I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2073 
To increase the number of well-trained mental health service professionals 
(including those based in schools) providing clinical mental health care 
to children and adolescents, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2007 
Mr. KENNEDY (for himself and Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and 
in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To increase the number of well-trained mental health service 
professionals (including those based in schools) providing 
clinical mental health care to children and adolescents, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Child Health Care Cri-
sis Relief Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
(1) The Center for Mental Health Services esti-
mates that 20 percent or 13,700,000 of the Nation’s 
children and adolescents have a diagnosable mental 
disorder, and about 2⁄3 of these children and adoles-
cents do not receive mental health care. 
(2) According to ‘‘Mental Health: A Report of 
the Surgeon General’’ in 1999, there are approxi-
mately 6,000,000 to 9,000,000 children and adoles-
cents in the United States (accounting for 9 to 13 
percent of all children and adolescents in the United 
States) who meet the definition for having a serious 
emotional disturbance. 
(3) According to the Center for Mental Health 
Services, approximately 5 to 9 percent of United 
States children and adolescents meet the definition 
for extreme functional impairment. 
(4) According to the Surgeon General’s Report, 
there are particularly acute shortages in the num-
bers of mental health service professionals serving 
children and adolescents with serious emotional dis-
orders. 
(5) According to the National Center for Edu-
cation Statistics in the Department of Education, 
there are approximately 479 students for each school 
counselor in United States schools, which ratio is al-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
most double the recommended ratio of 250 students 
for each school counselor. 
(6) According to the Bureau of Health Profes-
sions in 2000, the demand for the services of child 
and adolescent psychiatry is projected to increase by 
100 percent by 2020. 
(7) The development and application of knowl-
edge about the impact of disasters on children, ado-
lescents, and their families has been impeded by crit-
ical shortages of qualified researchers and practi-
tioners specializing in this work. 
(8) According to the Bureau of the Census, the 
population of children and adolescents in the United 
States under the age of 18 is projected to grow by 
more than 40 percent in the next 50 years from 70 
million to more than 100 million by 2050. 
(9) There are approximately 7,000 child and 
adolescent psychiatrists in the United States. Only 
300 child and adolescent psychiatrists complete 
training each year. 
(10) According to the Department of Health 
and Human Services, minority representation is 
lacking in the mental health workforce. Although 12 
percent of the United States population is African- 
American, only 2 percent of psychologists, 2 percent 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
of psychiatrists, and 4 percent of social workers are 
African-American providers. Moreover, there are 
only 29 Hispanic mental health professionals for 
every 100,000 Hispanics in the United States, com-
pared with 173 non-Hispanic white providers per 
100,000. 
(11) According to a 2006 study in the Journal 
of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent 
Psychiatry, the national shortage of child and ado-
lescent psychiatrists affects poor children and ado-
lescents living in rural areas the hardest. 
(12) According to the National Center for Men-
tal Health and Juvenile Justice, 70 percent of youth 
involved in State and local juvenile justice systems 
throughout the country suffer from mental dis-
orders, with at least 20 percent experiencing symp-
toms so severe that their ability to function is sig-
nificantly impaired. 
SEC. 3. LOAN REPAYMENTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND GRANTS 
TO IMPROVE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MEN-
TAL HEALTH CARE. 
Part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 294n et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
‘‘Subpart 3—Child and Adolescent Mental Health 
Care 
‘‘SEC. 
771. 
LOAN 
REPAYMENTS, 
SCHOLARSHIPS, 
AND 
GRANTS TO IMPROVE CHILD AND ADOLES-
CENT MENTAL HEALTH CARE. 
