Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act
Summary
The "Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act" directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide guidance to states. This guidance focuses on strategies within Medicaid and CHIP to enhance the education, training, recruitment, and retention of mental health and substance use disorder care providers. The aim is to improve workforce capacity, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The bill emphasizes the use of waivers and authorities under titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act. It seeks to address the growing need for behavioral health services by strengthening the workforce that provides them.
This act does not mandate specific actions but encourages states to innovate within existing federal programs.
Expected Effects
The primary effect will be the provision of guidance to states, potentially leading to increased investment in the behavioral health workforce. States may implement new strategies to attract and retain mental health professionals. Ultimately, access to care for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders could improve, especially in underserved areas.
Potential Benefits
- Increased access to mental health and substance use disorder care, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
- Improved education and training for behavioral health providers.
- Enhanced recruitment and retention of qualified professionals in the field.
- Potential for states to innovate using Medicaid and CHIP waivers.
- A stronger behavioral health workforce capable of meeting growing needs.
Potential Disadvantages
- The guidance is non-mandatory, so states may choose not to implement the suggested strategies.
- The impact is dependent on state-level action and resource allocation.
- It may take time for the guidance to translate into tangible improvements in workforce capacity.
- The bill does not address systemic issues contributing to workforce shortages, such as low reimbursement rates or burnout.
- There is no dedicated funding provided in the bill, so states must rely on existing resources.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the General Welfare Clause of the Constitution, as it aims to improve public health by addressing mental health and substance use disorders. Specifically, the preamble states the intention to "promote the general Welfare." The bill operates within the existing framework of Medicaid and CHIP, which are established federal programs. As such, it respects the balance of power between the federal government and the states. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, and this bill does not mandate state action, but rather provides guidance.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).