Sponsors
The bill expands access to and funding for behavioral health and SUD services at community health centers—improving integration and capacity in the near term—but increases federal spending, may strain some smaller centers, and leaves long-term program sustainability uncertain after 2031.
People with mental health disorders and substance use disorders — especially low-income patients — will have increased access to behavioral health and SUD services because federally funded community health centers must offer these services.
Community health centers will receive $700 million annually (FY2027–2031) to expand and sustain behavioral health and SUD services, enabling hiring, program expansion, and greater service capacity.
Local primary care capacity and integration of behavioral health into routine care will be strengthened as centers expand required services, improving coordination for patients with chronic conditions.
Taxpayers will bear increased federal spending of $700 million per year through 2031 to fund the program.
Funding is time-limited (FY2027–2031), so service expansions could be hard to sustain after 2031 without new funding, creating uncertainty for patients and centers.
Some smaller or rural community health centers may face operational strain meeting the new required service mandate even with extra funding, risking service delivery challenges or resource diversion.
Based on analysis of 1 section of legislative text.
Makes behavioral/mental health and substance use disorder services required primary services at federally funded community health centers and authorizes $700M/year to HHS for FY2027–2031 to support them.
Introduced April 6, 2026 by Susie Lee · Last progress April 6, 2026
Adds behavioral and mental health and substance use disorder services to the list of required primary health services that federally funded community health centers must provide, and authorizes enhanced federal funding to support those services. It directs annual transfers of $700,000,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031 to expand these services at community health centers.