WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Thune
(R-SD), and Ben Cardin (D-MD), members of the Senate Finance Committee, which
has jurisdiction over Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program
(CHIP), introduced the
Medicaid Ensuring Necessary
Telehealth is Available Long-term (MENTAL) Health for Kids and Underserved Act. This
bipartisan legislation would direct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) to issue guidance to states on options to increase access to
behavioral health services and treatment via telehealth for children and
underserved Americans.
“As a result of the pandemic, kids across the country – especially
those in underserved communities – have faced major disruptions to their
educational and behavioral development, and schools have not had the resources
they need,” said Brown. “We need to expand behavioral telehealth options
for students, and this is one commonsense, bipartisan step to do that.”
The MENTAL Health for Kids and Underserved Act would require
CMS to provide guidance to states on how they can increase access to mental and
behavioral health services and treatment via telehealth under Medicaid and
CHIP. Additionally, it would request guidance on how states can furnish
behavioral services and treatments in school-based settings, including full
service community schools, and best practices for integration. The bill
focuses on those most at risk including underserved Americans and school-aged
children.
In
February 2021, Brown
reintroduced the
bicameral
Full-Service Community School Expansion Act, a
comprehensive bill to assist schools and districts in bringing in wrap around
supports – including medical, mental, and nutrition health services, mentoring
and youth development programs, technical assistance and continuing education
courses – to serve students, families, and communities.
The copy of the bill text can be found
here.
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