Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2023

Hozzl · 2023-12-07T17:05:16Z

Explore the details of Senate Bill 1784 Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2023 currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on Health. Stay informed on legislative developments.

12/7/2023, 5:05 PM

Summary of Bill S 1784

Bill 118 s 1784, also known as the Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2023, aims to address the shortage of mental health professionals in the United States and improve access to mental health services for individuals with limited English proficiency.

The bill proposes several key provisions to achieve these goals. Firstly, it seeks to increase funding for mental health workforce development programs, such as scholarships, loan repayment programs, and training grants, to encourage more individuals to pursue careers in mental health.

Additionally, the bill includes measures to improve language access for individuals with limited English proficiency seeking mental health services. This includes requiring mental health providers to offer interpretation services and translated materials to ensure that language barriers do not prevent individuals from accessing the care they need. Furthermore, the bill calls for the establishment of a national mental health workforce data collection system to better understand the current state of the mental health workforce and identify areas in need of improvement. Overall, the Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2023 aims to strengthen the mental health workforce, increase access to mental health services for all individuals, and address disparities in mental health care.

Congressional Summary of S 1784

Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2023

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award supplemental grants to certain federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) for recruiting and retaining mental health care providers who are fluent in another language besides English.

HHS must award the grants to FQHCs that are already receiving federal assistance to support outpatient primary care for low-income individuals or other underserved populations. Additionally, HHS must give preference to FQHCs where at least 10% of the patients are best served in a language other than English.

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Current Status of Bill S 1784

Bill S 1784 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since May 31, 2023. Bill S 1784 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the Senate on May 31, 2023. Bill S 1784's most recent activity was Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. as of May 31, 2023