Salinas Introduces Bill to Address Shortage of Behavioral Health Facilities

Washington, DC – On Tuesday, March 18, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the Building Capacity for Care Act, legislation that would address the nationwide shortage of behavioral health facilities and connect more individuals with the timely and appropriate care they deserve.

“When someone you love is in crisis, every minute matters. Yet too often, patients suffering from a mental health or substance use crisis end up waiting for hours in the emergency room, instead of getting the care they need,” said Rep. Salinas. “My legislation addresses this problem by helping facilities expand their capacity to treat people, while also supporting the construction of new, specialized facilities for behavioral health crisis care. The Building Capacity for Care Act would give folks other options beyond the emergency room, reducing wait times for everyone and saving lives in the process."

Across the country, communities of all sizes are facing a critical shortage of mental, behavioral, and substance use treatment facilities. As a result of this shortage, too many individuals are seeking last resort care in emergency rooms, delaying treatment, or foregoing care altogether.

The Building Capacity for Care Act would help solve the facility shortage issue by creating grants, loans, and loan guarantees to fund the construction, renovation, or purchase of behavioral health facilities that provide short-term inpatient care, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient care, and/or crisis stabilization. In order to prioritize areas with the most need, preference for grant funding would go to facilities that are located in a mental health provider shortage area, or in areas that are consistently above the national average for suicide or overdose deaths in the last three years.

Rep. Salinas’ legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Council for Mental Wellbeing, American Counseling Association (ACA), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD), American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH), American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).

“Our nation faces a dire shortage of mental health treatment options, resulting in too many people ending up in emergency rooms,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “NAMI is grateful to Rep. Salinas for introducing the Building Capacity for Care Act to address this urgent need by investing in the development of a range of mental health and substance use facilities. This bill would provide loans, grants, and loan guarantees to fund new facilities – from crisis stabilization to short-term inpatient care to outpatient services. NAMI is proud to support this crucial legislation.” 

“The Building Capacity for Care Act reflects the reality that many communities lack the necessary facilities to provide basic mental health and substance use disorder treatment for those who desperately need it, leaving them few options including the emergency room, generally the most expensive form of treatment,” said Chuck Ingoglia, President and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. “The resources this bill would make available would play a major role in bringing hope to the millions of Americans who live in mental health provider shortage areas and have, as a result, all too often fallen victim to suicide and overdose deaths. We applaud Rep. Salinas for bringing this important issue to the forefront.” 

“We thank Congresswoman Salinas for introducing the Building Capacity for Care Act and advocating for this critical investment in mental health access. Now more than ever, it’s important to invest in the mental health care infrastructure. Everyone seeking counseling support should have access to essential services, especially in the communities that need it most,” said Shawn Boynes, Chief Executive Officer of the American Counseling Association (ACA).

"Increasing access to behavioral health care requires an 'all the above' approach. The Building Capacity for Care Act adds another tool by creating a grant, loan, and loan guarantee program at HHS to help facilities expand treatment. NACBHDD applauds Congresswoman Salinas' leadership and strongly supports this legislation,” said Jonah C. Cunningham, President and CEO of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD).

To read the full text of this legislation, click here.

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