HR 8487 — Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act

Summary

The Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act aims to improve mental health services and support for individuals who need assistance. The bill has been sent to two committees for review, where they will examine its details and decide on the next steps.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html April 23, 2026

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes new provisions for coverage and payment for certified community behavioral health clinic services under the Medicaid program.

• 42 U.S.C. 1396a

  ``(yy) Payment for Services Provided by Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.-- (1) In general.--Beginning with fiscal year 2026 with respect to services furnished on or after January 1, 2026, and for each succeeding fiscal year, if a State elects to make medical assistance available for certified community behavioral health clinic services under section 1905(a)(31), the State plan shall provide for payment for such services furnished by (or under arrangement with) a certified community behavioral health clinic described in section 1905(jj)(2) (in this subsection referred to as a `clinic') in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.

  This addition mandates that States providing Medicaid coverage for certified community behavioral health clinics establish a payment system for those services.

• 42 U.S.C. 1396a

  ``(2) Prospective payment system.-- (A) In general.--Subject to paragraph (4), a State shall provide for payment for certified community behavioral health clinic services furnished by (or under arrangement with) a clinic in the first fiscal year (or portion of a fiscal year) described in paragraph (1) for which a State elects to provide medical assistance for such services under section 1905(a)(31) under a prospective payment system developed by the State in accordance with this paragraph.

  This creates a requirement for States to develop a prospective payment system for certified community behavioral health clinics.

• 42 U.S.C. 1396a

  ``(C) System design.--Under the system under subparagraph (A), the State may, consistent with the methodology described in guidance issued under section 223(b) of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014-- (i) establish separate prospective payment system rates for special populations; (ii) use a system of outlier payments for a portion of costs of furnishing certified community behavioral health clinic services; or (iii) with respect to certified community behavioral health clinic services that are crisis services--

  This allows States to customize payment rates based on specific population needs or types of services provided by clinics.

• 42 U.S.C. 1396a

  ``(F) Rebasing.--A State may periodically (but no less frequently than every third fiscal year after the first fiscal year described in subparagraph (D)) rebase the prospective payment amount determined under subparagraph (D) such that costs from the fiscal year preceding the rebasing year, rather than costs from the base year described in clause (i)(I) of such subparagraph, shall be used in establishing a new cost-related rate for each clinic.

  This provision enables States to periodically update payment rates based on more recent cost data.

• 42 U.S.C. 1396d(jj)(2)

  described in paragraph (1) → described in paragraph (1)(B)

  This clarification specifies which paragraph of the regulations applies to the community behavioral health clinic services.

• 42 U.S.C. 1396d(jj)(2)

  Beginning January 1, 2026, at the option of the State, has received accreditation by an accreditation body approved under section 340J-4 of the Public Health Service Act.

  This addition allows States to provide coverage for services at clinics that have received specific accreditation.

Action History

1. April 23, 2026

   Introduced in House

2. April 23, 2026

   Introduced in House

3. April 23, 2026

   Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

4. April 23, 2026

   Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

Sponsors

• August Pfluger · Cosponsor
• Angie Craig · Cosponsor
• Mark Alford · Cosponsor
• Paul Tonko · Cosponsor
• Brian K. Fitzpatrick · Cosponsor
• Craig A. Goldman · Cosponsor
• Sharice Davids · Cosponsor
• Becca Balint · Cosponsor
• Marilyn Strickland · Cosponsor
• Maggie Goodlander · Cosponsor
• Doris O. Matsui · Primary

Subjects