SAMHSA Seeks Comments on Mental Health Report Changes
Published Date: 4/16/2026
Notice
Summary
SAMHSA is asking for public feedback on updates to a yearly report that helps protect people with mental illness. These changes affect organizations that get PAIMI program funding and aim to make reporting easier and clearer. Comments are open now, with current approvals expiring July 31, 2026, so timely input helps keep the program running smoothly without extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Demographic Questions Removed from PAIMI Reports
SAMHSA proposes changes to the PAIMI Annual Program Performance Report and Advisory Council Report that replace the word “Gender” with “Sex,” keep only “male” and “female” response options for the sex question, remove the sexual orientation question, remove a paragraph on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation, and remove words such as culture, cultural barriers, diversity, disadvantaged individuals, individuals with limited English proficiency, and underserved and unserved populations.
Reporting Time and Cost Burden on Grantees
SAMHSA estimates 57 respondents will submit the PAIMI PPR at 20 hours each (total 1,140 hours; total cost $44,164) and 57 respondents will submit the PAIMI ACR at 10 hours each (total 570 hours; total cost $22,082). The combined annual burden is 114 responses, 1,710 total hours, at an hourly wage rate of $38.74, for a total annual cost of $66,246.
Funding Thresholds That Affect Tribal and Community Coverage
The PAIMI statute allows the American Indian Consortium (Navajo and Hopi Tribes) to be funded only if total PAIMI program funding is at least $25,000,000 (42 U.S.C. 10822(a)(2)(D)). Separately, a P&A system may use its allotment to represent individuals residing in the community only if total allotments under the title for any fiscal year are $30,000,000 or more; if funding falls below $30,000,000, PAIMI programs must give priority to representing PAIMI-eligible individuals as defined in statute (42 U.S.C. 10804(d)).
OMB Approval, Comment Deadline, and Effective Dates
The current OMB clearance for the 2024–2025 PPR, PPR Instructions, and ACR (OMB No. 0930-0169) will expire on July 31, 2026. SAMHSA requests comments by June 15, 2026, and states the revised report formats will be effective for fiscal year 2026 reports due January 1, 2027, with this request seeking a 3-year approval cycle through 2029.
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