Systematic review of and report on strategies on the AANHPI behavioral health workforce shortage

(a) Systematic review (1) In general The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, in coordination with the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Secretary of Labor, and the Director of the Office of Minority Health, shall conduct a systematic review of strategies for increasing the behavioral health workforce that identify as AANHPI. (2) Elements Such systematic review required under paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of— (A) the total number of behavioral health workers in the United States who identify as AANHPI; (B) with respect to each such worker, information regarding the current type of license, geographic area of practice, and type of employer (such as hospital, Federally-qualified health center, school, or private practice); (C) information regarding the cultural and linguistic capabilities of such workers, including languages spoken proficiently; (D) the relevant barriers to enrollment in behavioral health professional education programs and entering the behavioral health workforce for AANHPI individuals; and (E) the total number of behavioral health workers who identify as AANHPI and who participate in Federal programs that seek to increase, train, and support the behavioral health workforce. (b) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and make publicly available, a report on the findings of the systematic review conducted under subsection (a), including— (1) identification of AANHPI behavioral health workers’ knowledge and awareness of the barriers to quality behavioral health care services faced by AANHPI individuals, including stigma, limited English proficiency, and lack of health insurance coverage; (2) recommendations for actions to be taken by the Secretary to increase the number of AANHPI behavioral health workers; (3) recommendations for legislative or administrative action to improve the enrollment of AANHPI individuals in behavioral health workforce education and training programs; and (4) such other recommendations as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Data Any data included in the systematic review or report under this section shall be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, geographic region, disability status, and other relevant factors, in a manner that protects personal privacy and that is consistent with applicable Federal and State privacy law. (d) Definition In this section the term behavioral health worker means any individual licensed or certified to provide mental health or substance use disorder services, including in the professions of social work, psychology, psychiatry, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, peer support, and substance use disorder counseling. (e) Authorization of appropriations For purposes of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2026.