House Energy and Commerce Committee advances mental health bills; addresses MIEP for juveniles

-
BlogOn May 18, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced six bipartisan bills out of committee.House Energy and Commerce Committee advances mental health bills; addresses MIEP for juveniles
-
Blog
House Energy and Commerce Committee advances mental health bills; addresses MIEP for juveniles
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:
- Reauthorization of SAMHSA’s Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) and the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services Block grant programs, including a new requirement that 5 percent of funds in the CMHS block grant be allocated toward crisis care services
- Reauthorization of HRSA’s Screening and Treatment for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder grant program and the establishment of a maternal mental health hotline
- Elimination of the requirement that an individual be addicted to opioids for at least one year prior to being admitted for treatment by an opioid treatment program
Other key highlights include:
- $10 million in grants to states for the implementation of mental health and substance use disorder service parity.
- The elimination of federal approval requirements for the administration of certain medication assisted treatment.
- Grants to local entities to develop, expand, and enhance access to peer-delivered mental health services.
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.
Additional Resources
- NACo Blog: U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee releases bipartisan mental health and substance use disorder legislation
- NACo One Pager: Behavioral Health Matters to Counties
- NACo Policy Brief: Enhance Counties' Ability to Prevent and Treat Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorders
On May 18, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced six bipartisan bills out of committee.2022-05-23Blog2022-05-23
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:
- Reauthorization of SAMHSA’s Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) and the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services Block grant programs, including a new requirement that 5 percent of funds in the CMHS block grant be allocated toward crisis care services
- Reauthorization of HRSA’s Screening and Treatment for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder grant program and the establishment of a maternal mental health hotline
- Elimination of the requirement that an individual be addicted to opioids for at least one year prior to being admitted for treatment by an opioid treatment program
Other key highlights include:
- $10 million in grants to states for the implementation of mental health and substance use disorder service parity.
- The elimination of federal approval requirements for the administration of certain medication assisted treatment.
- Grants to local entities to develop, expand, and enhance access to peer-delivered mental health services.
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.
Additional Resources

About Blaire Bryant (Full Bio)
Legislative Director – Health | Large Urban County Caucus
More from Blaire Bryant
-
Reports & Toolkits
NACo-NSA Joint Task Force Report: Addressing the Federal Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy
The Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP), which denies or revokes federal health and other benefits, is a violation of the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fifth and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, respectively.
-
Webinar
County Listening Session for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health
Jun. 30, 2022 , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm -
Blog
Congress clears bipartisan gun reform legislation
On June 25, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (P.L. 117-159), the first major gun reform legislation in decades. The bill makes critical changes to the process for acquiring a firearm and includes funding opportunities to assist in identifying and addressing mental health, and makes key investments in strengthening school safety. -
Blog
CDC announces $4 billion in funding for public health workforce, infrastructure and data systems
On June 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems, a new, flexible funding opportunity that will provide nearly $4 billion over five years to improve critical public health infrastructure to health departments across the country. -
Webinar
Protecting Public Health: Vector Disease Management and Mosquito Emergency Response
Jun. 21, 2022 , 1:00 pm – 2:00 pmCounty leaders are working across different sectors to coordinate programs and services that impact the well-being of communities, especially when it comes to the strong connection between the environment and public health. -
Blog
CDC approves COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5
On June 18, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the use of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 6 months to 5 years old, following a recommendation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). -
Blog
Tell your county’s story by completing Medicaid and SNAP surveys
To better inform our understanding of the county role in administering Medicaid services and how counties can strengthen coordination between the Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National Association of Counties (NACo) invites county health and human services officials to complete two research surveys.
-
Basic page
The Stepping Up Initiative
In May 2015, NACo and partners at the CSG Justice Center and APA Foundation launched Stepping Up: A National Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails.pagepagepage<h2>Overview</h2>
<blockquote>
<h3>Join the Initiative!</h3> -
Reports & Toolkits
COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse
The COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse features timely resources for counties, including allocation estimations, examples of county programs using federal coronavirus relief funds, the latest news and more.Reports & Toolkitsdocument03127:15 pmReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="ad-block no-top-margin no-bullets">
<caption>Jump to Section</caption> -
Reports & Toolkits
State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Resource Hub
Explore NACo's resource hub for the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.Reports & Toolkitsdocument010512:15 pmReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> -
Basic page
Live Healthy U.S. Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Live Healthy Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program is a NO-COST program available to all member counties.pagepagepage<h1>With <a id="naco" name="naco">NACo</a>, Saving Feels Better</h1>
-
Reports & Toolkits
Implementing Infrastructure Investments at the County Level: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58)
On November 15, 2021, President Biden enacted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), into law. This page and its contents are supplemental to NACo's comprehensive legislative analysis of the BIL for counties.Reports & Toolkitsdocument030310:00 amReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent jump">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Contact
-
Legislative Director – Health | Large Urban County Caucus(202) 942-4246
Related Posts
-
BlogCongress clears bipartisan gun reform legislationJun. 29, 2022
-
BlogCDC announces $4 billion in funding for public health workforce, infrastructure and data systemsJun. 28, 2022
-
BlogCDC approves COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5Jun. 21, 2022
Related Resources
-
Press ReleaseNational Association of Counties Partners with National Council for Mental Wellbeing to Deliver Mental Health First Aid Training to County WorkforceJun. 1, 2022
-
Reports & ToolkitsPromoting Health and Safety Through a Behavioral Health Continuum of CareMay. 24, 2022
-
Reports & ToolkitsToolkit for Counties: The 988 National Suicide Prevention LifelineMay. 23, 2022