ASSIST Act
Sponsored By: Senator Raphael Warnock
Introduced
Summary
Expand access to school-based behavioral health services. The bill raises Medicaid's Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to 90% for mental health and substance use disorder care delivered at schools and creates grants to add more providers in K-12 and higher-education settings.
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- Families and students: Easier access to on-site counselors, social workers, psychologists, and substance-use care, including for Medicaid and CHIP enrollees.
- States and territories: Sets a 90% Medicaid matching rate for qualifying school-based services, but only if it does not lower a state's existing match. Payments to U.S. territories for these services are excluded from the territorial payment cap.
- Schools and colleges: Authorizes grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to hire and retain behavioral health providers at local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, Bureau of Indian Affairs schools, and school-based health centers.
- Accountability: Awardees must submit annual reports on provider counts, services, recruitment, and retention. The Department of Health and Human Services must report to Congress on effectiveness within 18 months and then every 5 years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
90% Medicaid match for school care
If enacted, states would get a 90% federal Medicaid match for mental health and substance use disorder services delivered at schools or school-based health centers. This would apply starting on the first day of the first calendar quarter that begins at least 12 months after enactment. The 90% rate would not be used if it would lower the federal share that would otherwise apply. For U.S. territories, the extra federal dollars from the 90% match would not count toward certain territorial payment limits.
Grants to expand school mental health
If enacted, HHS would award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements within 12 months to help schools and school-based health centers hire more mental health and substance use disorder care providers. Eligible applicants include local school districts, colleges, Bureau of Indian Affairs schools, and school-based health centers. Applicants must describe student needs and show services are culturally and linguistically appropriate. Grant funds may not be used for threat assessment teams. Awardees must file yearly reports on providers, services, recruitment, and retention. HHS must report on program effectiveness to Congress 18 months after enactment and every 5 years.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Cosponsors
Alex Padilla
CA • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Tina Smith
MN • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Angela Alsobrooks
MD • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Ron Wyden
OR • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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