Boyle, Bennet, & Brown Introduce Legislation to Support Patients with Mental and Physical Health Comorbidities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (CO), and Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11) introduced the Mental and Physical Health Care Comorbidities Act, aimed at improving care for patients facing both mental and physical health challenges. The bicameral bill would authorize the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to fund innovative, evidence-based interventions at hospitals and health systems serving low-income patients, addressing how mental and physical health conditions interact.

Current healthcare systems often fail to address the intersection of mental, behavioral, and physical health, as well as social determinants like economic status and food insecurity. Many providers serving patients with comorbidities have developed effective programs that bridge health and social expertise to improve outcomes.

“For too long, mental and physical health treatments have been siloed. This legislation will help hospitals and health systems serving vulnerable communities integrate care for mental and physical health challenges, while addressing the social determinants of health,” said Congressman Boyle. “These evidence-based solutions will improve health equity and outcomes in medically underserved areas, including my district.”

“As our country experiences a worsening mental health crisis, we must ensure patients who experience both mental and physical health challenges get the support and care they need,” said Senator Bennet. “Our bicameral bill builds off the experiences of Colorado medical professionals and will empower providers to work together to treat patients with physical and mental health comorbidities holistically.”

“Communities of color and other underserved groups continue to feel the significant impact of comorbid mental and physical diseases,” said Congresswoman Brown. “The Mental and Physical Health Care Comorbidities Act, which I am proud to co-lead with Senator Bennet and Congressman Boyle would ensure our healthcare system is equipped to treat comorbidities that affect our most vulnerable populations and help move us closer to a more just and equitable health care system.”

The Mental and Physical Health Care Comorbidities Act focuses on hospitals and health systems serving low-income and dually eligible populations (those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid). Participating hospitals will collaborate with the Department of Health and Human Services to develop plans for improving care for uninsured and Medicaid patients with comorbid conditions.

The bill would:

• Address social determinants of health by promoting holistic care models.
• Integrate mental and behavioral health screenings into medical assessments, particularly for children and adolescents.
• Identify potential payment reforms to improve care delivery.
• Enhance electronic health records to better integrate mental, behavioral, and physical health data.

The text of the Mental and Physical Health Care Comorbidities Act is available here.

###