Pennsylvania HR 551: A Resolution commemorating December 7, 2017, as "Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day."

Bill Text

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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method