Bill > HR4388

This bill, the Behavioral Health Care Integration Act of 2016, amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program aimed at integrating primary and behavioral health care. This means creating a system where mental health and physical health services are offered together in the same practice or facility, fostering collaboration between doctors, mental health professionals, and case managers to provide comprehensive care. The program will fund eligible entities, such as state health departments or licensed healthcare providers, to improve integrated care models, particularly for "special populations" which include adults and children with mental illnesses, substance use disorders, or chronic physical conditions, as well as underserved groups. Grants, up to $2 million annually per recipient for five years, will support efforts to overcome barriers to integrated care, develop shared patient registries for better tracking of treatment and outcomes, and promote evidence-based practices. The bill also authorizes a technical assistance center to provide training and resources to entities involved in integrated care and appropriates $50 million annually from fiscal years 2017 through 2021 to fund these initiatives.