Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) introduced H.R. 10240, the Behavioral Health Crisis Services Expansion Act, to expand insurance coverage for crisis response services.
Individuals in mental health crisis can be met with responses that are neither person-centered nor trauma-informed, from being admitted in overcrowded emergency departments, hospitalized or even incarcerated. Mobile crisis response teams (MCRTs), dispatched by 988 Lifeline operators, work to disrupt this cycle and provide appropriate mental health stabilization and services for individuals experiencing crisis. Short-term crisis receiving and stabilization services can also divert emergency room usage and hospitalizations for individuals in crisis. However, states, counties and providers require predictable and sustained funding to maintain 988, MCRTs and other crisis services.
“988 call centers play a vital role in connecting individuals struggling with mental health conditions to a trusted professional who can provide the assistance, resources and care they need. This could make the difference between life or death for someone in a mental health crisis. Today, we fight to support these local and regional call centers as they work around the clock to save lives,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “I’m working to expand access to care and ensure that insurers are the ones covering and further strengthening these crisis services for those in need. I thank Congressman Moulton for his partnership on this critical piece of legislation, and Representatives Matsui and Fitzpatrick for their bipartisan work towards getting this bill across the finish line as part of their 988 Implementation Act.”
“988 has given Americans a simple number to call when they need help, but answering the phone is only the first step,” said Congressman Moulton. “We also need to ensure people have somewhere to turn for care in their communities. This legislation will help build out the behavioral health crisis services that connect people in need with treatment and support, when and where they need it. No one experiencing a mental health crisis should be left without help simply because the resources aren’t there.”
H.R. 10240 provides coverage for crisis response services, including mobile crisis response teams (MCRTs), 988 Lifeline calls, and short-term crisis receiving and stabilization under public and private insurance. Specifically, this bill:
- Fulfills the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Care recommendation that all insurers cover three core crisis services — 24/7 clinically staffed regional crisis call centers, mobile crisis teams, and crisis receiving and stabilization facilities.
- Allows services to be provided by MCRTs, crisis receiving and stabilization facilities, mental health or substance use urgent care facilities, or other appropriate providers as determined by the Secretary.
McClellan and Moulton’s bill is part of the 988 Implementation Act introduced by Representatives Doris Matsui (CA-07) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01). The overall legislation contains eight individual pieces of legislation:
- 988 Call Center Improvement Act
- 988 Crisis Response Act
- Campaign to Prevent Suicide Act
- 988 Community Infrastructure Act
- 988 Crisis Response Workforce Act
- Behavioral Health Crisis Services Expansion Act
- 988 and 911 Integration Act
- 988 Crisis Stabilization Act
Specifically, the 988 Implementation Act would:
- Solidify funding for 988 regional and local call centers to ensure a timely 24/7 response to callers anywhere in the country.
- Provide funding for community-based crisis response, including mobile crisis teams and crisis centers.
- Support crisis workforce development with increased funding for training and scholarship opportunities.
- Increase access to care by requiring that all health insurance plans cover crisis services.
- Implement a national suicide prevention awareness campaign in partnership with a wide array of stakeholders.
Read the full bill text here.