Family Mental Health Care Fund: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Provider Reimbursement

To serve the families who lost loved ones during the devastating floods in the Hill Country on July 4, 2025, the Meadows Institute is partnering with the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to manage the Family Mental Health Care Fund. In addition to providing financial assistance for family members, the Fund will offer support to licensed providers who are seeking reimbursement for delivering services pro bono to family members who lost loved ones.

General Questions About the Fund

What is the Family Mental Health Care Fund at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute?
The Family Mental Health Care Fund helps family members of the 135 people who lost their lives in the July 4, 2025, Hill Country floods access outpatient mental health care to support their recovery from mental health or substance use needs in the aftermath of the floods. Family members whose loved ones died after the floods due to flood-related causes may also access the fund.

The Fund is administered by the Meadows Institute and provides three types of support:

• Reimbursement for family members of out-of-pocket costs (e.g., copays, deductibles, and coinsurance) for routine outpatient behavioral health services provided by licensed mental health professionals
• Reimbursement for licensed behavioral health professionals that provide pro bono routine outpatient behavioral health services
• Navigation supports for family members to help them find and access needed mental health care in Texas through the Meadows Institute’s trauma and grief clinical affiliate, the Lucine Center

What services are covered and reimbursed by the Fund?
The Fund reimburses expenses for routine outpatient mental health services provided by licensed behavioral health professionals that are incurred by family members seeking mental health support related to a flood-related death, including flood-related deaths that occurred after the floods on July 4, 2025.

What is the time frame for eligible services?
The Fund covers eligible expenses for services received between July 4, 2025, and December 31, 2026. Documentation for reimbursement of services can be submitted through March 31, 2027.

What providers are eligible to receive reimbursement from the Fund?
Licensed behavioral health professionals who are eligible to bill independently for routine mental health services are eligible for reimbursement if they provided services free of charge. Non-licensed providers, including interns or other trainees needing supervision, as well as non-clinical counselors or life coaches, are not eligible for reimbursement.

What documentation is needed for outpatient mental health providers to confirm and receive reimbursement for their pro bono services?
All providers meeting eligibility requirements must submit a separate submission for each client with the following:

• Rate sheet
• Copy of license
• Completed consent form from patient to apply for reimbursement
• Bill for services provided, including name of patient

By completing the attestation and submitting the required documents, providers are certifying that they are in good standing to practice and that the patient consents to use and submission of their name to apply for reimbursement.

The attestation can be filled out and documents submitted online at this link: https://form.jotform.com/260985678501165.

How much can behavioral health professionals be reimbursed?
The Fund will reimburse providers according to their rate sheet, provided the clinician attests that the amount charged is consistent with customary and usual rates in the region the care was provided.

Are there any mental health services that cannot be reimbursed by the Fund to providers?
Yes. The Fund does not cover the following types of services or expenses:

• Costs for routine outpatient behavioral health services that are not covered by insurance
• Medication or medication copays
• More intensive mental health or substance use treatment, such as inpatient hospital care, residential treatment programs, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP, which are defined as three or more outpatient services per week), or crisis services
• Services not covered by health insurance, such as pastoral counseling or life coaching

Questions Not Covered Above

If you have questions that were not answered above or if you need any information about the Fund, please contact the Meadows Institute by completing the Family Mental Health Care Fund Provider Reimbersement Request form or by calling us at: (469) 436-2371.