H.R. 2044 — Suicide Prevention Assistance Act

This section establishes a grant program under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, awards up to 10 grants (no more than one per primary care office or per state, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and territories) to primary care offices (i.e., health care facilities providing primary care services) for self-harm and suicide prevention services. Grants are for up to $500,000, last two years, and may be renewed; funded activities include hiring clinical social workers, screening patients for self-harm and suicide risk by primary care physicians per Secretary-developed standards, providing short-term prevention services, and referring patients for long-term care as appropriate. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary must develop screening standards in consultation with stakeholders. Grantees must submit quarterly reports to the Secretary on patients screened, services provided, referrals made, standards adherence, and other metrics; the Secretary must report to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institute of Mental Health within two years of enactment and biennially thereafter, summarizing grantee reports and evaluating the program.