[House Report 116-552]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
116th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 116-552
======================================================================
PURSUING EQUITY IN MENTAL HEALTH ACT
_______
September 29, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Pallone, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 5469]
The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 5469) to address mental health issues for youth,
particularly youth of color, and for other purposes, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an
amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Purpose and Summary.............................................. 4
II. Background and Need for the Legislation.......................... 4
III. Committee Hearings............................................... 5
IV. Committee Consideration.......................................... 6
V. Committee Votes.................................................. 6
VI. Oversight Findings............................................... 6
VII. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 6
VIII.Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 7
IX. Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 7
X. Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 7
XI. Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 7
XII. Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits...... 7
XIII.Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 7
XIV. Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 7
XV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 8
XVI. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 9
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Pursuing Equity in Mental Health
Act''.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Sec. 101. Integrated Health Care Demonstration Program.
Sec. 102. Addressing racial and ethnic minority mental health
disparities research gaps.
Sec. 103. Health professions competencies to address racial and ethnic
minority mental health disparities.
Sec. 104. Racial and ethnic minority behavioral and mental health
outreach and education strategy.
Sec. 105. Additional funds for National Institutes of Health.
Sec. 106. Additional funds for National Institute on Minority Health
and Health Disparities.
TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS
Sec. 201. Reauthorization of Minority Fellowship Program.
Sec. 202. Study on the Effects of Smartphone and Social Media Use on
Adolescents.
TITLE I--HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
SEC. 101. INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 554. INTERPROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE TEAMS FOR PROVISION OF
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE IN PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS.
``(a) Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities
for the purpose of establishing interprofessional health care teams
that provide behavioral health care.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an entity shall be a Federally qualified health center
(as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act), rural
health clinic, or behavioral health program, serving a high proportion
of individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in
section 1707(g)).
``(c) Scientifically Based.--Integrated health care funded through
this section shall be scientifically based, taking into consideration
the results of the most recent peer-reviewed research available.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of the
first 5 fiscal years following the date of enactment of the Pursuing
Equity in Mental Health Act.''.
SEC. 102. ADDRESSING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH
DISPARITIES RESEARCH GAPS.
Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall enter into an
arrangement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine (or, if the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine decline to enter into such an arrangement, the Patient-
Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality, or another appropriate entity)--
(1) to conduct a study with respect to mental health
disparities in racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in
section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
300u-6(g))); and
(2) to submit to the Congress a report on the results of such
study, including--
(A) a compilation of information on the dynamics of
mental disorders in such racial and ethnic minority
groups; and
(B) a compilation of information on the impact of
exposure to community violence, adverse childhood
experiences, structural racism, and other psychological
traumas on mental disorders in such racial and minority
groups.
SEC. 103. HEALTH PROFESSIONS COMPETENCIES TO ADDRESS RACIAL AND ETHNIC
MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH DISPARITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
award grants to qualified national organizations for the purposes of--
(1) developing, and disseminating to health professional
educational programs best practices or core competencies
addressing mental health disparities among racial and ethnic
minority groups for use in the training of students in the
professions of social work, psychology, psychiatry, marriage
and family therapy, mental health counseling, and substance
misuse counseling; and
(2) certifying community health workers and peer wellness
specialists with respect to such best practices and core
competencies and integrating and expanding the use of such
workers and specialists into health care to address mental
health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups.
(b) Best Practices; Core Competencies.--Organizations receiving funds
under subsection (a) may use the funds to engage in the following
activities related to the development and dissemination of best
practices or core competencies described in subsection (a)(1):
(1) Formation of committees or working groups comprised of
experts from accredited health professions schools to identify
best practices and core competencies relating to mental health
disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups.
(2) Planning of workshops in national fora to allow for
public input into the educational needs associated with mental
health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups.
(3) Dissemination and promotion of the use of best practices
or core competencies in undergraduate and graduate health
professions training programs nationwide.
(4) Establishing external stakeholder advisory boards to
provide meaningful input into policy and program development
and best practices to reduce mental health disparities among
racial and ethnic minority groups.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Qualified national organization.--The term ``qualified
national organization'' means a national organization that
focuses on the education of students in one or more of the
professions of social work, psychology, psychiatry, marriage
and family therapy, mental health counseling, and substance
misuse counseling.
(2) Racial and ethnic minority group.--The term ``racial and
ethnic minority group'' has the meaning given to such term in
section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
300u-6(g)).
SEC. 104. RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION STRATEGY.
Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd
et seq.), as amended by section 101, is further amended by adding at
the end the following new section:
``SEC. 555. BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
STRATEGY.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall, in consultation with advocacy
and behavioral and mental health organizations serving racial and
ethnic minority groups, develop and implement an outreach and education
strategy to promote behavioral and mental health and reduce stigma
associated with mental health conditions and substance abuse among
racial and ethnic minority groups. Such strategy shall--
``(1) be designed to--
``(A) meet the diverse cultural and language needs of
the various racial and ethnic minority groups; and
``(B) be developmentally and age-appropriate;
``(2) increase awareness of symptoms of mental illnesses
common among such groups, taking into account differences
within at-risk subgroups;
``(3) provide information on evidence-based, culturally and
linguistically appropriate and adapted interventions and
treatments;
``(4) ensure full participation of, and engage, both
consumers and community members in the development and
implementation of materials; and
``(5) seek to broaden the perspective among both individuals
in these groups and stakeholders serving these groups to use a
comprehensive public health approach to promoting behavioral
health that addresses a holistic view of health by focusing on
the intersection between behavioral and physical health.
``(b) Reports.--Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress, and make publicly available, a report on the extent
to which the strategy developed and implemented under subsection (a)
increased behavioral and mental health outcomes associated with mental
health conditions and substance abuse among racial and ethnic minority
groups.
``(c) Definition.--In this section, the term `racial and ethnic
minority group' has the meaning given to that term in section 1707(g).
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2021 through 2025.''.
SEC. 105. ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.
(a) In General.--In addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be
appropriated to the National Institutes of Health, there is authorized
to be appropriated to such Institutes $100,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2021 through 2025 to build relations with communities and conduct
or support clinical research, including clinical research on racial or
ethnic disparities in physical and mental health.
(b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``clinical research'' has
the meaning given to such term in section 409 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284d).
SEC. 106. ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON MINORITY HEALTH
AND HEALTH DISPARITIES.
In addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated to the
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, there is
authorized to be appropriated to such Institute $650,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS
SEC. 201. REAUTHORIZATION OF MINORITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
Section 597(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 297ll(c))
is amended by striking ``$12,669,000 for each of fiscal years 2018
through 2022'' and inserting ``$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2021 through 2025''.
SEC. 202. STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF SMARTPHONE AND SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON
ADOLESCENTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct or
support research on--
(1) smartphone and social media use by adolescents; and
(2) the effects of such use on--
(A) emotional, behavioral, and physical health and
development; and
(B) disparities in minority and underserved
populations.
(b) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress, and make
publicly available, a report on the findings of research described in
this section.
SEC. 203. TECHNICAL CORRECTION.
Title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa et seq.) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating the second section 550 (42 U.S.C. 290ee-
10) (relating to Sobriety Treatment And Recovery Teams) as
section 553; and
(2) by moving such section, as so redesignated, so as to
appear after section 552 (42 U.S.C. 290ee-7).
I. Purpose and Summary
H.R. 5469, the ``Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act'',
introduced on December 17, 2019 by Representative Bonnie Watson
Coleman (D-NJ), would authorize Federal funding to address
mental health disparities among underserved populations,
including communities of color. H.R. 5469 includes provisions
that would: create a grant program targeted at high-poverty
communities for culturally and linguistically appropriate
mental health services; support research into disparities in
mental health; reauthorize the Minority Fellowship Program to
support more students of color entering the mental health
workforce; and study the impact of smartphones and social media
on adolescents.
II. Background and Need for the Legislation
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), the prevalence of adults with any
mental illness and serious mental illness is increasing.\1\ In
2008, more than 39 million adults indicated they had a mental
illness. By comparison, in 2019, more than 51 million adults
indicated they had a mental illness. Additionally, suicide is
still the tenth leading cause of death in the United States.\2\
Although suicide rates vary by age group, it is the second
leading cause of death in people between the ages of 10 and
34.\3\ When the data is disaggregated, research found a
significant increase in the suicide rate among Black children
and a significant decrease for White children.\4\
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\1\Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Key
substance use and mental health indicators in the United States:
Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2020).
\2\National Center for Health Statistics, Leading Causes of Death
(www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm) (accessed
September 18, 2020).
\3\National Center for Health Statistics, Leading Causes of Death
Reports, 1981-2018 (accessed September 18, 2020).
\4\Jeffrey A. Bridge, PhD, et al., Suicide trends among elementary
school-aged children in the United States from 1993 to 2012, Journal of
the American Medical Association (Jul. 2015).
