Hurricane Katrina Mental Health Relief Act of 2005

        [Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3708 Introduced in House (IH)]

109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3708

To dedicate 10 percent of Hurricane Katrina disaster relief funds for
mental health services to victims and first responders.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 8, 2005

Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To dedicate 10 percent of Hurricane Katrina disaster relief funds for
mental health services to victims and first responders.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Hurricane Katrina Mental Health
Relief Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. DEDICATION OF 10 PERCENT OF HURRICANE KATRINA DISASTER RELIEF
FUNDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO VICTIMS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS.

(a) In General.--Of the amounts provided in any Act for ``Disaster
Relief'' enacted on or after September 8, 2005, in response to
Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, notwithstanding any other
provision of law, 10 percent shall be available to the Secretary of
Health and Human Services to provide reimbursement without cost-sharing
for mental health professionals for the provision of outpatient mental
health treatment (including appropriate prescription medications) of
victims of, and first responders to, Hurricane Katrina for the
treatment of stress, trauma, and other mental health conditions arising
out of, or complicated by, such Hurricane and its aftermath.
(b) Availability of Amounts.--Reimbursement under this section
shall be available for services furnished during the 2-year period
beginning on August 29, 2005.
(c) Nonduplication of Benefits.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), reimbursement
under this section shall not be available for treatment to the
extent other reimbursement is available for such treatment.
(2) Coverage of state share of medicaid and schip.--
Reimbursement under this section shall be available to States
to cover the State share of costs of treatment described in
subsection (a) provided to beneficiaries under title XIX or XXI
of the Social Security Act who are victims of, or first
responders to, Hurricane Katrina.
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