Washington, D.C., June 22, 2022 — The American Psychiatric Association (APA) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act (H.R. 7666), calling it an important step to expeditiously address the nation’s mental health crisis. The legislation will help address record levels of overdose and suicide deaths, the child and adolescent mental health crisis, and the adverse psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Americans.

In addition to reauthorizing critical federal programs that promote access and coverage to mental health and substance use disorder services, H.R. 7666 incorporates several APA priority provisions including:

• Parity: Eliminates the parity opt-out for non-federal governmental health plans and provides funding for state insurance departments to enforce and ensure compliance with the mental health parity law.
• Collaborative Care: Supports uptake of the evidence-based Collaborative Care Model via grants to primary care practices to better integrate behavioral healthcare into primary care settings.
• Crisis Services: Directs funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for 9-8-8 Lifeline implementation and supports state implementation of the Lifeline through technical assistance and coordination.
• Workforce Equity Investments: Makes crucial investments in our behavioral health care workforce by reauthorizing and increasing authorized funding for SAMHSA’s Minority Fellowship Program.

The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act also reauthorizes numerous other important mental health and substance use disorder programs administered by SAMHSA and the Health Resources and Services Administration. APA will continue to advocate for the bill as it moves to the Senate.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 37,000 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit www.psychiatry.org.