Bill · H.R. 9867· House(119-HR-9867)
Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act
- Introduced
- 7/22/2026
- Last activity
- 7/22/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Joe Neguse
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the ``Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act'', directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide guidance to States. The goal is to help States develop strategies using Medicaid and CHIP to grow the mental health and substance use disorder care workforce. This includes focusing on education, training, recruitment, and retention of providers. There is a specific emphasis on improving capacity in rural and underserved areas. The guidance must include how States can use specific waivers and authorities under the Social Security Act.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+5
The bill aims to increase the education, training, recruitment, and retention of mental health and substance use disorder providers.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+5
The bill explicitly targets the improvement of the mental health and substance use disorder workforce in rural areas.
Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths?+4
By expanding the workforce for substance use disorder care, the bill supports the response to addiction.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Improved Access to Care: By increasing the education, training, recruitment, and retention of providers, the bill aims to improve the capacity of the mental health and substance use disorder care workforce (Section 2).
-
Support for Rural and Underserved Communities: The guidance focuses on improving the workforce specifically in rural and underserved areas (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+5Improves Opioid Crisis Response+4Improves Healthcare Access+3Increases Medicaid Funding+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Low Income Households+4Good For Native Americans+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+1
- 7/22/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Glenn ThompsonRepublican · Pennsylvania