Bill Overview
Title: Health Care Capacity for Pediatric Mental Health Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes programs to support the provision of pediatric mental, emotional, behavioral, and substance use disorder services, particularly in underserved and other high-need areas. The Health Resources and Services Administration must award funding to children's hospitals and other facilities that provide such pediatric services for integrating and coordinating the provision of services to meet community needs, workforce training, and constructing new sites of care or otherwise expanding capacity at existing sites to provide services.
Sponsors: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Target Audience
Population: Children and adolescents requiring mental, emotional, behavioral, and substance use disorder services
Estimated Size: 16000000
- The bill focuses on pediatric mental, emotional, behavioral, and substance use disorder services, which would impact children and adolescents who require these services.
- The target population includes children in underserved and high-need areas, suggesting these populations either lack sufficient service coverage or face barriers to access.
- Although globally, children everywhere require mental health services, this bill's focus is on U.S. populations as it involves the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration funding provisions.
- Children's hospitals and facilities providing pediatric services will be directly affected as they will have access to resources for program integration, workforce training, and infrastructure expansion.
- The bill's implementation could indirectly impact families and communities by improving child mental health outcomes or addressing workforce shortages.
Reasoning
- The bill targets pediatric groups, which means interviews should focus on children and their families who experience mental health service needs.
- Considering the distribution of children across various states and socioeconomic statuses will ensure a diverse sample that reflects reality.
- Budget constraints suggest a strategic focus on high-need areas, which may not cover all areas exhaustively. Our interviews should include both impacted and non-impacted individuals.
- The long-term implementation over 10 years will significantly alter service availability, making it relevant to consider viewpoints over this timespan.
- Not all interviewees will show drastic differences in wellbeing; some will experience negligible to low changes due to existing access or barriers that remain despite policy implementation.
Simulated Interviews
student (rural Texas)
Age: 15 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often feel anxious but can't see a therapist regularly due to a lack of specialists nearby.
- The expansion of service sites could help me get the care I need without traveling far.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
student (urban California)
Age: 10 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm happy and don't need any of these services right now.
- The policy might be good for others but doesn't change anything for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
high school student (New York City)
Age: 17 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Finding customized therapy for my needs has been a challenge despite being in a city.
- With more targeted programs, I might finally find a therapist that fits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
student (suburban Minnesota)
Age: 13 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think my counselor does a good job, but my friends in rural areas aren't as lucky.
- Expanded services could mean my friends have a chance at better care.
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 | 9 | 7 |
high school student (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've had a tough time finding the right therapy despite school options.
- Better integration might mean finding services I connect with.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
student (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 12 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We've been stuck with the same care options for years, which haven't been ideal.
- An expansion might bring better alternatives to our community.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
student (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 9 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm doing really well and already have everything I need to feel supported here.
- Additional programs are great for those who are less fortunate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
student (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 14 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It has been tough moving from a place with no services. This policy seems like it could help kids from places like my old home.
- Hopefully, services can catch up to our needs here too.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
student (Miami, Florida)
Age: 8 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The waitlists are too long here, and I rarely get the speech therapy sessions I need.
- Expanding access could make a big difference for all the kids waiting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
student (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 11 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our community already participates in a pilot program for mental health, so we have decent access.
- I'm curious to see how more coordinated services might help my classmates who still struggle.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $400000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $500000000)
Year 2: $420000000 (Low: $320000000, High: $520000000)
Year 3: $440000000 (Low: $340000000, High: $540000000)
Year 5: $460000000 (Low: $360000000, High: $560000000)
Year 10: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 100: $800000000 (Low: $650000000, High: $950000000)
Key Considerations
- The overarching aim is to enhance pediatric mental health care, which includes service integration and workforce development.
- The emphasis on underserved areas suggests significant logistical considerations in deploying resources effectively.
- Construction and expansion of facilities will involve navigating complex regulatory, environmental, and community impact assessments.
- The potential increase in operational costs due to expansion in underserved regions must be balanced against expected benefits.