HRSA awards $51.3 million to bolster mental health services

The Health Resources and Services Administration, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, announced $51.3 million in Affordable Care Act (ACA) funding would be released to support 210 health centers in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to establish or expand behavioral health services.

“[These] awards will give health centers the ability to improve access and care for individuals in need of mental health services,” HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, PhD, RN, said in a press release. “These funds support the administration’s focus on improving recognition of and responding to the mental health needs of people nationwide.”

The money is expected to expand access to behavioral health services for nearly 440,000 people nationwide, according to the release. Most awards totaled about $250,000 individually and were provided to centers in urban, suburban and rural locations and included family and community care practices, women’s health centers and AIDS clinics. The funds are designated for hiring new mental health professionals, adding mental health and substance use disorder health services to the facilities, and implementing integrated models of primary care.

Earlier this year, HHS awarded $54.5 million in ACA funding for 223 additional health centers with the intent to expand behavioral health services.