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As a rising junior at Newtown High School in Covington,
Georgia, Arriana Gross said she saw firsthand the need to
support youth mental health. In her testimony before the
Committee, Arriana said, ``[i]n our school, a year doesn't go
by without a student dying by suicide.''\5\ Further, she stated
that, ``I am concerned that youth suicide has become so common
that my school community and our Nation is stuck in a pattern
of mourning and accepting these deaths as something that is
normal, instead of seeing them as preventable and tragic.''\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Testimony of Arriana
Gross, National Youth Advisory Board Member, Sandy Hook Promise
Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Promise Club, Hearing on
High Anxiety and Stress: Legislation to Improve Mental Health During
Crisis, 116th Cong. (June 30, 2020).
\6\Id.
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Mental health disparities exist for racial and ethnic
minority populations. National Institute of Mental Health
Director Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., wrote about those
disparities, highlighting that inequalities ``lead to worse
mental health outcomes in underserved and minority
communities.''\7\ He also noted the increase in suicide rates
amongst Black youth and the need to address the trend.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\National Institute of Mental Health, Racism and Mental Health
Research: Steps Toward Equity (June 19, 2020) (www.nimh.nih.gov/about/
director/messages/2020/racism-and-mental-health-research-steps-toward-
equity.shtml).
\8\National Institute of Mental Health, Responding to the Alarm:
Addressing black Youth Suicide (June 3, 2020) (www.nimh.nih.gov/news/
media/2020/responding-to-the-alarm-addressing-black-youth-
suicide.shtml).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to addressing trends in suicide and mental
health outcomes, Arthur C. Evans, Ph.D., Chief Executive
Officer of the American Psychological Association, shared with
the Committee the importance of addressing ``the disparities in
the representations of scholars from diverse racial and ethnic
backgrounds across psychology, as well as other fields of
research, if we intend to make a dramatic impact in responding
to the current and emerging mental health crisis before the
country.''\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Testimony of Arthur C.
Evans, Chief Executive Officer, American Psychological Association,
Hearing on High Anxiety and Stress: Legislation to Improve Mental
Health During Crisis, 116th Cong. (June 30, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
H.R. 5469 would help to address these issues by investing
resources into better understanding racial and ethnic minority
mental health disparities, improving outreach and support for
racial and ethnic minorities, and supporting more students of
color entering into mental health fields.
III. Committee Hearings
For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the
116th Congress, the following hearing was used to develop or
consider H.R. 5469:
The Subcommittee on Health held a virtual legislative
hearing on June 30, 2020, entitled, ``High Anxiety and Stress:
Legislation to Improve Mental Health During Crisis.'' The
hearing focused on H.R. 5469, the ``Pursuing Equity in Mental
Health Act'', and 21 other bills. The Subcommittee received
testimony from the following witnesses:
The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy, Founder of
the Kennedy Forum and former Member of Congress;
Arthur C. Evans, Jr. Ph.D., Chief Executive
Officer, American Psychological Association;
Jeffrey L. Geller, M.D., M.P.H., President,
American Psychiatric Association, Professor of
Psychiatry and Director of Public Sector Psychiatry at
the University of Massachusetts Medical School
Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital; and
Ms. Arriana Gross, National Youth Advisory
Board Member, Sandy Hook Promise Students Against
Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Promise Club.
IV. Committee Consideration
Representative Watson Coleman (D-NJ) introduced H.R. 5469,
the ``Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act'', on December 17,
2019 and the bill was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce. The bill was then referred to the Subcommittee on
Health on December 18, 2019. A legislative hearing was held on
the bill on June 30, 2020.
On September 9, 2020, H.R. 5469 was discharged from further
consideration by the Subcommittee on Health as the bill was
called up for markup by the full Committee on Energy and
Commerce. The full Committee met in virtual open markup session
on September 9, 2020, pursuant to notice, to consider H.R.
5469. During consideration of the bill, an amendment in the
nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Cardenas of California
was agreed to by a voice vote. Upon conclusion of consideration
of the bill, the full Committee agreed to a motion on final
passage by Mr. Pallone, Chairman of the committee, to order
H.R. 5469 reported favorably to the House, amended, by a voice
vote, a quorum being present.
V. Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires the Committee to list each record vote
on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto. The
Committee advises that there were no record votes taken on H.R.
5469, including the motion for final passage of the bill.
VI. Oversight Findings
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 2(b)(1)
of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
oversight findings and recommendations of the Committee are
reflected in the descriptive portion of the report.
VII. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures
Pursuant to 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the
estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax
expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974.
