Reps. Brown, Boyle, and Sen. Bennet Introduce Legislation to Support Patients with Mental and Physical Health Comorbidities

WASHINGTON - Yesterday, Representative Shontel Brown (OH-11) introduced bicameral legislation with Representative Brendan Boyle (PA-02) and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (CO) to support the holistic health of patients with both mental and physical health conditions. The Mental and Physical Health Care Comorbidities Act would authorize the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to support innovative and evidence-based interventions at hospitals and in health systems that serve low-income patients to address the ways through which mental and physical health challenges interact and affect one another.

The United States health care system often fails to address the intersection between mental, behavioral, and physical health, as well as the social determinants of health, such as economic status and food insecurity. Many providers who serve patients with mental and physical comorbidities have developed innovative and evidence-based programs, including collaboration of health and social experts to attain better outcomes. 

“Communities of color and other marginalized groups continue to feel the significant impact of comorbid mental and physical disease,” said Rep. Brown. “This summer, I secured an amendment in the House-passed NDAA that would require the Department of Defense to explore the presence of comorbidities among active service members. In the same vein, the Mental and Physical Health Comorbidities Collaborative Act, which I am proud to co-lead with Rep. Brendan Boyle and Sen. Michael Bennet and would ensure our healthcare system is equipped to treat comorbidities that affect our most vulnerable populations.”

“I am proud to introduce this bill along with Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Shontel Brown,” said Rep. Boyle. "For too long mental health and physical health treatments have existed in different silos. This legislation would give hospitals and health systems serving the most vulnerable individuals the support they need in their continuing work to address mental and physical health comorbidities while also addressing social determinants of health. Supporting these evidence-based interventions will greatly improve health equity and outcomes while also addressing health care delivery challenges in low income and medically underserved populations in my district.”

“Colorado is experiencing a worsening mental health crisis. Coloradans who experience both mental and physical health challenges need more support and better access to care.  My legislation builds off the experiences of Colorado medical professionals and will empower providers to work together to treat patients with physical and mental health comorbidities holistically,” said Sen. Bennet.

The Mental and Physical Health Care Comorbidities Act would work through the CMMI to help hospitals and health systems improve care and outcomes for people who face mental and physical health challenges from low-income backgrounds and dually eligible people who simultaneously qualify for Medicare and Medicaid.

Eligible and participating hospitals will be required to enter into an agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services and submit a plan to innovate and better serve uninsured, Medicaid, and dually eligible people with both mental and physical health issues.

Background

The Mental and Physical Health Care Comorbidities Act would:

• Address social determinants of health by encouraging the innovation of best practices and effective models that promote holistic care and treatment.

• Integrate mental and behavioral health and social risk screenings into medical screenings, particularly for children and adolescents.

• Assist in the identification of potential payment reforms that could more broadly effectuate improvements.

• Make improvements in electronic health records to better integrate mental and behavioral health, social care, and physical health.

Rep. Brown continues to be a dedicated leader in Congress fighting to advance health equity and address generations of health injustices that have devastated low-income and marginalized communities. In August 2022, Rep. Brown penned a letter to the Biden Administration urging an equitable distribution of monkeypox vaccines, testing, and therapeutics among historically disadvantaged groups.

The full text of the legislation is available HERE. 

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