HHS Mental Health Achievements by the Numbers
Introduction of 988 Crisis Line
Since its launch in July 2022, the 988 crisis line has received over 9.5 million calls. Under this administration, HHS invested more than $1.5 billion, enhancing answer rates to over 90% across all modalities, and introduced nationwide text and chat services in both English and Spanish. Specialized services for LGBTQI+ individuals and videophone services for the deaf and hard of hearing were also initiated. Additionally, a partnership with the FCC was established to advance georouting.
Investment in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC)
From 2021 to 2024, SAMHSA invested over $1.75 billion through the American Rescue Plan and Annual Appropriations in the CCBHC Expansion grant program, ensuring access to comprehensive, coordinated behavioral health services in 473 communities nationwide. By July 2024, SAMHSA and CMS, after intensive collaboration with 15 states, will add 10 more states to the CCBHC demonstration, creating a sustainable payment structure for Medicaid-eligible individuals accessing care at CCBHCs.
Funding for Community Mental Health Services
In FY 2024, SAMHSA allocated $1.01 billion to the 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with six Pacific jurisdictions, through the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG). This funding supports community-based mental health services for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) and children with serious emotional disturbance (SED). The MHBG included $95.4 million for early serious mental illness, including psychotic disorders, and $47.7 million for crisis response systems, serving approximately 8.3 million individuals.
New Medicare Mental Health Crisis Codes
New Medicare mental health crisis codes were launched to benefit 65 million seniors. Federal incentives for a 24/7 mobile crisis benefit in Medicaid were implemented, with 18 states and D.C. adopting the initiative.
Expanding the Behavioral Health Workforce
As of January 1, 2024, over 400,000 Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors can now independently treat more Medicare patients and receive direct payment under Traditional Medicare. For Medicare Advantage, CMS will require plans to include an adequate number of outpatient behavioral health facilities by 2025, improving access for over 65 million Americans.
Mandatory Appointment Wait Time Standards
Nationwide mandatory appointment wait time standards for outpatient behavioral health were finalized, affecting more than 100 million Americans across Medicaid, CHIP, and the Marketplace.
Integration of Mental Health Training for Primary Care Clinicians
HRSA, through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, awarded nearly $60 million to integrate mental health training into primary care clinician training.
Support for Behavioral Health Providers
HRSA supports over 18,000 primary care medical, dental, and behavioral health providers through the National Health Service Corps, with 8,700 behavioral health providers supported in 2023 to increase access to mental health and opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment.
Medicaid Billing Integration in Schools
Sixteen states have integrated Medicaid billing for mental health and other services into schools, issuing $50 million in grants to help additional states adopt this service.
Funding for Child and Family-Serving Grants
SAMHSA awarded $185.7 million for 299 child and family-serving grants through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, supporting health efforts in 231 cities across 47 states, D.C., and three territories.
Behavioral Health Services to Prevent Child Welfare System Involvement
ACF has approved 47 Title IV-E prevention plans, allowing child welfare agencies to access behavioral health services to prevent unnecessary involvement in the child welfare system. ACF provides technical assistance to states, territories, and tribes for implementing these plans.
Resources for Child and Youth Mental Health
ACF partnered with SAMHSA, CDC, youth.gov, and young people and families to develop resources and training about child and youth mental health, reaching thousands of families and professionals.
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
HRSA’s National Maternal Mental Health Hotline celebrated its first anniversary on Mother’s Day 2023, offering 24/7 support to nearly 20,000 pregnant and postpartum individuals and their loved ones. Support is available in English and Spanish, with expanded resources and staffing launched in 2023.
Increased Payments for Crisis Psychotherapy and Opioid Treatment
Medicare increased payment rates by 150% for crisis psychotherapy outside clinical settings and for Opioid Treatment Programs via mobile units, targeting hard-to-reach populations like rural residents and the homeless.
Children & Youth Resilience Challenge
OASH, in partnership with ACF and ASPE, established a Children & Youth Resilience Challenge, selecting 14 finalists from 500 submissions in August 2023 to pilot community-led resilience solutions for children and adolescents.
School-Based Behavioral Health Services Expansion
Since 2021, HRSA has awarded $55 million to expand school-based behavioral health services, now providing services at over 4,000 sites to nearly 1 million children. In FY 2023, all school-based service sites are required to offer mental health services.
Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Expansion
HRSA, through Bipartisan Safer Communities Act funding, expanded the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access grant program, supporting tele-consultation for providers in 36 states, including schools.
Advancing Health Information Technology in Behavioral Health
SAMHSA and ONC will invest over $20 million to enhance health information technology in behavioral health care settings.
Expansion of Telebehavioral Health Services in Tribal Communities
IHS expanded telebehavioral health services, conducting 266,736 visits over the past three years, saving over $1 million in travel costs and over 25,000 hours of work or school.
Addressing the Opioid Epidemic
IHS, through strategic partnerships, reduced opioid prescriptions by over 70% and increased naloxone availability, supporting low-barrier access to overdose reversal and drug checking equipment.
Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program
CDC awards $21 million annually to support a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention, collecting real-time suicide-related data for quick state responses.
Mental Health Action Guide for Schools
CDC’s Mental Health Action Guide, released in December 2023, promotes students’ mental health, receiving nearly 50,000 page views within two months. Two new implementation tools were introduced in April 2024 to support its use.
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