H.R. 6408: Access to New Community Health Opportunities and Recovery Act of 2025

The Access to New Community Health Opportunities and Recovery Act of 2025 (referred to as the ANCHOR Act) aims to amend the Social Security Act to allow states to provide medical assistance to specific individuals suffering from serious mental illness or substance use disorders. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Medical Assistance for Specified Individuals

The bill specifically allows states to offer medical assistance to individuals who:

• Are uninsured
• Have an income that does not exceed 100% of the federal poverty line
• Have been diagnosed with a qualifying condition (e.g., serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, opioid use disorder, or stimulant use disorder) by a qualified healthcare provider.

Options for States

States will have the option to extend medical assistance for these individuals for an initial continuous period of one year. They can also choose to extend this assistance for additional one-year periods, contingent on a re-evaluation of the individual's eligibility before each extension.

Care Plans

As part of this initiative, states must ensure that individuals receiving assistance have a personalized care plan created within 60 days of enrolling. This plan must be developed by a qualified healthcare provider, which may include various types of clinics and health centers.

Quality Measurement

States exercising this option are required to report certain quality measures related to behavioral health care, ensuring the effectiveness of the services provided to these specified individuals.

Conclusion

This bill establishes a more structured framework for states to address the healthcare needs of uninsured individuals facing serious mental health and substance use challenges, aiming to improve access to necessary services and support.

Relevant Companies

• None found