Improving coordination between health care systems and supportive services

(a) Report by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct and submit to the appropriate congressional committees an evidence-based, nonpartisan analysis that— (1) reviews the research on linkages between health care and homelessness and analyzes the effect of greater coordination and partnerships between health care organizations, mental health and substance use disorder and substance use disorder service providers, and housing service providers, including possible cost-savings of providing greater access to health services, recovery housing, or housing-related supportive services for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and other types of homelessness; and (2) includes policy and program recommendations for improving access to health care and housing, health care and housing outcomes, possible cost-savings and efficiencies, and best practices. (b) Demonstration authority (1) In general Subtitle A of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 409. Demonstration authority (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered recipient The term covered recipient means a recipient of assistance under this title. (2) Healthcare organization The term healthcare organization means a provider of physical or behavioral healthcare, including— (A) a hospital; (B) a community health center; (C) a provider of substance use or mental health services; and (D) a provider of public health services and initiatives, which may include area agencies on aging. (3) Housing provider The term housing provider means an entity, including a grant recipient under subtitle B or C of this title, a public housing agency (as defined in section 3 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a)), or a federally funded organization or a nonprofit organization, providing housing services, including rapid re-housing, transitional housing, housing choice vouchers, and housing-related supportive services to individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. (b) Authority The Secretary may establish demonstration projects or partnerships that involve collaboration between housing providers and healthcare organizations to provide housing-related supportive services, such as housing navigation, placement, financing, and casework, or improve access to health services for homeless individuals or those at risk of homelessness, including— (1) assistance in coordinating data systems with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (Public Law 104–191); and (2) projects or partnerships that are aimed at serving individuals— (A) who are homeless, chronically homeless, or at risk of homelessness; and (B) with— (i) a high-use of emergency services or emergency departments; (ii) chronic disabilities, including physical health or mental health conditions; (iii) substance use disorders; (iv) serious mental illness; or (v) other severe service needs. (c) Report (1) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives. (2) Requirement Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on each demonstration project or partnership established under this section.. (2) Technical and conforming amendment The table of contents in section 101(b) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 note) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 408 the following: Sec. 409. Demonstration authority..