Behavioral Health Matters to Counties

On November 14, the Public Health Funding Restoration Act (H. R. 10126/S. 5326) was introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. This legislation would address a pressing need to strengthen the nation’s public health infrastructure through direct and flexible funding to local health entities. By restoring critical funding to the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF), the bill aims to equip communities with the tools needed to tackle modern public health challenges, from chronic disease prevention to emergency response. 

On November 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule that, in a major advocacy win for counties, will improving access to Medicare for justice-involved individuals who are in pre-trial status or who are reentering the community. The CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule reflects significant updates to Medicare’s “custody” definition and Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for formerly incarcerated individuals. 

On November 18, the White House submitted a $98.6 billion disaster relief funding request to Congress, outlining resources needed to address recent disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Maui County wildfires and tornadoes in the Midwest.

Local government leaders will tackle questions of resiliency, response and recovery 

This 1.5-day event is an opportunity for representatives from a criminal justice coordinating council (CJCC) or other similar county-level entity to take part in peer learning and networking, hear from experts in the field, share successes and brainstorm solutions to common criminal justice challenges.

Guilford County, N.C. was inundated with 911 calls until the county connected residents to resources, including primary care physicians and access to food, so they don’t feel the need to call an emergency line.