# 119-s-3402: Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act

119-s-3402, Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3402
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3402
- Congress: 119
- Title: Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-12-09
- Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**This bill would build a unified national framework to strengthen and expand certified community behavioral health clinics.** It would set new Medicaid and Medicare payment rules, create a multi-year federal grant program, broaden clinic services, and extend liability protections for clinic clinicians. - Families and patients: Medicare coverage of certified community behavioral health clinic services would begin January 1, 2027, and Medicaid demonstrations and State plan clarifications would expand CCBHC service scope effective October 1, 2026. Part B deductible would not apply to CCBHC services. - Providers and States: The bill would require a Medicaid prospective payment system for CCBHCs beginning in fiscal year 2026 and would establish a Medicare prospective payment system starting in 2027 with initial cost-based rates, annual inflation updates, and optional payment enhancements. - Clinics and program support: A new operating grant program would authorize $552.5 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, plus $8 million per year for technical assistance and $51 million per year for data infrastructure; the bill would also allow accreditation options and extend Federal Tort Claims Act coverage to CCBHC clinicians. *Would increase federal spending by about $3.1 billion for 2026–2030 from the authorized grants and support funds.*

## Cosponsors (3)

- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Medicaid CCBHC service and payment: benefit, medium. If enacted, States could furnish certified community behavioral health clinic services under Medicaid using a prospective payment system starting in fiscal year 2026 (services on or after January 1, 2026). A clinic's initial PPS payment year would be set at 100% of its average reasonable and relate…
- Grants, accreditation, and clinic support: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would create federal supports to strengthen community behavioral health clinics. Congress would be authorized to provide $552.5 million per year for operating grants for FY2026–FY2030, plus $8 million per year for technical assistance and $51 million per year for a data system.…
- Medicare CCBHC coverage and payments: mixed, medium. If enacted, Medicare would cover certified community behavioral health clinic services for care furnished on or after January 1, 2027. Medicare would use a new clinic prospective payment system and pay 80% of the lesser of a clinic's actual charge or the PPS-determined amount. The Medicare Part B d…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-s-410: Love Lives On Act of 2025
- 119-s-237: Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025
- 119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-s-3345: PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act

## Sources
- [119-s-3402 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3402)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4744)
- [119-s-410: Love Lives On Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-410)
- [119-s-237: Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-237)
- [119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1816)
- [119-s-3345: PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3345)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3402 (as of 2026-04-21).