U.S. House of Representatives re-establishes Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus with NACo support
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Blaire Bryant
Naomi Freel
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Key Takeaways
On May 7, members of the U.S. House of Representatives appointed new leadership to the Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, reaffirming their commitment to addressing the nation’s mental health crisis through cross-party collaboration. This renewed focus is a welcome development for counties, which serve on the frontlines of the behavioral health system. Bipartisan initiatives like this help elevate mental health as a national priority, support counties in advancing meaningful policy change and strengthen partnerships across all levels of government.
As a part of our continued commitment to supporting the work of the Caucus NACo and the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD) sent a joint letter congratulating its leaders, highlighting the role of counties in funding and administering mental health services and advocating for top county mental health priorities.
Key mental health priorities
In our joint letter, NACo urged the Caucus to champion bipartisan legislation that would:
- Advance continuity of care for justice-involved individuals by supporting the Due Process Continuity of Care Act (H.R. 1510), which would allow Medicaid coverage to continue for eligible pre-trial detainees.
- Support reentry and reduce recidivism through the Reentry Act (H.R. 2586), enabling Medicaid to cover services for incarcerated individuals 30 days prior to release.
- Modernize outdated Medicaid restrictions by reintroducing the Michelle Alyssa Go Act, which reforms the Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) exclusion, particularly for individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders.
- Build a stronger behavioral health workforce through direct and flexible federal investments that enhance recruitment, training and retention programs.
- Strengthen crisis response infrastructure, including long-term support for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, crisis stabilization centers and crisis workforce development.
These priorities reflect counties’ on-the-ground expertise and their commitment to creating a more resilient and equitable mental health system.
Importance to counties
Counties are at the forefront of the nation’s behavioral health system, serving as both funders and administrators of critical mental health services. From operating crisis response systems and 24/7 crisis lines to supporting public hospitals and services within local detention centers, counties are essential to delivering care across the behavioral health continuum. Because of this central role, it is vital that counties have a seat at the table when mental health policy decisions are made.
To ensure that federal policies reflect on-the-ground realities and strengthen local systems, NACo is committed to working closely with intergovernmental partners—like the Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus. By collaborating with the Caucus and other key stakeholders, we can elevate local innovations, improve coordination across all levels of government and ensure that county voices shape the future of the nation’s mental health system.
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NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing
(2023-2024) Counties increasingly handle direct mental health service. NACo’s Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing developed reports and united county leaders to address the mental health crisis through key policy priorities.
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