To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide a higher Federal matching rate for increased expenditures under Medicaid for behavioral health services (including those related to mental health and substance use), and for other purposes.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill incentivizes states to expand behavioral health services under Medicaid by offering a 90% federal match for increased spending on mental health and substance use treatment above 2019 levels. It requires states to use the extra funds to improve capacity, quality, and provider payment rates rather than replacing existing state funding.
Who Benefits and How
Behavioral health providers (psychiatrists, psychologists, addiction counselors, mental health clinics) benefit from potentially higher Medicaid reimbursement rates and expanded funding for services. Medicaid beneficiaries with mental health or substance use disorders gain access to expanded treatment options as states have financial incentives to grow these programs. State governments receive substantial federal funding support (90% match) to expand behavioral health services without bearing the full cost.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The federal government bears the primary financial burden through the 90% matching rate for increased behavioral health expenditures. States must maintain current funding levels (maintenance of effort requirement) and cannot use federal funds to replace existing state spending. HHS faces new administrative requirements including issuing guidance within 180 days and submitting annual reports to Congress.
Key Provisions
- Provides 90% federal matching rate for state Medicaid behavioral health expenditures exceeding their Q1 2019 baseline
- Requires states to supplement (not supplant) existing state funding and use funds to increase provider capacity, quality, and payment rates
- Mandates HHS to issue guidance within 180 days on qualifying behavioral health services and submit annual reports on service utilization and payment rates
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Increases federal Medicaid matching rates to 90% for state expenditures on behavioral health services (mental health and substance use treatment) that exceed 2019 baseline levels
Key Policy Areas
Healthcare, Mental Health, Substance Use Treatment, Medicaid
Primary Purpose
Increases federal Medicaid matching rates to 90% for state expenditures on behavioral health services (mental health and substance use treatment) that exceed 2019 baseline levels
Policy Domains
Behavioral Health Medicaid Enhancement Act
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Behavioral health providers
- Medicaid beneficiaries with mental health or substance use disorders
- State Medicaid programs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Federal government (increased Medicaid expenditures)
- HHS (reporting and guidance requirements)
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMs. Smith introduced the following bill; which was read twice …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
State Medicaid programs, State Medicaid programs (data providers), State governments (maintenance of effort requirement)
Positive-direction: State Medicaid programs
Negative-direction: State Medicaid programs (data providers), State governments (maintenance of effort requirement)
Congressional oversight committees (Energy & Commerce, Finance), Department of Health and Human Services, Federal government
Positive-direction: Congressional oversight committees (Energy & Commerce, Finance)
Negative-direction: Department of Health and Human Services, Federal government
Behavioral health service providers (psychiatrists, psychologists, addiction counselors, mental health clinics)
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Health and Human Services
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Services related to mental health and substance use, as specified in sub-regulatory guidance to be issued by the Secretary of HHS within 180 days of enactment
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology