Covid Mental Health Fallout Spurs House Bills to Fund Assistance

Federal mental health assistance may gain traction in the House as lawmakers consider expanding Medicare for some services and creating behavioral health grants for areas with Covid-19 surges.

Mental health and substance abuse treatment advocates say they need money to help clinics and health-care providers stay in business as the coronavirus pandemic keeps many from seeking treatment.

“We need to keep the lights on,” said Andrew Kessler, founder and principal of Slingshot Solutions LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in behavioral health policy.

The U.S. was already facing a mental health and addiction crisis before the pandemic struck: Suicide and ...