Overview
Title
To designate any clinic that is a certified community behavioral health clinic as a Stabenow-Blunt Community Behavioral Health Clinic.
ELI5 AI
Here's a simple explanation: The bill wants to change the name of special community health clinics to "Stabenow-Blunt Community Behavioral Health Clinic." This means that everywhere the clinics are mentioned, they will now use the new name.
Summary AI
S. 5602 aims to rename any clinic designated as a certified community behavioral health clinic to be called a "Stabenow-Blunt Community Behavioral Health Clinic." This designation applies to clinics meeting the criteria outlined in the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014. The change means that all legal references to these clinics will now use this new name. The bill was introduced by Mr. Wyden and Mr. Crapo and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, introduced in the Senate as S. 5602, aims to rename certified community behavioral health clinics across the United States. Under the bill, these clinics would be designated as "Stabenow-Blunt Community Behavioral Health Clinics," in recognition of Senators Debbie Stabenow and Roy Blunt's contributions to behavioral health services. The bill also stipulates that any references to these clinics in U.S. laws and official records should reflect this new name.
Significant Issues
A potential concern with this bill is the possibility of confusion or misinterpretation from renaming these clinics, especially since they may currently be known by different names. This could pose challenges for individuals seeking services at these clinics, as brand recognition and public understanding might be affected.
Moreover, the bill mandates that all references in laws, maps, regulations, and documents be updated to use the new name. This broad requirement could lead to discrepancies if some references pertain to clinics that do not meet the designation criteria, causing potential legal and administrative complications.
The bill does not address whether the renaming process would incur additional costs. Changes such as signage, documentation, and administrative updates could be financially burdensome for the clinics and possibly for federal budgets.
Furthermore, the bill lacks clarity on whether additional requirements or standards need to be fulfilled for a clinic to earn this new designation, beyond the current certification under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, particularly those utilizing community behavioral health services, this renaming might complicate their ability to locate and access services previously associated with a different name. Visibility and awareness of these clinics are crucial for individuals seeking behavioral health support, and any change in branding could temporarily disrupt service access.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For clinic operators and administrative staff, this bill could impose additional responsibilities and costs associated with rebranding, including modifications to physical and digital signage, updates to promotional materials, and the management of patient confusion or inquiries related to the new name.
For federal and state agencies, the task of updating legal references and ensuring compliance with the new designation across various documentation and systems could lead to logistical challenges and increased administrative costs.
In contrast, the bill does provide a positive symbolic gesture by honoring the work of Senators Stabenow and Blunt in the behavioral health field. For advocates and professionals in this sector, the name change represents formal acknowledgment of critical contributions to mental health services improvement.
Overall, while the bill intends to honor prominent figures in behavioral health legislation, it raises practical and logistical considerations that stakeholders will need to carefully manage to ensure a smooth transition and continued accessibility to vital health services.
Issues
The change of name to 'Stabenow-Blunt Community Behavioral Health Clinic' could result in potential confusion or misinterpretation, especially if these clinics were previously known by another name. This is particularly relevant to Section 2, as it mandates the renaming of clinics, which may affect public awareness and understanding of these services.
The language in Section 2, subsection (b) is broad, stipulating that any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record should now mention 'Stabenow-Blunt Community Behavioral Health Clinic'. This might lead to inconsistencies if not all references pertain to clinics meeting the new designation criteria.
There is no information in Section 2 about whether the renaming process incurs additional costs, such as changes in signage, documentation, or other administrative updates, which could be significant for budgets at both the clinic and federal levels.
The text does not provide clarity in Section 2 on whether there are any additional requirements or standards for a clinic to be known as a 'Stabenow-Blunt Community Behavioral Health Clinic' beyond the existing certification under section 223(b) of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, raising questions about the rigor and consistency of standards among designated clinics.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill states that the formal name of this legislation is the "Stabenow-Blunt Behavioral Health Legacy Act".
2. Stabenow-Blunt Community Behavioral Health Clinics Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
A clinic that meets the requirements of a certified community behavioral health clinic under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 will be called a "Stabenow-Blunt Community Behavioral Health Clinic." Any mention of such a clinic in U.S. legal or official records will be considered a reference to this specific name.