Governor Abbott Announces $239 Million Grant for Mental Health

Governor Greg Abbott (R) announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is awarding $239 million in construction grants to expand and improve access to inpatient mental health care in rural Texas.

The grants intend to help rural communities treat and stabilize patients with psychiatric illnesses, eliminating the need to travel to a major city to receive medical assistance. Gov. Abbott praised the State of Texas for expanding access to mental health resources and emphasized the importance of this investment.

“The State of Texas continues working to expand access to critical mental health resources to ensure Texans get the support they need, no matter where they live,” said Governor Abbott. “With this $239 million investment, Texas will expand inpatient mental health services so rural communities and local governments will be able to treat patients with acute psychiatric illnesses closer to home.”

The funding awarded by the HHSC is intended to stretch across Texas, stretching across four different communities. Supporting up to 332 beds for mental health patients, the funding will be split between DHR Health in Edinburg, Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas in Beaumont, Montgomery County Mental Health Treatment Facility in Conroe, and a new facility in Victoria County.

Scott Schalchlin, Deputy Executive Commissioner for the HHSC Health and Specialty Care System spoke briefly regarding HHSC’s commitment to working with the Texas Legislature to increase the accessibility of quality behavioral health resources.

“HHSC is committed to working with the Legislature to increase options for accessing quality behavioral health resources,” said Schalchlin. “The program supports hospitals and local governments that understand the needs of their communities, enabling more people to receive support right where they live.”

Governor Greg Abbott and the 88^th Texas Legislature approved funding to expand mental health facilities to have at least 50% capacity for forensic patients ordered to a state hospital. Gov. Abbott continues to keep mental health care as a top priority for the 89^th Texas Legislature moving forward.