Index for HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Stark, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Andrews) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Section 1913 (42 U.S.C. 300x–3) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(2)(A), by striking “community mental health services” and inserting “behavioral health services (of the type offered by federally qualified behavioral health centers consistent with subsection (c)(3))”;

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

“(1) services under the plan will be provided only through appropriate, qualified community programs (which may include federally qualified behavioral health centers, child mental health programs, psychosocial rehabilitation programs, mental health peer-support programs, and mental health primary consumer-directed programs); and”; and

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking “community mental health centers” and inserting “federally qualified behavioral health centers”; and

(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:

“(c) Criteria for federally qualified behavioral health centers.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall certify, and recertify at least every 5 years, federally qualified behavioral health centers as meeting the criteria specified in this subsection.

“(2) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, the Administrator shall issue final regulations for certifying centers under paragraph (1).

“(3) CRITERIA.—The criteria referred to in subsection (b)(2) are that the center performs each of the following:

“(A) Provide services in locations that ensure services will be available and accessible promptly and in a manner which preserves human dignity and assures continuity of care.

“(B) Provide services in a mode of service delivery appropriate for the target population.

“(C) Provide individuals with a choice of service options where there is more than one efficacious treatment.

“(D) Employ a core staff of clinical staff that is multidisciplinary and culturally and linguistically competent.

“(E) Provide services, within the limits of the capacities of the center, to any individual residing or employed in the service area of the center.

“(F) Provide, directly or through contract, to the extent covered for adults in the State Medicaid plan and for children in accordance with section 1905(r) of the Social Security Act regarding early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment, each of the following services:

“(i) Screening, assessment, and diagnosis, including risk assessment.

“(ii) Person-centered treatment planning or similar processes, including risk assessment and crisis planning.

“(iii) Outpatient clinic mental health services, including screening, assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapy, substance abuse counseling, medication management, and integrated treatment for mental illness and substance abuse which shall be evidence-based (including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and other such therapies which are evidence-based).

“(iv) Outpatient clinic primary care services, including screening and monitoring of key health indicators and health risk (including screening for diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease and monitoring of weight, height, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood glucose or HbA1C, and lipid profile).

“(v) Crisis mental health services, including 24-hour mobile crisis teams, emergency crisis intervention services, and crisis stabilization.

“(vi) Targeted case management (services to assist individuals gaining access to needed medical, social, educational, and other services and applying for income security and other benefits to which they may be entitled).

“(vii) Psychiatric rehabilitation services including skills training, assertive community treatment, family psychoeducation, disability self-management, supported employment, supported housing services, therapeutic foster care services, multisystemic therapy, and such other evidence-based practices as the Secretary may require.

“(viii) Peer support and counselor services and family supports.

“(G) Maintain linkages, and where possible enter into formal contracts with, inpatient psychiatric facilities and substance abuse detoxification and residential programs.

“(H) Make available to individuals served by the center, directly, through contract, or through linkages with other programs, each of the following:

“(i) Adult and youth peer support and counselor services.

“(ii) Family support services for families of children with serious mental disorders.

“(iii) Other community or regional services, supports, and providers, including schools, child welfare agencies, juvenile and criminal justice agencies and facilities, housing agencies and programs, employers, and other social services.

“(iv) Onsite or offsite access to primary care services.

“(v) Enabling services, including outreach, transportation, and translation.

“(vi) Health and wellness services, including services for tobacco cessation.”.