Federal Policy
SAMHSA Awards $77 Million for Substance Use and Mental Health Services
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded $77 million in grants to strengthen substance use prevention, treatment, crisis services, and mental health services. Over $22 million of the total supports substance use prevention programs, announced as National Substance Use Primary Prevention Month concludes. The funding supports expanded behavioral health infrastructure and service capacity. The awards matter for Medicaid managed care organizations and providers that coordinate with SAMHSA-funded programs and integrate federal grant-supported services into Medicaid-covered behavioral health networks.
Why it mattersSAMHSA grants often supplement Medicaid behavioral health services, requiring MCOs and providers to coordinate federally-funded programs with managed care networks and understand how grant-supported infrastructure affects referral pathways and service delivery obligations.