The White House's mental health agenda: 3 things to know

President Joe Biden's mental health priorities include toughening mental health coverage standards for insurers and funding community providers. 

Mental health received few mentions in the president's State of the Union Address March 7, though the Biden Administration laid out its priorities for mental health in a March 8 news release. 

Here are three things to note: 

1. The Biden Administration proposed tougher rules requiring insurers to cover mental health at parity with physical healthcare. Insurers argued the proposed rules would not improve access to mental healthcare.
   
   In the news release, the administration called on Congress to expand federal oversight of insurers' mental health policies, establish stronger mental health parity in Medicare and up funding for mental health workforce development. 
   
   
2. The Biden Administration is putting $280 million to add 14,000 school-based mental health professionals.
   
   
3. The president called on Congress to permanently fund certified community behavioral health clinics. In September, the administration put $130 million in funding to 128 clinics in 40 states.