14 bills focused on increasing access to mental healthcare

Here are 14 bills aiming to expand access to mental and behavioral healthcare at the national and state levels that Becker's has reported on since March 1.

1. Sens. Michael Bennett from Colorado and Ron Wyden from Oregon introduced the Better Mental Health Care for Americans Act on March 22 to expand access to mental and behavioral health services for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and Medicaid patients.
2. California lawmakers submitted a bill that would require a minimum amount of staff in hospitals for behavioral health emergencies.
3. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed four bills related to mental health into law.
4. A bill introduced in the Oregon House would place restrictions on how insurers and coordinated care organizations can audit mental health providers in the state.
5. The West Virginia Legislature completed action on a bill that would limit the number of treatment beds for substance use disorder patients in each county.
6. A bill in Nebraska would allow mental health professionals to take an individual into emergency protective custody.
7. The Hawaii Senate Committee on Ways and Means unanimously passed four bills on behavioral health.
8. State legislators in Oregon introduced a bill that aims to include residents with "lived mental health experience" in the decision-making process for establishing behavioral health services in the state.