U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Jeff Merkley have introduced a new bill aimed at increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities across the United States. The legislation, known as the Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act, proposes a federal loan and loan guarantee program designed to encourage the construction or renovation of such facilities, with a focus on high-need, underserved, or rural areas, as well as those serving pediatric and adolescent populations.
Senator Hyde-Smith highlighted the growing crisis in mental health infrastructure and workforce shortages. “This legislation recognizes that our nation faces a growing crisis in not having enough infrastructure and workforce to treat people with mental health and substance abuse disorders,” she stated. “Our goal is to use loans and loan guarantees to increase the number of facilities to provide quality mental health and substance abuse care.”
Senator Merkley emphasized the essential nature of mental health care services. “Mental health care is essential health care,” he said. “By investing in mental health care facilities, we can make meaningful progress in addressing the mental health crisis affecting so many of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones.”
The bill has identical companion legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Jennifer McClellan and Don Bacon.
According to data from the National Institute of Mental Health, over one in five American adults live with mental illness, while more than 75 percent who needed substance use treatment last year did not receive it. The lack of available treatment options has resulted in patients often waiting for extended periods for psychiatric beds.
The bipartisan initiative has received endorsements from several organizations including the Mississippi Hospital Association, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Psychiatric Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, among others.
