Equity & Access · Texas behavioral health news
Cornyn, Smith, Colleagues Introduce Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act - Senator Cornyn (.gov)
Mental Health Equity (Google News) · December 9, 2025
In plain language
Senators from both parties have introduced a new bill aimed at making mental health and addiction services more available and stable. Currently, Texas has 39 specialized community clinics that offer crisis care and substance use treatment to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. This proposed law would create a permanent funding system for these clinics and allow them to be covered by Medicare. If passed, the act would also help integrate physical health care with mental health services to better support patients.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- The Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act focuses on stabilizing and expanding community behavioral health clinics.
- Proposed changes would allow Medicare to cover services provided at these specialized mental health centers.
- Texas currently operates 39 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics serving vulnerable populations.
- The bill aims to help clinics integrate primary medical care into their mental health and addiction services.
- A national data system would be created to track the progress and effectiveness of these clinics and their treatments.
Cornyn, Smith, Colleagues Introduce Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act Senator Cornyn (.gov)
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