To dedicate 10 percent of Hurricane Katrina disaster relief funds for mental health services to victims and first responders.

September 8, 2005

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

To dedicate 10 percent of Hurricane Katrina disaster relief funds for mental health services to victims and first responders.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Hurricane Katrina Mental Health Relief Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. DEDICATION OF 10 PERCENT OF HURRICANE KATRINA DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO VICTIMS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

(a) IN GENERAL- Of the amounts provided in any Act for `Disaster Relief' enacted on or after September 8, 2005, in response to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, notwithstanding any other provision of law, 10 percent shall be available to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide reimbursement without cost-sharing for mental health professionals for the provision of outpatient mental health treatment (including appropriate prescription medications) of victims of, and first responders to, Hurricane Katrina for the treatment of stress, trauma, and other mental health conditions arising out of, or complicated by, such Hurricane and its aftermath.

(b) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS- Reimbursement under this section shall be available for services furnished during the 2-year period beginning on August 29, 2005.

(c) NONDUPLICATION OF BENEFITS-

(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraph (2), reimbursement under this section shall not be available for treatment to the extent other reimbursement is available for such treatment.

(2) COVERAGE OF STATE SHARE OF MEDICAID AND SCHIP- Reimbursement under this section shall be available to States to cover the State share of costs of treatment described in subsection (a) provided to beneficiaries under title XIX or XXI of the Social Security Act who are victims of, or first responders to, Hurricane Katrina.

END