H.R. 10287: 9-8-8 Crisis Response Act

This bill would expand and increase federal support for mental health crisis response services, including the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline system, mobile crisis teams, and crisis stabilization facilities.

What the bill changes

• Renames and shortens the bill’s title: It may be cited as the 9-8-8 Crisis Response Act.
• Increases funding for a crisis response pilot program: The bill changes the funding for the Mental Health Crisis Response Partnership Pilot Program from $10 million per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to:
  • $10 million for each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026, and
  • $100 million for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2029.
• Expands what Medicaid can help pay for: States would be allowed to use Medicaid funding not only for community-based mobile crisis intervention services, but also for:
  • regional and local 988/lifeline call center operations, and
  • services provided by crisis receiving and stabilization facilities.
• Sets a 85% federal matching rate: For the newly covered services, the federal government would pay 85% of the cost under the Medicaid matching rules described in the bill.
• Adds administrative funding: The bill provides $5 million to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for implementation-related purposes, available until spent.

What counts as a crisis receiving and stabilization facility

The bill defines these facilities as places that meet state licensure or certification rules and that:

• offer 23-hour observation/assessment and up to 48-hour crisis stabilization beds, including withdrawal management and 24-hour medical monitoring;
• operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with payment based on ability to pay and without turning people away for reasons such as where they live, prior justice involvement, mental health or substance use severity, intellectual or developmental disability, age, or related factors;
• accept admissions from law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, and family members; and
• keep the average stay under 150 hours.

Timing

The bill says these changes would take effect as though they had been included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Relevant Companies

None found