Technology/Apps/AI

Congress should pass the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (Momnibus 2.0) package, which includes 13 bills to address alarming disparities in Black maternal health.

Federal departments and agencies should make mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) data collection and reporting a top priority by finalizing a proposed rule to require states to report on MH/SUD measures in Medicaid, creating a common MH/SUD data model and reporting portal that all recipients of federal MH/SUD funds must use, reestablishing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Data Council, and adding new MH/SUD vital statistics records to the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) that are updated monthly.

Congress should pass the Behavioral Health Information Technology (BHIT) Coordination Act.

Congress should provide additional resources to the National Institutes of Health to increase research in concert with the pharmaceutical industry to develop and test innovative medications for substance use disorders (SUDs), including long-acting injectables, more potent opioid antagonists to reverse overdose, drugs used for detoxification, and vaccines, and treatments for stimulant use disorder.[1]

Congress should pass legislation to ensure the availability of mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) services via telehealth, which is critical to expanding access to treatment.

Congress should fund research through the National Institutes of Health on the efficacy of mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) services provided via telehealth, with outcomes studied by service type (e.g., crisis response) and demographic groups, including underserved communities.