Bill Overview
Title: Kids’ Mental Health Improvement Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue certain guidance and reports on ways to expand access to behavioral health services (particularly for children), including guidance to states on (1) how to expand mental, emotional, and behavioral health services and telehealth services under Medicaid; and (2) existing regulatory flexibilities for hospitals and other providers to support children in crisis or in need of more intensive services.
Sponsors: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Target Audience
Population: Children and their families in need of mental, emotional, and behavioral health services
Estimated Size: 50000000
- Children with mental, emotional, and behavioral health needs will be directly impacted as they are the primary targets of the expansion of services.
- Parents and families of children who require mental health services will be affected due to the increased availability and access to necessary care.
- Healthcare providers, including hospitals and telehealth services, will be impacted as they may receive updated guidance and potentially increased demand for services.
- Medicaid recipients, particularly children, will see changes that could improve access to necessary mental health services.
Reasoning
- Children with existing mental health problems will directly benefit from increased service availability and support, possibly improving their immediate and long-term wellbeing.
- Parents of children with these needs will have anxiety reduced by improved access to mental health services.
- Healthcare providers will have to navigate the new guidance, potentially leading to logistical challenges but also opportunities to expand their services.
- In communities with high Medicaid dependency, the policy could significantly alter lifepaths, especially for vulnerable populations using public health services extensively.
- Budget constraints will limit the extent of the impact, focusing improvements in certain priority areas rather than a comprehensive overhaul of services across all states.
- Initial impact will likely be more pronounced in areas with existing telehealth infrastructure and hospital systems capable of expanding services rapidly.
- Long-term impacts should see improvements as systems adapt and families become aware of enhanced services; immediate access issues may dampen short-term improvements.
Simulated Interviews
Restaurant Manager (Rural Tennessee)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have been trying to get my son the help he needs, but it’s so hard in our area. More services would be a blessing.
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 | 9 | 6 |
High School Teacher (Urban California)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- School services are limited, and this policy could really help bridge gaps with professional mental health services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Freelancer (Suburban Florida)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m hopeful that telehealth options will make it easier to schedule and afford consistent therapy sessions for my child.
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 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
RN at local clinic (Rural Montana)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Adjusting to new protocols will be challenging, but the idea of better serving our children is encouraging.
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 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Psychiatrist (Urban New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will likely lead to increased demand, which presents both challenges and opportunities for better care.
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 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Elementary School Principal (Suburban Ohio)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We face constant challenges in providing mental health support; this could be transformative if implemented well.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
College Student (Urban Illinois)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It would have been really helpful to have had these services available when I was younger.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Farmer (Rural Iowa)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often feel isolated in finding help for my child, so this policy could bring much-needed resources to our area.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired (Rural Louisiana)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More resources for our grandchildren would make a world of difference for us at this stage.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Social Worker (Suburban Texas)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I expect this policy to create more opportunities for children who’ve been neglected by current systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 2: $155000000 (Low: $125000000, High: $185000000)
Year 3: $160000000 (Low: $130000000, High: $190000000)
Year 5: $170000000 (Low: $140000000, High: $200000000)
Year 10: $200000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $230000000)
Year 100: $300000000 (Low: $270000000, High: $330000000)
Key Considerations
- The administrative cost and burden on the Department of Health and Human Services for issuing new guidance.
- State participation and adaptation to new guidelines under Medicaid.
- Availability and allocation of additional Medicaid funding to support expanded behavioral health services.
- Potential cost savings related to reduced future healthcare needs as mental health issues are addressed earlier in life.