“To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program for providing services to individuals experiencing gambling addiction.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes a competitive grant program in new section 554 of Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd et seq.) under which the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use awards grants to states, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304) to establish, improve, or expand prevention, screening, assessment, intervention, and treatment services—including culturally and linguistically appropriate services—for individuals at risk of or experiencing clinical gambling addiction. (Part D authorizes federal substance use disorder programs serving individuals with addiction disorders and those in recovery; this extends such authorities to behavioral gambling addiction.) Grant funds must support (1) training on screening, brief intervention, referral, and treatment for health care providers and paraprofessionals; (2) prevention strategies such as public outreach; (3) specialized treatments including in-person or telehealth outpatient care or peer support groups (e.g., Gamblers Anonymous); (4) help lines or real-time services, potentially coordinating with the National Problem Gambling Helpline; or (5) other innovative services approved by the Assistant Secretary. In awarding grants, priority goes to applicants (1) serving disproportionately impacted populations such as men, youth, Native Americans (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 2902), Armed Forces members, and veterans; (2) focusing on primary care settings; (3) partnering with community-based organizations; or (4) operating in health professional shortage areas (as defined in 42 U.S.C. 254e). The Assistant Secretary must provide technical assistance to grantees; require grant applications to demonstrate increased access to and utilization of services; and submit reports on program effectiveness to specified congressional committees beginning December 29, 2027, and annually thereafter. The section authorizes appropriations for FY2027 equal to 33% of amounts received by the Secretary of the Treasury under the wagering tax (26 U.S.C. 4401(a)) for calendar year 2025, with CPI-U adjustments for FY2028 through FY2032.