H.R. 4435

Comprehensive Behavioral Health Reform and Recovery Act of 2016

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) authorities, oversight, and programs, including to establish various grant programs.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Education must: (1) organize a national awareness campaign regarding serious mental illness, and (2) support a public health approach to mental health services.

This bill amends the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to require HHS to carry out activities regarding disclosure of the protected health information of individuals with mental or substance use disorders.

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to require state Medicaid plans to cover specified services, including same day primary care and mental health care services.

Title XVIII (Medicare) of the SSAct is revised, including to eliminate the lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services.

HHS must award grants for programs and services, including telehealth services provided by psychiatrists or psychologists.

The bill provides liability protection to certain health professional volunteers.

HHS must maintain a Minority Fellowship Program for mental and substance use disorder treatment professionals to improve services for racial and ethnic minority populations.

The bill makes occupational therapists eligible for the National Health Service Corps.

The bill revises provisions regarding parity between mental health and substance use disorder benefits and medical and surgical benefits.

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act, including to require practitioners to complete training before dispensing opioids, which are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as certain pain medications.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must provide support to entities to improve drug overdose surveillance and reporting.

HHS must establish a loan repayment program for substance use disorder health professionals.