Bill Overview
Title: Supporting Children's Mental Health Care Access Act of 2022
Description: This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and makes changes to grants for states, localities, and Indian tribes to promote the integration of behavioral health in pediatric primary care through statewide or regional telehealth access programs. Specific changes include allowing grant recipients to use funds to support schools and emergency departments.
Sponsors: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Target Audience
Population: Children who require mental health care services
Estimated Size: 74000000
- The bill aims to integrate behavioral health in pediatric primary care through telehealth, impacting children who require mental health services.
- Telehealth access programs expand the reach of mental health services, potentially affecting many children.
- Currently, there are approximately 2 billion children globally who could benefit from improved mental health service availability.
- The bill's reauthorization and changes emphasize support for schools and emergency departments, increasing the accessibility of mental health care.
Reasoning
- The policy targets children needing mental health services. Current statistics indicate around 12 million U.S. children have diagnosed mental disorders, therefore forming the principal group impacted.
- The policy's budget constraints imply a need to prioritize regions or demographics that have high benefit potential from telehealth enhancements. However, $1.05 billion over 10 years suggests wide impact potential.
- While most children will not directly access services, indirect effects like school-based support and overall healthcare system improvements might benefit a larger population.
- Numerical estimates on effects should account for differing baseline access to mental health resources, especially between urban and rural children.
Simulated Interviews
Pediatric Nurse (Des Moines, Iowa)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see many children in our clinic who could benefit from better mental health support. Telehealth could really improve our reach, especially in rural areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
School Counselor (New York City, New York)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy would be great for our school. Many kids need mental health support, and connecting with professionals via telehealth would make a huge difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Parent (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It can be challenging to find specialized mental health care for my child. If this policy helps more parents like me access care, it would be a relief.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Psychiatrist (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Integrating telehealth into pediatric settings is progressive. It may take time to see changes, but it sets a foundation for improved access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Mental Health Advocate (San Francisco, California)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Support for telehealth could break down barriers for so many kids. It's an essential step toward equity in mental health access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Emergency Department Doctor (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our ER sees many kids with mental health crises. If this policy helps prevent some of these by offering earlier support, it is well worth it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
State Health Policy Analyst (Houston, Texas)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This grant will be great for developing our telehealth infrastructure. The follow-through will be essential to ensure the funded projects actually meet children’s needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Parent (Portland, Oregon)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm always concerned about getting the right support for my son. Greater access to mental health professionals would mean a lot to us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Telehealth Coordinator (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth is the future, and getting in schools early can make a difference. This policy is a push in the right direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Rural School Teacher (Fargo, North Dakota)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our school lacks resources for mental health. If this policy increases our students' access to counseling services, it would dramatically impact their success.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $200000000)
Year 3: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $200000000)
Year 5: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $200000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The integration of behavioral health in pediatric primary care uses innovative approaches, requiring proper infrastructure setup.
- Telehealth implementation focuses on underserved areas but could face challenges in connectivity and technology adoption.
- While savings are projected through improved mental health outcomes, actual savings may depend on successful implementation and uptake.
- Aligning resources to support emergency departments and schools requires coordination with local entities, potentially impacting the rollout speed.