Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced the Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act. This legislation would improve access to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) by creating a formal funding structure and allowing Medicare to cover the services provided by these clinics.

"It's critical that while we work to keep expanding access to high-quality health care, we make sure mental health care is included," said Senator Cortez Masto. "I'm proud to support the Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act. It's past time to expand mental health care access in our communities."

"Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics have a proven record of providing lifesaving mental health and addiction treatment to anyone who walks through their doors," said Senator Cornyn. "This legislation would ensure CCBHCs have a reliable and permanent funding structure under Medicare so they can improve workforce sustainability and increase Texans' access to care."

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) were created by Congress in 2014 to provide mental health, substance use, and crisis care services for people who need them most. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 permanently allowed states to implement CCBHC programs and receive an enhanced Medicaid reimbursement rate for their services. Additional steps are needed to create a similar CCBHC option under Medicare. Although CCBHCs already serve people with Medicare, giving them a specific Medicare payment structure would strengthen their workforce and help ensure they meet the same quality standards already proven under Medicaid. There are more than 500 clinics and CCBHC grantees operating across 46 states plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico, with eight located in Nevada.

Additional cosponsors include Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.).

Senator Cortez Masto has been a leader in the Senate on mental health issues. She helped fund and implement the 988 Suicide & Crisis lifeline, and passed bipartisan legislation to expand behavioral health crisis support services. She successfully fought to include $1 billion to support mental health services in schools in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

###