S. 2226Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Native Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act of 2021

Sponsored by Tina SmithSen. Tina Smith (D-MN)
Introduced June 24, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 4:51 AM UTC

The Native Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act of 2021 amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to create a special behavioral health program for American Indians and Alaska Natives. It allows the Indian Health Service to award formula grants to tribal, direct, and urban Indian health programs to fund prevention, treatment, and recovery services for mental health and substance use disorders. The program also provides technical assistance, requires data reporting, and authorizes $200 million in funding each fiscal year from 2022 through 2026.

Key Provisions

  • Defines “eligible entities” as Indian Health Service‑direct health programs, tribal health programs, and urban Indian health programs that receive grants or contracts.
  • Authorizes the Indian Health Service Director to award formula‑based grants to eligible entities for mental health and substance‑use disorder services.
  • Requires the Director to develop a grant‑allocation formula in consultation with tribes and urban Indian organizations.
  • Mandates technical assistance to grantees and the collection, evaluation, and reporting of program data.
  • Sets a funding ceiling of $200 million per fiscal year for FY2022‑2026 to support the grants.
  • Updates a citation in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (technical amendment).

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

June 24, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 24, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

June 24, 2021

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 24, 2021

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2226

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 24, 2021

Ms. Smith (for herself, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Tester, Mr. Luján, Ms. Warren, and Ms. Cortez Masto) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs

A BILL

To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to authorize a special behavioral health program for Indians, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Native Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act of 2021.

2.

Special behavioral health program for Indians

(a)

In general

Subtitle A of title VII of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1665 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

716.

Special behavioral health program for Indians

(a)

Definition of eligible entity

In this section, the term eligible entity means—

(1)

any health program administered directly by the Service;

(2)

a Tribal health program; and

(3)

an urban Indian health program operated by an urban Indian organization pursuant to a grant or contract with the Service under title V.

(b)

Formula grants

(1)

In general

The Director of the Service (referred to in this section as the Director) shall award grants to eligible entities, in amounts determined pursuant to the formula described in paragraph (2), to be used by the eligible entity to provide services for the prevention of, treatment of, and recovery from mental health and substance use disorders.

(2)

Formula described

The Director, in consultation with Indian Tribes and urban Indian organizations, shall develop a formula to determine the amount of a grant under paragraph (1).

(c)

Technical assistance and program evaluation

(1)

In general

The Director shall—

(A)

provide technical assistance to grantees under this section; and

(B)

collect and evaluate information on the program carried out under this section.

(2)

Consultation

The Director shall consult with eligible entities for purposes of developing evaluation measures and data submission and reporting requirements for purposes of the collection and evaluation of information under paragraph (1)(B).

(3)

Data submission and reporting

As a condition on receipt of a grant under this section, an applicant shall agree to submit data and reports consistent with the data submission and reporting requirements developed under paragraph (2).

(d)

Funding

For the purpose of making grants under this section, there is authorized to be appropriated, and there is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

.

(b)

Technical amendment

Section 4(26) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603(26)) is amended by striking (25 U.S.C. 450b) and inserting (25 U.S.C. 5304).