CAHOOTS Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Aug 5, 2020

Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets Act or the CAHOOTS Act

This bill allows state Medicaid programs to cover certain community-based mobile crisis intervention services for individuals experiencing a mental health or substance-use disorder crisis outside of a facility setting.

Among other requirements, such services must be (1) provided by multidisciplinary teams composed of behavioral health professionals who are trained in trauma care and de-escalation techniques, (2) available 24-7, and (3) voluntary for the individual experiencing the mental health or substance-use disorder crisis.

The bill provides an enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for such services, as well as specified funds for state planning and evaluation grants.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] · D–OR

Committees

Finance Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Aug 5, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Aug 5, 2020
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Aug 5, 2020 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.4441 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.4441, 116th Congress: CAHOOTS Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4441

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-08-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4441/BILLS-116s4441is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T17:29:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.4441 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.4441 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.4441, 116th Congress: CAHOOTS Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4441

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-08-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4441/BILLS-116s4441is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T17:29:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.4441 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.4441 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.4441, 116th Congress: CAHOOTS Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4441

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-08-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4441/BILLS-116s4441is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T17:29:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.4441 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.4441 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.4441, 116th Congress: CAHOOTS Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4441

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-08-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4441/BILLS-116s4441is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T17:29:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.4441 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.