H.R. 10246: 9–8–8 Community Infrastructure Act

This bill would create a new federal grant program to help build and improve facilities used for mental health and substance use crisis care, with a particular focus on supporting the 9-8-8 crisis response system.

What the bill does

The bill adds a new section to the Public Health Service Act that directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible organizations for capital projects. In plain terms, that means money could be used for construction and facility upgrades rather than day-to-day operating costs.

Who could receive grants

Eligible recipients would include:

• Health centers funded under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.
• Tribes and Tribal organizations connected to those health center programs, with some timing restrictions waived for them.
• Crisis receiving and stabilization facilities and crisis call centers that work with local mental health and substance use providers.

What the money could be used for

Grant funds could pay for:

• Facility alterations
• Renovations
• Remodeling
• Expansion
• New construction
• Other capital improvement costs
• Payments on loans taken out for those purposes, including principal and interest

What kinds of facilities are covered

The bill defines several types of facilities:

• Crisis receiving and stabilization facilities: freestanding, non-hospital facilities that are licensed or certified under state law, provide short-term observation and stabilization, operate 24/7, accept patients on a sliding fee scale, and do not turn people away based on ability to pay or several other factors.
• Crisis response program facilities: facilities used to provide mental health or substance use crisis services through mobile crisis teams, crisis receiving and stabilization facilities, urgent care facilities, or other providers chosen by the Secretary.
• Mental health and substance use urgent care facilities: walk-in facilities where people in crisis can get assessment, intervention, medication, and referrals without an appointment.

Operational features required for some facilities

For crisis receiving and stabilization facilities, the bill specifies that they should:

• Provide 23-hour observation and assessment spaces or beds
• Provide 48-hour crisis stabilization psychiatric beds, including withdrawal management and 24-hour medical monitoring
• Be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Use a sliding scale of payment
• Accept patients without regard to ability to pay, place of residence, prior forensic involvement, severity of condition, disability, age, or related factors
• Allow “no-wrong-door” admission from law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, and family members
• Keep average stays under 150 hours

Funding level

The bill authorizes $1 billion in appropriations for this grant program, and the money would remain available until it is used.

Relevant Companies

None found