SAMHSA Seeks Comments on Same Old Survey Refresh
Published Date: 10/8/2026
Notice
Summary
SAMHSA is updating its big yearly survey that collects info on places offering substance use and mental health treatment. This helps keep FindTreatment.gov accurate and useful for people looking for help. The changes aim to make data collection easier and better without adding extra work or costs, and they want your feedback by a certain deadline.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Some treatment facilities face extra crisis reporting
SAMHSA will remove three existing crisis questions (B12-B14) and add two screening questions asking all facilities whether they (1) offer mobile crisis or community outreach services and (2) offer behavioral health emergency or crisis stabilization services. Facilities that answer the screening questions affirmatively may receive additional follow-up questions about service models, services provided, and the number of individuals served during a specified reporting period; SAMHSA says additional respondent burden will be limited primarily to facilities that meet the follow-up criteria.
FindTreatment.gov will show more crisis & faith data
SAMHSA will collect more detailed information about mobile crisis, community outreach, behavioral health emergency, crisis stabilization services, and whether facilities identify as faith-based; selected N-SUMHSS information is published on FindTreatment.gov for persons seeking treatment in the United States.
Question wording clarified with no extra burden
SAMHSA will make targeted clarifications to existing N-SUMHSS questionnaire items to address ambiguous wording, uncertainty about applicability, inconsistent response categories, and minor instructional language; SAMHSA states these clarifications do not change the constructs measured, scope of information collected, or respondent burden.
Estimated annual respondent hours and cost
SAMHSA estimates the N-SUMHSS and I-TF activities will generate 79,750 total responses and 42,981 total annual burden hours, with a total annual wage-equivalent cost of $2,426,251.51. Examples: 25,000 facilities (either SU or MH) at 0.90 hours each = 22,500 hours and $1,275,975.00; 11,000 facilities (both SU and MH) at 1.22 hours each = 13,420 hours and $761,048.20.
EHR supplement administered once in three-year period
SAMHSA will administer the N-SUMHSS EHR Supplement one time during the three-year period; the table lists 36,000 responses at 0.15 hours each for a total of 5,400 hours and $306,234.00 in wage-equivalent cost.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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