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PRINTER'S NO. 3533
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 551
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY FLEMING, VENKAT, GUZMAN, WAXMAN, SANCHEZ, KINKEAD,
FREEMAN, KHAN, MAYES, MALAGARI, HOWARD, BRENNAN, MIHALEK,
HANBIDGE, INGLIS, SCHLOSSBERG, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, STEELE,
GAYDOS, SCHLEGEL AND ABNEY, JUNE 4, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND
OPERATIONS, JUNE 5, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission and Legislative
Budget and Finance Committee to examine the reimbursement
mechanisms necessary to expand and sustain a robust
behavioral health crisis service system in this Commonwealth,
specifically analyzing practices of the Medicaid program,
Medicare program and private commercial health insurance
payors in paying for crisis services and their impact on the
sustainability and accessibility of these vital services.
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth recognizes the paramount importance
of accessible, timely and comprehensive behavioral health crisis
services for its residents; and
WHEREAS, Behavioral health crises represent a significant
public health challenge, often leading to emergency room
overcrowding, avoidable hospitalizations and inadequate support
for individuals in acute distress; and
WHEREAS, Timely crisis intervention services can help
mitigate the risk of self-harm or suicide, prevent the situation
from worsening and help individuals return to their previous
level of functioning and develop new coping mechanisms to manage
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future challenges; and
WHEREAS, Behavioral health crisis services often serve as
critical entry points to care, diverting individuals from
unnecessary involvement with the criminal justice system and
prolonged inpatient psychiatric facilities and providing
connection to timely, community-based interventions and recovery
supports; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has made significant strides in
strengthening its behavioral health crisis system, including the
implementation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the
expansion of mobile crisis response teams, the development of
crisis walk-in centers and crisis stabilization units; and
WHEREAS, The effective operation and financial sustainability
of these essential crisis services are directly dependent upon
adequate public investment and sufficient reimbursement from
both public and private payors; and
WHEREAS, The financial sustainability impacts several factors
such as a crisis providers' ability to recruit and retain
qualified staff, invest in necessary technology and
infrastructure, expand services to meet growing demand and
ensure equitable access to care across all regions of this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, A comprehensive data-driven analysis of service
utilization, the cost structure of services and current
reimbursement practices is essential to identify existing
barriers, assess the financial viability of crisis services and
make policy decisions aimed at strengthening the crisis care
continuum; and
WHEREAS, The Joint State Government Commission and
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, with their proven
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expertise in conducting impartial research, convening impacted
stakeholders, providing objective analyses and drafting
actionable recommendations, are uniquely positioned to undertake
such an examination; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission and Legislative Budget and Finance
Committee to examine the reimbursement mechanisms necessary to
expand and sustain a robust behavioral health crisis service
system in this Commonwealth, specifically analyzing practices of
the Medicaid program, Medicare program and private commercial
health insurance payors in paying for crisis services and their
impact on the sustainability and accessibility of these vital
services; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study include at a minimum:
(1) An accounting of the current utilization of crisis
services across this Commonwealth and existing capacity gaps
in the current crisis service system as related to
implementation of provisions established in the Mental Health
Procedures Act of 1976 and Mental Health Intellectual
Disability Act of 1966.
(2) An analysis of the current reimbursement
methodologies, rates and policies utilized by County Mental
Health and Intellectual Disabilities Programs, the
Pennsylvania Medicaid program, including its Behavioral
HealthChoices Managed Care Organizations and Fee-for-Service
components, and the Medicare program, including Medicare
Advantage for various crisis center services, including 988
Lifeline response, mobile crisis response, crisis walk-in
services and crisis stabilization services.
(3) An analysis of the current reimbursement
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methodologies, rates and policies utilized by major private
commercial health insurance payors operating in this
Commonwealth for comparable behavioral health crisis center
services and the parity of those policies in relation to
physical health services.
(4) A comparison of reimbursement rates and practices
between the Medicaid program and private commercial payors,
and an assessment of these rates against the actual costs
incurred by crisis services providers.
(5) An evaluation of the impact of current reimbursement
practices on the operational capacity, financial stability
and ability of crisis centers to provide comprehensive and
accessible care, including considerations of staff
recruitment and retention, service expansion and
technological integration.
(6) An accounting of the use and reliance on terminal
Federal grants and county dollars in funding crisis services.
(7) A review of best practices and innovative
reimbursement models for behavioral health crisis services
implemented in other states that could be applicable to this
Commonwealth, including firehouse reimbursement,
telecommunications tax and braided public funding models.
(8) The development of specific recommendations for
legislative and administrative actions, including provider
education and provider billing training, to improve the
financial viability for crisis services, ensuring their long-
term sustainability, equitable access to crisis care and the
overall strengthening of the behavioral health crisis system
in this Commonwealth;
and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission and
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee consult with relevant
stakeholders, including the Department of Human Services, the
Insurance Department, behavioral health crisis service
providers, managed care organizations, such as Medicaid, and
commercial, private insurers, crisis service consumers, mental
health advocates and other experts as deemed necessary; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the Executive Director of the Joint State Government Commission
and Legislative Budget and Finance Committee; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission and
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee establish an advisory
committee composed of, at a minimum:
(1) A representative recommended by the Department of
Drug and Alcohol Programs.
(2) A representative recommended by the Department of
Human Services.
(3) A representative recommended by the Department of
Health.
(4) A representative of a rural hospital recommended by
the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.
(5) A representative of an urban hospital recommended by
the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.
(6) A representative of a suburban hospital recommended
by the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.
(7) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
College of Emergency Physicians.
(8) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
Association of County Administrators of Mental Health and
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Developmental Services.
(9) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
Association of County Drug and Alcohol Administrators.
(10) A representative recommended by the Drug and
Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania.
(11) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
Mental Health Consumers' Association.
(12) A representative from the Consumer Support Program.
(13) A representative recommended by the PA Association
of Area Agency on Aging.
(14) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
organization for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
(15) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
Recovery Organizations Alliance.
(16) A representative of a HealthChoices Behavioral
Health Managed Care Organization.
(17) A representative of PA Behavioral Health
HealthChoices Oversight organization.
(18) A representative recommended by the PA Peer Support
Coalition.
(19) A representative recommended by the Rehabilitation
and Community Providers Association.
(20) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
Psychiatric Leadership Council.
(21) A representative of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric
Society.
(22) A representative of the Pennsylvania College of
Emergency Physicians.
(23) A representative of the Pennsylvania Society of
Addiction Medicine.
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(24) A representative of the Pennsylvania Psychological
Association.
(25) A representative currently operating mobile crisis
response service.
(26) A provider currently operating a stand-alone crisis
intervention center.
(27) A provider currently operating a hospital adjacent
crisis response center.
(28) A provider currently operating a 988 Lifeline Call
Center.
(29) Any other representatives from other organizations
that are deemed appropriate by the Joint State Government
Commission and Legislative Budget and Finance Committee;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission and
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee issue a report with
their findings and recommendations within 12 months of the
adoption of this resolution to all of the following:
(1) The Health and Human Services Committee of the
Senate.
(2) The Health Committee of the House of
Representatives.
(3) The Human Services Committee of the House of
Representatives;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission and
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee solicit input from
representatives of all aspects of the health care sector and
continuum of care to assist the Joint State Government
Commission with its findings and recommendations in the report.
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