‘‘(a) LOAN REPAYMENTS FOR CHILD AND ADOLES-
CENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROFESSIONALS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Administrator of the Health Resources 
and Services Administration, may establish a pro-
gram of entering into contracts on a competitive 
basis with eligible individuals under which— 
‘‘(A) the eligible individual agrees to be 
employed full-time for a specified period (which 
shall be at least 2 years) in providing mental 
health services to children and adolescents; and 
‘‘(B) the Secretary agrees to make, during 
not more than 3 years of the period of employ-
ment described in subparagraph (A), partial or 
total payments on behalf of the individual on 
the principal and interest due on the under-
graduate and graduate educational loans of the 
eligible individual. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—For purposes of 
this section, the term ‘eligible individual’ means an 
individual who— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
‘‘(A) is receiving specialized training or 
clinical experience in child and adolescent men-
tal health in psychiatry, psychology, school psy-
chology, behavioral pediatrics, psychiatric nurs-
ing, social work, school social work, marriage 
and family therapy, school counseling, or pro-
fessional counseling and has less than 1 year 
remaining before completion of such training or 
clinical experience; or 
‘‘(B)(i) has a license or certification in a 
State to practice allopathic medicine, osteo-
pathic medicine, psychology, school psychology, 
psychiatric nursing, social work, school social 
work, marriage and family therapy, school 
counseling, or professional counseling; and 
‘‘(ii)(I) is a mental health service profes-
sional who completed (but not before the end of 
the calendar year in which this section is en-
acted) specialized training or clinical experience 
in child and adolescent mental health described 
in subparagraph (A); or 
‘‘(II) is a physician who graduated from 
(but not before the end of the calendar year in 
which this section is enacted) an accredited 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
child and adolescent psychiatry residency or fel-
lowship program in the United States. 
‘‘(3) 
ADDITIONAL
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The Secretary may not enter into a con-
tract under this subsection with an eligible indi-
vidual unless— 
‘‘(A) the individual is a United States cit-
izen or a permanent legal United States resi-
dent; and 
‘‘(B) if the individual is enrolled in a grad-
uate program (including a medical residency or 
fellowship), the program is accredited, and the 
individual has an acceptable level of academic 
standing (as determined by the Secretary). 
‘‘(4) PRIORITY.—In entering into contracts 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall give pri-
ority to applicants who— 
‘‘(A) are or will be working with high-pri-
ority populations; 
‘‘(B) have familiarity with evidence-based 
methods and cultural competence in child and 
adolescent mental health services; 
‘‘(C) demonstrate financial need; and 
‘‘(D) are or will be working in the publicly 
funded sector, particularly in community mental 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
health 
programs 
described 
in 
section 
1913(b)(1). 
‘‘(5) MEANINGFUL LOAN REPAYMENT.—If the 
Secretary determines that funds appropriated for a 
fiscal year to carry out this subsection are not suffi-
cient to allow a meaningful loan repayment to all ex-
pected applicants, the Secretary shall limit the num-
ber of contracts entered into under paragraph (1) to 
ensure that each such contract provides for a mean-
ingful loan repayment. 
‘‘(6) AMOUNT.— 
‘‘(A) MAXIMUM.—For each year that the 
Secretary agrees to make payments on behalf of 
an individual under a contract entered into 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary may agree 
to pay not more than $35,000 on behalf of the 
individual. 
‘‘(B) 
CONSIDERATION.—In 
determining 
the amount of payments to be made on behalf 
of an eligible individual under a contract to be 
entered into under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall consider the eligible individual’s income 
and debt load. 
‘‘(7) 
APPLICABILITY
OF
CERTAIN
PROVI-
SIONS.—The provisions of sections 338E and 338F 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
shall apply to the program established under para-
graph (1) to the same extent and in the same man-
ner as such provisions apply to the National Health 
Service Corps Loan Repayment Program established 
in subpart III of part D of title III. 
‘‘(8) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(b) SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS STUDYING TO 
BECOME CHILD
AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH 
SERVICE PROFESSIONALS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Administrator of the Health Resources 
and Services Administration, may establish a pro-
gram to award scholarships on a competitive basis to 
eligible students who agree to enter into full-time 
employment (as described in paragraph (4)(C)) as a 
child and adolescent mental health service profes-
sional after graduation or completion of a residency 
or fellowship. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE
STUDENT.—For purposes of 
this subsection, the term ‘eligible student’ means a 
United States citizen or a permanent legal United 
States resident who— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
‘‘(A) is enrolled or accepted to be enrolled 
in an accredited graduate program that in-
cludes specialized training or clinical experience 
in child and adolescent mental health in psy-
chology, school psychology, psychiatric nursing, 
behavioral pediatrics, social work, school social 
work, marriage and family therapy, school 
counseling, or professional counseling and, if 
enrolled, has an acceptable level of academic 
standing (as determined by the Secretary); or 
‘‘(B)(i) is enrolled or accepted to be en-
rolled in an accredited graduate training pro-
gram of allopathic or osteopathic medicine in 
the United States and, if enrolled, has an ac-
ceptable level of academic standing (as deter-
mined by the Secretary); and 
‘‘(ii) intends to complete an accredited 
residency or fellowship in child and adolescent 
psychiatry or behavioral pediatrics. 
