# Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2023

This bill creates a federal loan program to help build and expand mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities across the country. The federal government would offer loans and loan guarantees to hospitals, treatment centers, and other healthcare providers who want to construct new facilities, renovate existing ones, or add more patient beds for mental health and addiction treatment. Think of it like a bank loan, but backed by the federal government to make borrowing easier and cheaper for organizations trying to expand mental health services.

The program would prioritize funding for areas that need it most. Areas with too few psychiatric beds, rural communities that lack mental health services, and underserved neighborhoods would get preference for these loans. At least 25 percent of the money would go toward facilities that serve children and teenagers. The bill also encourages facilities to offer multiple types of services—like outpatient counseling, crisis intervention, and inpatient care—rather than just one type of treatment. Organizations applying for loans would need to contribute at least 25 percent of their project costs from other sources, ensuring they have real skin in the game.

The program would operate from 2024 through 2028, with up to $200 million available each year. Loans would have reasonable interest rates tied to government borrowing costs, and the government would cover up to 75 percent of losses if a borrower defaults. Any profits the government makes from this loan program would go into a special trust fund dedicated to funding community mental health services nationwide. Essentially, this bill tries to address the shortage of mental health treatment beds and services by making it financially easier for providers to expand capacity where it's needed most.