December 9, 2025

In October when members of the NYS Council went to Washington for Hill Day, the bipartisan legislation (described below) had yet to be introduced in the Senate and so, it was at the top of the agenda of ‘asks’ on the list for meetings with Congress.

The news below is very encouraging and will require all hands on deck to move it.

See the middle of the letter from the National Council, requesting you take action on behalf of this important legislation, and check out the linked one pager that provides more details on the ‘requests’ embedded in the legislation. I think there is no bill number assigned yet and that may be why we can’t see the entire legislation at this moment. Stand by for more.

THANK YOU!

Lauri

Dear Members,

We’re excited to share that the bipartisan Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act has been introduced in the U.S. Senate, marking an important step forward in expanding nationwide access to lifesaving care at Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs).

Our nation depends on strong, accessible behavioral health care, and CCBHCs remain one of the most effective ways to close longstanding gaps in access. This bill — introduced by Senators John Cornyn, R-Texas; Tina Smith, D-Minn.; Thom Tillis, R-N.C.; and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. — will help clinics sustain their work, build the workforce they need and reduce pressure on emergency rooms, law enforcement and other community partners. We’re grateful to the senators for championing this bipartisan effort.

Key provisions of the Act include:

• Creating a sustainable Medicaid payment option through the CCBHC prospective payment system (PPS). This will help states expand evidence-based services, strengthen their workforce and ensure predictable funding. The PPS will reimburse clinics based on costs and maintain flexibility for states.
• Advancing integrated care by giving CCBHCs the option to offer additional services, including primary care.
• Recognizing CCBHCs as a Medicare provider type using a PPS, improving access for older adults and dual eligibles and supporting clinics as they grow their service lines.

Read a one-pager with more details, send a message to Congress letting them know you support this important bill, and check out our toolkit with key bill provisions, messaging, draft social media posts, and other material to use.

Once the full bill text is made public, we will provide another update linking to it, alongside a section-by-section summary created by the National Council.

The introduction of the Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act reinforces a shared national commitment: ensuring that every community has access to high-quality mental health and substance use care — and that the CCBHC model continues to thrive.

I would like to thank our Policy & Advocacy team for the work they do every day on your behalf, and on behalf of the people you all serve. We are privileged to be able to serve you in this capacity. This bill represents a beacon of light to help illuminate a path forward for anyone dealing with a mental health or substance use challenge. Together, we will continue to work to lift people up and ensure that everyone, in every community, can access comprehensive mental health and substance use care.

Thank you,
Reyna Taylor, Vice President, Policy & Advocacy
National Council for Mental Wellbeing