The Committee has requested but not received from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
VIII. Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
IX. Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general
performance goal or objective of this legislation is to address
mental health issues for youth, particularly youth of color,
through increased research and support services, and for other
purposes.
X. Duplication of Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII, no provision of
H.R. 5469 is known to be duplicative of another Federal
program, including any program that was included in a report to
Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the
most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
XI. Committee Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII, the Committee
adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
XII. Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits
Pursuant to clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the
Committee finds that H.R. 5469 contains no earmarks, limited
tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits.
XIII. Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committee within the meaning of section 5(b) of
the Federal Advisory Committee Act was created by this
legislation.
XIV. Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
XV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 designates that the short title may be cited as
the ``Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act''.
Sec. 2. Table of contents
Section 2 is the table of contents for the bill.
TITLE I--HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILTIY
Sec. 101. Integrated Health Care Demonstration Program
Section 101 amends the Public Health Service Act to direct
the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (the Secretary) to award grants to support
interprofessional behavioral health care teams. Entities that
are eligible to receive such grants include Federally qualified
health centers, rural health clinics, or behavioral health
programs serving a high proportion of individuals from racial
and ethnic minority groups. Integrated health care funded
through the program shall be scientifically based. The program
is authorized at $20 million for each fiscal year for the first
five years following enactment of the Act.
Sec. 102. Addressing racial and ethnic minority mental health
disparities research gaps
Section 102 directs the Director of the National Institutes
of Health to enter into an arrangement with the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (or another
appropriate entity) to study racial and ethnic minority mental
health disparities not later than six months following
enactment. The Director shall submit a report to Congress about
mental health disorders within racial and ethnic minority
groups, in addition to the effects of community violence,
adverse childhood experience, structural racism, and other
traumas affecting mental illness in those groups.
Sec. 103. Health professions competencies to address racial and ethnic
minority mental health disparities
Section 103 directs the Secretary of Health and Human
Services to award grants to qualified national organizations to
develop and disseminate training materials on best practices or
core competencies for addressing mental health disparities
among racial and ethnic minority groups. These grants can be
used for certifying community health workers and peer wellness
specialists in best practices and core competencies and
integrating such workers into racial and ethnic minority
communities to address mental health disparities. Organizations
receiving funding under this program may use such grant funds
for identifying best practices and core competencies on racial
and ethnic mental health disparities, workshop planning,
dissemination and promotion of best practices or core
competencies in undergraduate and graduate health professions
training programs, and stakeholder advisory boards. Qualified
national organizations eligible for this program are national
organizations that focus on the education of students in
certain health professions.
Sec. 104. Racial and ethnic minority behavioral and mental health
outreach and education strategy
Section 104 amends the Public Health Service Act to direct
the Secretary to develop and implement an outreach and
education strategy to promote behavioral health and mental
health among racial and ethnic minority groups. The strategy
must reduce stigma associated with mental health conditions and
substance use disorders, be designed to meet diverse cultural
and language needs, be developmentally and age-appropriate,
increase awareness of mental illnesses among groups, engage
consumers and community members, and promote a holistic view of
health. The Secretary is required to submit a report to
Congress on the strategy and make the strategy publicly
available not later than one year after enactment. The program
is authorized at $10 million for each of fiscal years 2021
through 2025 to carry out activities in this section.
Sec. 105. Additional funds for the National Institutes of Health
Section 105 authorizes $100 million for each of the fiscal
years 2021 through 2025 to build relationships with communities
and conduct or support clinical research on racial or ethnic
disparities.
Sec. 106. Additional funds for the National Institute on Minority
Health and Health Disparities
Section 106 authorizes $650 million for each of the fiscal
years 2021 through 2025 for the National Institute on Minority
Health and Health Disparities.
TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS
Sec. 201. Reauthorization of Minority Fellowship Program
Section 201 revises the authorization for the Minority
Fellowship Program at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Administration to provide the program $25 million for each of
the fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
Sec. 202. Study on the effects of smartphone and social media use on
adolescents
Section 202 directs the Secretary to conduct or support
research on smartphones and social media use on adolescents.
The research shall cover the effects of such use on emotional,
behavioral, and physical health and development and disparities
among minority and underserved populations. The Secretary is
directed to submit a report to Congress not later than five
years on the findings of such research.
Sec. 203. Technical correction
Section 203 makes technical corrections to the Public
Health Service Act.
