Mental Health: Expanding Crisis Care Coverage
The Behavioral Health Crisis Services Expansion Act of 2026 was sent to several House committees on September 3, 2026. It has not moved since that date and remains in the early stages of the legislative process. House committee members must review the bill before it can move forward.
While mental health has some bipartisan support, this bill mandates new costs for private insurers and states, which often faces pushback. It was just introduced and must pass many committees.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Small businesses that sponsor group health plans would need to add crisis response service coverage and match cost-sharing to regular medical benefits, which could raise premium costs even as it may reduce costly emergency room claims over time.
“A group health plan shall provide benefits under such plan for crisis response services”
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
The Behavioral Health Crisis Services Expansion Act of 2026 would force health plans to treat mental health crises like physical ones. The legislation is part of a broader 988 Implementation Act designed to build out the infrastructure needed to support the national crisis lifeline.
As the 988 hotline marks its fourth year, Reps. McClellan and Moulton are pushing H.R. 10240 to ensure that 'someone to call' is backed by 'someone to come.' The bill aims to fix the patchwork of crisis services by mandating insurance reimbursement for mobile response teams.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Behavioral Health Crisis Services Expansion Act of 2026
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