Press Release: BHAP Welcomes Biden’s Commitment to Expanding Behavioral Health Services

March 2, 2022

In his first State of the Union address, President Biden spoke on one of the greatest threats to our collective public health: substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health. His commitment to tackling this problem will require new investments in communities, treatment, recovery, and workforce.

"There is so much we can do. Increase funding for prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery," the president remarked. "If you're suffering from addiction, know you are not alone. I believe in recovery, and I celebrate the 23 million Americans in recovery."

According to the White House, the president will recommend an investment in programs that provide training, access to scholarships and loan repayment to mental health and substance use disorder clinicians committed to practicing in underserved communities. The administration will propose $700 million for programs such as the National Health Service Corps, Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program, and the Minority Fellowship Program -- that provide training, access to scholarships and loan repayment to mental health and substance use disorder clinicians committed to practicing in rural and other underserved communities.

These major new investments will both expand the pipeline of behavioral health providers and improve their geographic distribution to target areas with the greatest unmet need. The Biden administration seeks to dramatically expand the supply, diversity, and cultural competency of our mental health and substance use disorder workforce -- from psychiatrists to psychologists, peers to paraprofessionals -- and increase both opportunity and incentive for them to practice in areas of highest need.

"We welcome this ambitious agenda and support the administration in their efforts to improve these services nationwide," said Pete Nielsen, CEO of BHAP. "For too long, these programs have been underfunded and not given the support they need to truly thrive and make an impact. Considering the toll that substance use disorders takes on our citizens and our economy, this investment will more than pay for itself."

About Behavioral Health Association of Providers

Behavioral Health Association of Providers (BHAP) is a national trade membership association that provides education and advocacy for behavioral healthcare providers and related entities.

Forged from a passion for behavioral healthcare service providers unable to absorb the high costs related to legal consultation, BHAP was founded in March 2016 to help small and mid-market healthcare providers access compliance resources and legal education to help their agencies thrive.