‘‘(3) 
PRIORITY.—In 
awarding 
scholarships 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall give— 
‘‘(A) highest priority to applicants who 
previously received a scholarship under this 
subsection and satisfy the criteria described in 
subparagraph (B); and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
‘‘(B) second highest priority to applicants 
who— 
‘‘(i) demonstrate a commitment to 
working with high-priority populations; 
‘‘(ii) have familiarity with evidence- 
based methods in child and adolescent 
mental health services; 
‘‘(iii) demonstrate financial need; and 
‘‘(iv) are or will be working in the 
publicly funded sector, particularly in com-
munity mental health programs described 
in section 1913(b)(1). 
‘‘(4) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary may 
award a scholarship to an eligible student under this 
subsection only if the eligible student agrees— 
‘‘(A) to complete any graduate training 
program, internship, residency, or fellowship 
applicable to that eligible student under para-
graph (2); 
‘‘(B) to maintain an acceptable level of 
academic standing (as determined by the Sec-
retary) during the completion of such graduate 
training program, internship, residency, or fel-
lowship; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
‘‘(C) to be employed full-time after gradua-
tion or completion of a residency or fellowship, 
for at least the number of years for which a 
scholarship is received by the eligible student 
under this subsection, in providing mental 
health services to children and adolescents. 
‘‘(5) USE OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS.—A scholar-
ship awarded to an eligible student for a school year 
under this subsection may be used only to pay for 
tuition expenses of the school year, other reasonable 
educational expenses (including fees, books, and lab-
oratory expenses incurred by the eligible student in 
the school year), and reasonable living expenses, as 
such tuition expenses, reasonable educational ex-
penses, and reasonable living expenses are deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(6) AMOUNT.—The amount of a scholarship 
under this subsection shall not exceed the total 
amount of the tuition expenses, reasonable edu-
cational expenses, and reasonable living expenses de-
scribed in paragraph (5). 
‘‘(7) 
APPLICABILITY
OF
CERTAIN
PROVI-
SIONS.—The provisions of sections 338E and 338F 
shall apply to the program established under para-
graph (1) to the same extent and in the same man-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
ner as such provisions apply to the National Health 
Service Corps Scholarship Program established in 
subpart III of part D of title III. 
‘‘(8) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(c) CLINICAL TRAINING GRANTS
FOR PROFES-
SIONALS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Administrator of the Health Resources 
and Services Administration, in cooperation with the 
Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration, may establish a pro-
gram to award grants on a competitive basis to ac-
credited institutions of higher education to establish 
or expand internships or other field placement pro-
grams for students receiving specialized training or 
clinical experience in child and adolescent mental 
health in psychiatry, psychology, school psychology, 
behavioral pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, social 
work, school social work, marriage and family ther-
apy, school counseling, or professional counseling. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to appli-
cants that— 
‘‘(A) have demonstrated the ability to col-
lect data on the number of students trained in 
child and adolescent mental health and the pop-
ulations served by such students after gradua-
tion; 
‘‘(B) have demonstrated familiarity with 
evidence-based methods in child and adolescent 
mental health services; and 
‘‘(C) have programs designed to increase 
the number of professionals serving high-pri-
ority populations. 
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary may 
award a grant to an applicant under this subsection 
only if the applicant agrees that— 
‘‘(A) any internship or other field place-
ment program assisted under the grant will 
prioritize cultural competency; 
‘‘(B) students benefitting from any assist-
ance under this subsection will be United States 
citizens or permanent legal United States resi-
dents; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
‘‘(C) the institution will provide to the Sec-
retary such data, assurances, and information 
as the Secretary may require; and 
‘‘(D) with respect to any violation of the 
agreement between the Secretary and the insti-
tution, the institution will pay such liquidated 
damages as prescribed by the Secretary by reg-
ulation. 
