The Biden administration mentioned Tuesday it’s making $15 million in grant funding accessible to neighborhood clinics that present 24-7 assist to individuals affected by psychological well being or substance abuse points, no matter their skill to pay.
Mr. Biden mentioned the cash stems from the bipartisan gun security and psychological well being laws he signed this summer season after a collection of mass shootings.
“Psychological well being impacts all of us, which is why I named tackling the psychological well being disaster a core pillar of my Unity Agenda. As I outlined in my State of the Union deal with final March, we are able to and should do extra to remodel how we deal with psychological well being in America,” Mr. Biden mentioned.
The brand new funding is meant to complement and broaden assist for Licensed Neighborhood Behavioral Well being Clinics (CCBHCs). This system obtained a $300 million infusion in September from different funding streams to ascertain new clinics or enhance present ones.
The clinics function across the clock and should present routine outpatient care inside 10 enterprise days after an preliminary contact to forestall individuals from languishing on ready lists, the administration mentioned.
“For too lengthy, emergency rooms and legislation enforcement have served because the de facto psychological well being care supply system in our nation,” mentioned Sen. Roy Blunt, Missouri Republican. “Licensed Neighborhood Behavioral Well being Clinics are altering that, serving to individuals get the great behavioral well being care they want once they want it.”
The trouble is a part of a broader push to deal with a “psychological well being disaster” in America, with concern about rampant drug overdoses, bullying of youth by way of social media and social alienation following the COVID-19 restrictions.
Mr. Biden and his workforce typically say they’re attempting to erase the firewall that seems to exist between psychological and bodily well being.
“Behavioral well being is well being. Interval. There ought to be no distinction,” Well being and Human Providers Secretary Xavier Becerra mentioned. “This funding will convey us nearer to that actuality.”
