Federal lawmakers on Monday announced an effort to boost mental health and behavioral health services under the Medicaid program with a proposal that would increase the federal reimbursement rate for programs. 

The bill, backed by Democratic Rep. Paul Tonko, would increase reimbursement rates to states for mental health programs for states to 90%, up from the current rates of between 50% and 75%

The measure comes as mental health programs have been under a strain for the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health providers have pointed to an increase in needs for people struggling with the emotional toll of the pandemic, a rise in drug overdose deaths and other "deaths of despair" associated with mental health problems. 

“The devastating toll of the COVID crisis has put a spotlight on an urgent unmet need for mental health services, yet even now countless Americans are struggling to get the help they need," Tonko said in a statement. “We cannot allow this systemic underinvestment to continue to fail providers and leave suffering patients out in the cold. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues including my fellow champions Congressman Trone and Senator Smith in working to deliver meaningful federal resources for mental health services all throughout the country — support that so many of our family, friends and neighbors need, now more than ever.”

The bill backed by Tonko would also require the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission to release reports each on the effect of the bump in payment rates and how services are being used.