Government & Regulation

The Washington State Senate has proposed allocating $860 million of the state's budget toward behavioral health initiatives, Peninsula Daily News reported March 23. 

The Louisiana Department of Health may have improperly spent $13 million in behavioral health provider fees, according to a state auditor's report. 

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.

Senators Michael Bennett from Colorado and Ron Wyden from Oregon introduced the Better Mental Health Care for Americans Act March 22 to expand access to mental and behavioral health services for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid patients.

Rhode Island's Attorney General Peter Neronha, along with 15 other attorneys general, are renewing an effort to change limits to behavioral health insurance coverage, Providence Business News reported March 20. 

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is rallying support for her $80 million behavioral health plan to expand access to care in the state, OregonLive reported March 21. 

California lawmakers have submitted a bill that would require a minimum amount of staff in hospitals for behavioral health emergencies, SFGate reported March 21. 

Gov. Spencer Cox has signed four bills related to mental health into law, State of Reform reported March 17.

House Bill 2455 would place restrictions on how insurers and coordinated care organizations can audit mental health providers in Oregon, the Lund Report reported March 16. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding 15 states each with $1 million, one-year certified community behavioral health clinic planning grants through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.