Bill > HR2590

This bill establishes a five-year demonstration program under Medicare to promote collaborative treatment of mental and physical health comorbidities, focusing on innovative approaches in hospitals serving vulnerable communities. The program will invite eligible hospitals (primarily rural, teaching, and safety net hospitals) to develop and implement comprehensive strategies that address both mental and physical health needs of patients, with a particular emphasis on addressing social determinants of health. Participating hospitals will receive financial support to create interdisciplinary care teams, integrate mental health services into medical settings, improve electronic health records, develop coordinated care models, and provide wrap-around services like nutrition counseling, social services referral, and community-based interventions. The program targets individuals with serious mental illness, chronic conditions, high-risk pregnancies, and other complex health challenges, with a goal of improving care access, quality, health outcomes, and reducing overall healthcare costs. Hospitals will be required to participate in a learning collaborative to share best practices and will be evaluated on their innovations, with the Secretary of Health and Human Services submitting a comprehensive report to Congress after the program's completion, including recommendations for potential future legislative or administrative actions.