On September 19, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a $240 million investment to integrate mental health and substance use disorder treatment into primary care services at over 400 community health centers nationwide. These centers serve more than 10 million patients, including those who are uninsured, underinsured, or enrolled in Medicaid.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will manage the distribution of these funds. HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson made the announcement at the Mental Health America Conference in Washington, D.C., highlighting that this initiative aims to address the nation's mental health and opioid crises—key elements of President Biden’s Unity Agenda.

According to Mental Health America’s report "The State of Mental Health in America 2024," a significant number of individuals with substance use disorders and mental illnesses are not receiving adequate treatment. The report notes that one in five youths experienced a major depressive episode last year, with over half not receiving treatment, and 10 percent of adults with a mental illness are uninsured.

“Access to behavioral health care is critical for communities of color and underserved groups,” stated HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “HRSA-funded health centers have a proven record of success in reaching underserved communities. This funding expands their access to essential behavioral health services that will benefit entire communities.”

Carole Johnson added, “In the Biden-Harris Administration, more people now have health care coverage than at any point in our nation’s history. With today’s announcement to establish and expand behavioral health care in hundreds of community health centers, we are further demonstrating our commitment not only to health coverage but to access to care.”

The administration has proposed making mental health and substance use disorder services mandatory at all 1,400 HRSA-supported health centers nationwide, which currently serve over 31 million people. Presently, these centers can only meet about 27% of the demand for mental health services and 6% for substance use disorder treatment among their patients.

In addition to this funding announcement, HRSA has undertaken several initiatives:

- Integrating mental health into school-based community health centers.

- Funding partnerships between pediatricians and psychiatrists for tele-consultation.

- Expanding teleconsultation partnerships to schools and emergency departments.

- Training new mental health providers.

- Using Bipartisan Safer Communities Act funds for integrating mental health into residency programs.

- Supporting rural communities in treating opioid use disorder.

- Building behavioral healthcare services for children in rural areas.

- Offering loan repayment for mental health providers practicing in high-need communities.

- Launching the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 833-TLC-MAMA.

- Training community workers and proposing a peer-to-peer support program.

For patient stories related to behavioral health or more information on today's awardees and finding a local health center, visit HRSA's website.