Mental Health Workforce for Kids Act

Bill: 117-s-5248
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2022-12-13
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2022-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-12-13
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Mental Health Workforce for Kids Act</b></p> <p>This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and makes other changes to a demonstration program that supports integrating primary care and behavioral health care in underserved, community-based settings through the provision of training to health care providers. Specific changes include expanding the types of providers who may receive training through the program and incorporating a particular focus on pediatrics.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5248 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 13, 2022 Mr. Casey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To reauthorize the training demonstration program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mental Health Workforce for Kids Act . 2. Reauthorization of training demonstration program with provisions to strengthen the pediatric mental health care workforce Section 760 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 294k ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2)— (i) by striking nurse practitioners, physician assistants, health service psychologists, and social workers and inserting registered nurses and nurse practitioners, physician assistants, health service psychologists, counselors, social workers, and other health care providers (as the Secretary determines appropriate to provide trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate care for pediatric mental health, developmental, and substance use disorders) ; and (ii) by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (B) in paragraph (3)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting or pediatric mental health and substance use disorder care after addiction ; and (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (4) training for provisionally licensed mental health and substance use disorder professionals in underserved community-based settings. ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A)(i)— (i) in subclause (l), by inserting or child and adolescent psychiatry after addiction medicine ; and (ii) in subclause (ll), by inserting or child and adolescent psychiatry after addiction medicine ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (4) Support for provisionally-licensed providers A recipient of a grant under subsection (a)(4)— (A) shall use the grant funds to provide clinical training or to provide trainee support, including in the form of stipends, to individuals pursuing postgraduate supervised clinical training required for licensure to provide mental and behavioral health services, public health services, or primary care services, as appropriate; and (B) may use the grant funds to provide additional support for the administration of the program or to meet the costs of projects to establish, maintain, or improve clinical supervision or departments, divisions, or other units necessary to implement such program. ; (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A)(ii)(II), by inserting or child and adolescent psychiatry after addiction medicine ; (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (E), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; (ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking nurse practitioners, physician assistants, health service psychologists, and social workers. and inserting registered nurses and nurse practitioners, physician assistants, health service psychologists, counselors, social workers, and other health care providers (as the Secretary determines appropriate to provide trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate care for pediatric mental health, developmental, and substance use disorders); or ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (G) a children’s hospital or children’s health system providing pediatric health services— (i) to a high percentage of children covered under a State Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act or a State Children's Health Insurance program under title XXI of such Act; or (ii) in a rural community. ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (4) Support for provisionally-licensed providers To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a)(4), an entity shall be— (A) an accredited institution of higher education that provides clinical training to provisionally licensed professionals; (B) an accredited professional training program that provides clinical training to provisionally licensed professionals; or (C) a nonprofit private or public organization that provides clinical training to provisionally licensed professionals, as the Secretary determines appropriate. ; (4) in subsection (d)(1)(A)— (A) by striking nurse practitioners and inserting health service psychologists, counselors, registered nurses, nurse practitioners ; and (B) by inserting or pediatric mental health and substance use disorder care after addiction medicine ; and (5) in subsection (g), by striking $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 and inserting such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 .