their defense and continue working, attending school, caring for their familie
<p>Reducing the number of people in jail for technical violations can help decrease jail populations and improve outcomes and compliance with supervision conditions.
<p>Reducing the number of people arrested and booked into jails for low-level offenses and misdemeanors through diversion and citations, as well as outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court or not paying fines and fees, can h
<p>Reducing recidivism through effective jail- and community-based services can decrease jail admissions and populations and improve outcomes for people with criminal histories.</p>
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<p>NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
With American Rescue Plan funds, counties are strengthening America’s workforce, addressing the nation’s behavioral health crisis, expanding broadband access, improving housing affordability and building prosperous communities for the next generation.
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