Providers urge Legislature to include behavioral-health capital projects in House Bill 19

Community health centers and nonprofit behavioral-health providers asked the Missouri House Appropriations Committee on Oct. 12 to include capital funding in House Bill 19 to expand substance-use and mental-health treatment across the state.

The requests came from four providers that outlined projects, matching commitments and expected service increases. Dr. Matthew Stinson, president and CEO of Jordan Valley Community Health Center in Springfield, said his federally qualified health center is delivering walk-in substance-use treatment and has outgrown its space. "We will treat them that day," Stinson told the committee, describing same-day clinical assessment and treatment for people who walk in seeking help. He asked the committee to consider a $7,000,000 project, split 50–50 between Jordan Valley and state funds — $3,500,000 from each party — to expand capacity in Southwest Missouri.

The request matters because providers said many programs already operate at or above capacity and serve residents from broad regions. Julie Pratt, president of the Kansas City region for…