06 Feb 2024 BPC Action Urges Advancement of Bipartisan Behavioral Health Solutions in Health
Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action) commends the ongoing bipartisan commitment to pursuing solutions to lower health care costs and improve health in America. The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) has long been working on developing policy solutions to improve the federal effort to tackle the nation’s behavioral health and substance use crises, support community health centers, and support policies that reduce excess costs from the health care system, and BPC and BPC Action greatly appreciate bipartisan leadership in advancing legislative proposals. As Congress continues to work on a health legislative package, we urge inclusion of bipartisan, pragmatic solutions aimed at addressing the substance use crisis, improving integration of behavioral health and primary care, continuing support for community health centers, and constraining health care costs.
BPC Action supported the House passage of H.R. 4531, The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act and H.R. 5378, The Lower Cost More Transparency Act; as well as the advancement of S. 3430, The Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act of 2023 and S. 3393, The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act through the Senate Finance and HELP Committees.
As Congress works to reconcile these proposals, BPC Action believes that the legislation currently being crafted by both chambers should include the following bipartisan priorities:
1. Reauthorizing the SUPPORT Act and Addressing the Behavioral Health Crisis
2. Bolstering Community Health Centers
3. Constraining Health Costs
BPC Action applauds Congress for its steadfast commitment to addressing health policies to lower costs and improve health in America. We look forward to working in a bipartisan manner to advance these policies.
Read the full letter here.