Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that $54.6 million will be distributed across 47 states under the Affordable Care Act to support mental healthcare.
Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced that the money would support 221 health centers to establish or expand mental health services. This money is expected to help 450,000 people get behavioral health services.
"These awards will further reduce the barriers that too often prevent people from getting the help they need for mental health problems," Burwell said in a press release. "Health centers with these awards are on the front lines of better integrating mental health into primary care and improving access to care through the Affordable Care Act."
Over the next five years, community health centers are expected to receive $11 billion in federal funding.
More than 60 million Americans benefited from expanded mental health and substance use disorder benefits under the Affordable Care Act. This $54.6 million will give these people access to high quality care.
"These Affordable Care Act funds will enable community health centers to better meet the need of people with mental health conditions in communities nationwide," said Mary Wakefield, Health Resources and Services Administration administrator.
According to the press release, this money will be used to support 221 health centers including "hiring new mental health professionals, adding mental health and substance use disorder health services, and employing integrated models for primary care."
Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chairman of the senate health, education, labor, and pensions (HELP) committee, said access to care for mental health is just as important as access to care for physical health. He expressed his happiness over the $250,000 that has been allocated to support behavioral health services for people in Iowa.
"The ACA expands mental health service coverage for Americans, and today's funding announcement will help ensure that more Iowans can get access to the care they need," Harkin said. "The Affordable Care Act is continuing to make a positive difference for Iowans by improving access to necessary health care services."
The HHS says community health centers are important resources for behavioral health help. Currently there are 1,300 health centers that care for 21.1 million patients in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the Pacific Basin. Last year, these centers provided care for more than 1.2 million patients.
