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H.R. 8141 (116th): Strengthening Mental Health Supports for BIPOC Communities Act

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The text of the bill below is as of Sep 1, 2020 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8141

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 1, 2020

(for himself and Ms. Johnson of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend the Public Health Service Act to reduce health inequities experienced by individuals who are members of historically racial and ethnic minority groups under State plans under the community mental health services block grant program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Mental Health Supports for BIPOC Communities Act.

2.

Reducing health inequities experienced by historically racial and ethnic minorities under State plans under community mental health services block grant program

(a)

In general

Section 1942(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x–52(a)) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (5); and

(2)

by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

(2)

services provided by the State to adults with a serious mental illness and children with a serious emotional disturbance who are members of historically racial and ethnic minority groups, including—

(A)

the extent to which such services are provided to such adults and children; and

(B)

the outcomes experienced by such adults and children as a result of the provision of such services, including with respect to—

(i)

diversions from hospitalization and criminal justice system involvement;

(ii)

treatment for first episode psychosis or undefined psychosis;

(iii)

reductions in suicide and increased utilization of appropriate treatments and interventions for suicidal ideation;

(iv)

response through crisis services, including mobile crisis services;

(v)

treatment of individuals who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity and individuals residing in rural communities; and

(vi)

increased patient family and/or caregiver engagement and education on serious mental illness to reduce social stigma and promote healthy social support for patients;

(3)

any outreach by the State to, and the hiring of, providers from multiple disciplines (such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, peer support provider, social worker) of mental health services who are members of historically racial and ethnic minority groups;

(4)

any outreach by the State to providers from multiple disciplines of mental health services—

(A)

to provide training on culturally effective, culturally affirming, and linguistically competent services; and

(B)

to increase awareness of community-defined practices by practitioners of historically racial and ethnic minority groups; and

.

(b)

Applicability

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to funding agreements entered into under section 1911 or 1921 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x; 42 U.S.C. 300x–21) on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.