Healthcare (Substance Abuse)

in committee · United States · House Dec 18, 2025

HR 6841: PEERS Act of 2025

The PEERS Act of 2025 requires Medicare to cover peer support services provided by certified specialists at community mental health centers, rural health clinics, and other specified facilities. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries with mental health or substance use disorders who receive these services, and providers like community mental health centers that will now bill Medicare for this care. The bill defines peer support services as non-clinical assistance focused on recovery, community integration, and self-empowerment, delivered by individuals certified after recovering from similar conditions. Coverage begins January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates Medicare coverage for peer support services in mental health/substance use treatment, expanding access and funding for these critical services under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · Senate Sep 4, 2025

S 2723: Treatment Court, Rehabilitation, and Recovery Act of 2025

The Treatment Court, Rehabilitation, and Recovery Act of 2025 creates a federal grant program to fund specialized courts addressing substance use disorders. It provides funding for juvenile drug courts, family treatment courts, tribal healing courts, impaired driving courts, and adult drug courts that meet national standards. The bill requires evidence-based treatment - including medication-assisted treatment - and prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, or other protected characteristics. Eligible participants must have a diagnosed substance use disorder, meet safety criteria, and demonstrate potential benefit from the program, with costs based on ability to pay. The program mandates annual reporting on outcomes and ensures grants cover up to 75% of program costs, administered through the Department of Justice.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds evidence-based treatment courts for substance use disorders, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration and prohibiting discrimination in criminal justice settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds evidence-based substance use disorder treatment via specialized courts, requiring medication-assisted treatment and prohibiting discrimination - directly advancing healthcare access and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Juvenile Justice Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 30, 2025

S 2540: Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Justice Grant Reauthorization Act

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Justice Grant Reauthorization Act (S 2540) extends federal funding for state and local programs that provide addiction treatment and recovery services to individuals involved in the justice system, such as those in courts or correctional facilities. It updates the authorization period from 2019-2023 to 2026-2030, ensuring continued support through 2030 without altering annual funding amounts. This reauthorization directly affects state and local agencies administering these grants, which help connect people with substance use disorders to treatment while navigating legal processes. The bill does not specify new funding levels but secures program continuity by extending the timeframe for grant distribution.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds addiction treatment in justice system to reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends federal funding for addiction treatment in justice system, directly supporting mental health services and public health programs without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · House Dec 3, 2025

HR 6408: ANCHOR Act of 2025

This bill creates a new state option to provide medical assistance through Medicaid-like programs for uninsured adults with serious mental illness or substance use disorders who earn under 100% of the federal poverty level. It defines "specified individuals" as those meeting income limits and having a qualifying condition (serious mental illness, emotional disturbance, opioid use disorder, or stimulant use disorder) diagnosed by approved providers. States offering this option must provide coverage for 1 year initially (with possible annual renewals after redetermination), ensure a care plan within 60 days, and report specific quality measures. The bill modifies existing Medicaid rules to expand access to behavioral health services without creating new federal funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Medicaid-like program for uninsured adults with mental illness/substance use disorders at or below 100% FPL, expanding coverage and supporting mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 16, 2025

S 3486: Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act

This bill (S 3486) requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue non-mandatory guidance to states within 12 months of enactment. The guidance will focus on strategies for states to improve mental health and substance use disorder care provider education, training, recruitment, and retention through Medicaid (Title XIX) and CHIP (Title XXI) programs. It specifically emphasizes expanding workforce capacity in rural and underserved areas and details how states can use existing authorities like Medicaid waivers (Section 1115) to achieve this. The bill directly affects states administering Medicaid/CHIP programs and the providers participating in those programs, aiming to strengthen behavioral health services without creating new federal funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires HHS guidance to expand mental health workforce training, recruitment, and retention in underserved areas via Medicaid/CHIP programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 31, 2025

S 2612: SAFE Act

Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly Act or the SAFE Act This bill incorporates risk assessments and prevention services for falls into annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams under Medicare, as well as associated services provided by physical therapists and occupational therapists.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicare coverage to include fall risk assessments and prevention services during wellness visits, improving patient access to preventive care for elderly.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · House Feb 5, 2026

HR 7394: Mental Health Career Promotion Act

HR 7394, the Mental Health Career Promotion Act, creates a federal grant program to help schools and community colleges connect students with mental health careers. It provides $50 million annually (2027-2031) for partnerships between schools, community colleges, and mental health providers to run programs like career presentations, internships, and professional shadowing for students in grades 9-12 or community college. These programs must be culturally appropriate and evaluated using standardized outcomes, with grantees reporting annually on effectiveness. The bill directly affects educational institutions and mental health organizations working to build pipelines for careers like counselors, social workers, and addiction specialists.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $50M annually for K-12/community college mental health career programs, directly funding educational access and career pathways through school partnerships.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds $50M for mental health career programs (internships, shadowing) to expand workforce, directly supporting mental health services access and workforce development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Student Health Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · Senate Oct 28, 2025

S 3064: Relief of Chronic Pain Act of 2025

S 3064, the Relief of Chronic Pain Act of 2025, modifies Medicare Part D coverage to improve access to non-opioid treatments for specific chronic pain conditions. It requires Medicare plans to exempt qualifying non-opioid drugs (approved for conditions like diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, or musculoskeletal pain) from deductibles and place them on the lowest cost-sharing tier starting in 2026. The bill also bans step therapy (requiring opioid use first) and prior authorization for these drugs. This directly affects Medicare beneficiaries with the listed chronic pain conditions who rely on these approved non-opioid medications.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModifies Medicare Part D to remove cost barriers for non-opioid chronic pain treatments, improves patient access, and bans opioid-first step therapy, directly advancing healthcare access for chronic pain patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Prescription Drugs Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 12, 2025

S 2050: ASSIST Act

The ASSIST Act (S 2050) increases federal funding for mental health and substance use disorder services provided in schools and school-based health centers. It raises the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for these services to 90% for states, starting one year after enactment, while ensuring this doesn’t reduce existing federal payments or count against territorial spending limits. The bill also creates a new grant program administered by the Health and Human Services Secretary to fund entities like school districts and universities in hiring more licensed mental health providers, requiring culturally competent care and annual reporting on provider numbers and service effectiveness. It prohibits using grant funds for threat assessment teams and mandates a report to Congress on the program’s effectiveness within 18 months.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases federal funding for mental health services by raising FMAP to 90%, directly advancing public service funding under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunding school-based mental health services addresses root causes of criminal behavior, aligning with reform goals to reduce recidivism and improve rehabilitation programs.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases federal funding for school-based mental health services, directly enhancing student well-being and educational access within K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases federal funding for school-based mental health/substance use services via 90% FMAP and new grants, directly advancing mental health access as per healthcare topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Testing & Assessment Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · House Sep 18, 2025

HR 5462: Michelle Alyssa Go Act

HR 5462, the Michelle Alyssa Go Act, changes Medicaid rules to exclude small mental health facilities with 36 beds or fewer from the definition of "institution for mental diseases" if they meet specific national standards. This directly affects small mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities (36 beds or less) that comply with evidence-based standards for services, care hours, staffing, and clinical programs. The bill modifies Medicaid funding eligibility by removing these small facilities from the restrictive "institution" category, allowing them to remain eligible for Medicaid coverage under state plans. The change takes effect 180 days after the law is enacted, applying to all state Medicaid plans starting then.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExcludes small mental health facilities (≤36 beds) from Medicaid exclusion, enabling funding access for evidence-based care and improving patient access to mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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