XVI. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT
* * * * * * *
TITLE V--SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
* * * * * * *
Part D--Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Substance Abuse and Mental
Health
* * * * * * *
SEC. [550.] 553. SOBRIETY TREATMENT AND RECOVERY TEAMS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may make grants to States,
units of local government, or tribal governments to establish
or expand Sobriety Treatment And Recovery Team (referred to in
this section as ``START'') or other similar programs to
determine the effectiveness of pairing social workers or
mentors with families that are struggling with a substance use
disorder and child abuse or neglect in order to help provide
peer support, intensive treatment, and child welfare services
to such families.
(b) Allowable Uses.--A grant awarded under this section may
be used for one or more of the following activities:
(1) Training eligible staff, including social
workers, social services coordinators, child welfare
specialists, substance use disorder treatment
professionals, and mentors.
(2) Expanding access to substance use disorder
treatment services and drug testing.
(3) Enhancing data sharing with law enforcement
agencies, child welfare agencies, substance use
disorder treatment providers, judges, and court
personnel.
(4) Program evaluation and technical assistance.
(c) Program Requirements.--A State, unit of local government,
or tribal government receiving a grant under this section
shall--
(1) serve only families for which--
(A) there is an open record with the child
welfare agency; and
(B) substance use disorder was a reason for
the record or finding described in paragraph
(1); and
(2) coordinate any grants awarded under this section
with any grant awarded under section 437(f) of the
Social Security Act focused on improving outcomes for
children affected by substance abuse.
(d) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may reserve not more
than 5 percent of funds provided under this section to provide
technical assistance on the establishment or expansion of
programs funded under this section from the National Center on
Substance Abuse and Child Welfare.
SEC. 554. INTERPROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE TEAMS FOR PROVISION OF
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE IN PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS.
(a) Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible
entities for the purpose of establishing interprofessional
health care teams that provide behavioral health care.
(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, an entity shall be a Federally qualified
health center (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social
Security Act), rural health clinic, or behavioral health
program, serving a high proportion of individuals from racial
and ethnic minority groups (as defined in section 1707(g)).
(c) Scientifically Based.--Integrated health care funded
through this section shall be scientifically based, taking into
consideration the results of the most recent peer-reviewed
research available.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this
section, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for
each of the first 5 fiscal years following the date of
enactment of the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act.
SEC. 555. BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall, in consultation with
advocacy and behavioral and mental health organizations serving
racial and ethnic minority groups, develop and implement an
outreach and education strategy to promote behavioral and
mental health and reduce stigma associated with mental health
conditions and substance abuse among racial and ethnic minority
groups. Such strategy shall--
(1) be designed to--
(A) meet the diverse cultural and language
needs of the various racial and ethnic minority
groups; and
(B) be developmentally and age-appropriate;
(2) increase awareness of symptoms of mental
illnesses common among such groups, taking into account
differences within at-risk subgroups;
(3) provide information on evidence-based, culturally
and linguistically appropriate and adapted
interventions and treatments;
(4) ensure full participation of, and engage, both
consumers and community members in the development and
implementation of materials; and
(5) seek to broaden the perspective among both
individuals in these groups and stakeholders serving
these groups to use a comprehensive public health
approach to promoting behavioral health that addresses
a holistic view of health by focusing on the
intersection between behavioral and physical health.
(b) Reports.--Beginning not later than 1 year after the date
of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make publicly
available, a report on the extent to which the strategy
developed and implemented under subsection (a) increased
behavioral and mental health outcomes associated with mental
health conditions and substance abuse among racial and ethnic
minority groups.
(c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``racial and
ethnic minority group'' has the meaning given to that term in
section 1707(g).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
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PART K--MINORITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
SEC. 597. FELLOWSHIPS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall maintain a program, to
be known as the Minority Fellowship Program, under which the
Secretary shall award fellowships, which may include stipends,
for the purposes of--
(1) increasing the knowledge of mental and substance
use disorders practitioners on issues related to
prevention, treatment, and recovery support for
individuals who are from racial and ethnic minority
populations and who have a mental or substance use
disorder;
(2) improving the quality of mental and substance use
disorder prevention and treatment services delivered to
racial and ethnic minority populations; and
(3) increasing the number of culturally competent
mental and substance use disorders professionals who
teach, administer services, conduct research, and
provide direct mental or substance use disorder
services to racial and ethnic minority populations.
(b) Training Covered.--The fellowships awarded under
subsection (a) shall be for postbaccalaureate training
(including for master's and doctoral degrees) for mental and
substance use disorder treatment professionals, including in
the fields of psychiatry, nursing, social work, psychology,
marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, and
substance use disorder and addiction counseling.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this
section, there are authorized to be appropriated [$12,669,000
for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022] $25,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
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