Oregon U.S. Rep. Salinas pushes for mental health care in bill 

U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas wants to set a minimum standard of three free behavioral health visits a year for people enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare.

The Oregon Democrat has reintroduced a bill that would guarantee just that, with a goal of getting people started down the path of accessing behavioral health care without barriers.  

The bill would set a minimum floor for the health care  programs that serve some of the most vulnerable in the state. Medicare covers people who are 65 and older or disabled and Medicaid covers low-income residents.  Oregon’s Medicaid program, the Oregon Health Plan, has about 1.4 million people enrolled. More than 900,000 in Oregon were enrolled in Medicare as of September, state data shows.

“Mental health care is just as important as our physical health, but it is often overlooked — an unfortunate reality that has contributed to the mental health and addiction crisis we experience today,” Salinas said in a statement.

This is the second effort she’s making: Salinas introduced the bill in the prior Congress in 2023. The current version has been amended to focus on behavioral health and has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means. 

Under Salinas’ bill, people enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid would not have to pay copays for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment or management of a behavioral health condition. 

Salinas said the proposal would help people discouraged by the costs of services.

“While this is not a comprehensive solution, it is a great first step that will encourage more people to seek care without having to worry about the price tag,” Salinas said.

In an interview, Salinas said mental health and addiction-related issues can attract bipartisan interest in Congress, even as the Trump administration looks for ways to cut costs in the federal government.

“Behavioral health and addiction does seem to be the last bastion of — at least as an issue — bipartisan interest,” said Salinas, also co-chair of the Mental Health Caucus in the House. 

Salinas said those issues ripple into other areas like the economy, which benefits when people are as self-sufficient and productive as possible.

“That takes, a lot of times, behavioral health and addiction treatment,” Salinas said. 

Mental health advocacy groups support the legislation, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness and American Psychiatric Association. 

“This is a critical step to helping each person receive the care they need to get well and stay well,” said Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.