Increasing Behavioral Health Treatment Act

Increased Medicaid coverage for specific patients: By removing the exclusion, the bill allows for medical assistance for items and services for patients in an institution for mental diseases (Section 2(a)(1)).

Improved access to outpatient care: The bill requires states to plan for increased access to outpatient and community-based behavioral health care, specifically for those transitioning out of an institution (Section 2(b)(1)(D)(i)).

Better crisis response: States must provide plans for increased availability of services like crisis call centers, mobile crisis units, and coordinated community crisis response (Section 2(b)(1)(D)(ii)).

Enhanced coordination of care: The bill aims for improved data sharing and coordination between physical health, mental health, and addiction treatment providers and first responders (Section 2(b)(1)(D)(iii)).

Comprehensive health screening: The bill requires state policies to ensure individuals in psychiatric hospitals or residential treatment are screened for co-morbid physical health conditions and substance use disorders (Section 2(b)(1)(E)(i)).

Targeted support for vulnerable groups: States must establish strategies for identifying and engaging individuals experiencing a serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, or substance use disorder crisis, particularly adolescents and young adults (Section 2(b)(1)(E)(ii)).

Appropriate levels of care: The bill mandates utilization review policies to ensure individuals receive treatment at clinically appropriate levels and in the least restrictive environment (Section 2(b)(1)(E)(iii)).