H.R. 7232 · 117th Congress
9–8–8 and Parity Assistance Act of 2022
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 117th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
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CárdenasSponsor9 cosponsors · 8 D, 1 R
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Beyer
LB
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Blunt Rochester
BF
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Fitzpatrick
DM
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Matsui
SM
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Moulton
GN
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Napolitano
JR
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Raskin
KM
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Manning
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Phillips7 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill modifies provisions to increase access to behavioral health services, with a focus on crisis services and the 9-8-8 telecommunication system. (The 9-8-8 system provides callers with mental health or suicide crisis support and resources through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and is scheduled to take effect by July 16, 2022.)
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Mar 28, 2022
9-8-8 and Parity Assistance Act of 2022
This bill modifies provisions to increase access to behavioral health services, with a focus on crisis services and the 9-8-8 telecommunication system. (The 9-8-8 system provides callers with mental health or suicide crisis support and resources through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and is scheduled to take effect by July 16, 2022.)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) must award grants to crisis call centers for hiring and training staff and otherwise improving operations.
Further, SAMHSA must establish standards for a behavioral health crisis continuum of care that health care providers and communities may use in responding to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The continuum must include emergency treatment, stabilization, and related services.
Additionally, the bill (1) sets up an office within SAMHSA to coordinate behavioral health activities, (2) requires a national suicide prevention media campaign, and (3) establishes various grants. The grants include
- a pilot program for mobile crisis care teams that respond to behavioral health crises rather than law enforcement,
- a capital improvement program for certain behavioral health facilities, and
- a program for supporting the implementation of federal mental health parity provisions that require health insurance issuers to provide equivalent coverage for mental health services as they provide for medical and surgical services.
The bill also expands certain behavioral health education and training programs to encompass education and training related to crisis management.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: 9–8–8 and Parity Assistance Act of 2022
Latest action (Mar 29, 2022): Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Policy area: Health · Origin: House · Introduced: Mar 28, 2022
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.