‘‘(4) APPLICATION.—The Secretary shall re-
quire that any application for a grant under this 
subsection include a description of the applicant’s 
experience working with child and adolescent mental 
health issues. 
‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(d) PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION GRANTS FOR PARA-
PROFESSIONALS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Administrator of the Health Resources 
and Services Administration, in cooperation with the 
Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration, may establish a pro-
gram to award grants on a competitive basis to 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
State-licensed mental health nonprofit and for-profit 
organizations (including accredited institutions of 
higher education) to enable such organizations to 
pay for programs for preservice or in-service training 
of paraprofessional child and adolescent mental 
health workers. 
‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this sub-
section, the term ‘paraprofessional child and adoles-
cent mental health worker’ means an individual who 
is not a mental health service professional, but who 
works at the first stage of contact with children and 
families who are seeking mental health services. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to appli-
cants that— 
‘‘(A) have demonstrated the ability to col-
lect data on the number of paraprofessional 
child and adolescent mental health workers 
trained by the applicant and the populations 
served by these workers after the completion of 
the training; 
‘‘(B) have familiarity with evidence-based 
methods in child and adolescent mental health 
services; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
‘‘(C) have programs designed to increase 
the number of paraprofessional child and ado-
lescent mental health workers serving high-pri-
ority populations; and 
‘‘(D) provide services through a community 
mental health program described in section 
1913(b)(1). 
‘‘(4) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary may 
award a grant to an organization under this sub-
section only if the organization agrees that— 
‘‘(A) any training program assisted under 
the grant will prioritize cultural competency; 
‘‘(B) the organization will provide to the 
Secretary such data, assurances, and informa-
tion as the Secretary may require; and 
‘‘(C) with respect to any violation of the 
agreement between the Secretary and the orga-
nization, the organization will pay such liq-
uidated damages as prescribed by the Secretary 
by regulation. 
‘‘(5) APPLICATION.—The Secretary shall re-
quire that any application for a grant under this 
subsection include a description of the applicant’s 
experience working with paraprofessional child and 
adolescent mental health workers. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
‘‘(6) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(e) CHILD
AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH 
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Administrator of the Health Resources 
and Services Administration, may establish a pro-
gram to increase the number of well-trained child 
and adolescent mental health service professionals in 
the United States by awarding grants on a competi-
tive basis to accredited institutions of higher edu-
cation to enable the institutions to establish or ex-
pand accredited graduate child and adolescent men-
tal health programs. 
‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to appli-
cants that— 
‘‘(A) demonstrate familiarity with the use 
of evidence-based methods in child and adoles-
cent mental health services; 
‘‘(B) provide experience in and collabora-
tion with community-based child and adolescent 
mental health services; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
‘‘(C) have included normal child develop-
ment curricula; and 
‘‘(D) demonstrate commitment to working 
with high-priority populations. 
‘‘(3) USE
OF
FUNDS.—Funds received as a 
grant under this subsection may be used to establish 
or expand any accredited graduate child and adoles-
cent mental health program in any manner deemed 
appropriate by the Secretary, including by improving 
the course work, related field placements, or faculty 
of such program. 
‘‘(4) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary may 
award a grant to an accredited institution of higher 
education under this subsection only if the institu-
tion agrees that— 
‘‘(A) any child and adolescent mental 
health program assisted under the grant will 
prioritize cultural competency; 
‘‘(B) the institution will provide to the Sec-
retary such data, assurances, and information 
as the Secretary may require; and 
‘‘(C) with respect to any violation of the 
agreement between the Secretary and the insti-
tution, the institution will pay such liquidated 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
damages as prescribed by the Secretary by reg-
ulation. 
‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR CLINICAL EX-
PERIENCE
IN
CHILD
AND
ADOLESCENT
MENTAL 
HEALTH.—The term ‘specialized training or clinical 
experience in child and adolescent mental health’ 
means training and clinical experience that— 
‘‘(A) is part of or occurs after completion 
of an accredited graduate program in the 
United States for training mental health service 
professionals; 
‘‘(B) consists of at least 500 hours of 
training or clinical experience in treating chil-
dren and adolescents; and 
‘‘(C) is comprehensive, coordinated, devel-
opmentally appropriate, and of high quality to 
address the unique ethnic and cultural diversity 
of the United States population. 
‘‘(2) HIGH-PRIORITY POPULATION.—The term 
‘high-priority population’ means— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
‘‘(A) a population in which there is a sig-
nificantly greater incidence than the national 
average of— 
‘‘(i) children who have serious emo-
tional disturbances; or 
‘‘(ii) children who are racial, ethnic, 
or linguistic minorities; or 
‘‘(B) a population consisting of individuals 
living in a high-poverty urban or rural area. 
‘‘(3) 
MENTAL
HEALTH
SERVICE
PROFES-
SIONAL.—The term ‘mental health service profes-
sional’ means an individual with a graduate or post-
graduate degree from an accredited institution of 
higher education in psychiatry, psychology, school 
psychology, behavioral pediatrics, psychiatric nurs-
ing, social work, school social work, marriage and 
family counseling, school counseling, or professional 
counseling.’’. 
SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY ACT TO IM-
PROVE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL 
HEALTH CARE. 
(a) INCREASING NUMBER OF CHILD AND ADOLES-
CENT PSYCHIATRY RESIDENTS PERMITTED TO BE PAID 
UNDER THE MEDICARE GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION 
PROGRAM.—Section 1886(h)(4)(F) of the Social Security 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(4)(F)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new clause: 
‘‘(iii) INCREASE ALLOWED FOR TRAIN-
ING IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHI-
ATRY.—In applying clause (i), there shall 
not be taken into account such additional 
number of full-time equivalent residents in 
the field of allopathic or osteopathic medi-
cine who are residents or fellows in child 
and adolescent psychiatry as the Secretary 
determines reasonable to meet the need for 
such physicians as demonstrated by the 
1999 report of the Department of Health 
and Human Services entitled ‘Mental 
Health: A Report of the Surgeon Gen-
eral’.’’. 
(b) EXTENSION OF MEDICARE BOARD ELIGIBILITY 
PERIOD FOR RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS IN CHILD AND 
ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY.—Section 1886(h)(5)(G) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(5)(G)) is 
amended— 
(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and (v)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(v), and (vi)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
‘‘(vi) CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSY-
CHIATRY
TRAINING
PROGRAMS.—In the 
case of an individual enrolled in a child 
and adolescent psychiatry residency or fel-
lowship program approved by the Sec-
retary, the period of board eligibility and 
the initial residency period shall be the pe-
riod of board eligibility for the specialty of 
general psychiatry, plus 2 years for the 
subspecialty of child and adolescent psychi-
atry.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to residency training years begin-
ning on or after July 1, 2008. 
SEC. 5. CHILD MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL REPORT. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator of the Health Re-
sources and Services Administration (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Administrator’’) shall study and make 
findings and recommendations on— 
(1) the distribution and need for child mental 
health service professionals, including with respect to 
specialty certifications, practice characteristics, pro-
fessional licensure, practice types, locations, edu-
cation, and training; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
(2) a comparison of such distribution and need, 
including identification of disparities, on a State-by- 
State basis. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the Congress and make publicly available a report 
on the results of the study required by subsection (a), in-
cluding with respect to findings and recommendations on 
disparities among the States. 
SEC. 6. REPORTS. 
(a) TRANSMISSION.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall transmit a report described in sub-
section (b) to the Congress— 
(1) not later than 3 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act; and 
(2) not later than 5 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The reports transmitted to the Con-
gress under subsection (a) shall address each of the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The effectiveness of the amendments made 
by, and the programs carried out under, this Act in 
increasing the number of child and adolescent men-
tal health service professionals and paraprofessional 
child and adolescent mental health workers. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
(2) The demographics of the individuals served 
by such increased number of child and adolescent 
mental health service professionals and paraprofes-
sional child and adolescent mental health workers. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:43 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2073.IH
H2073
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS