Letter to Honorable Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader and Honorable Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader - Murphy, Dems Urge Senate Leadership To Prioritize Behavioral Health Needs Of Children In Next Covid-19 Relief Package

Letter

Dear Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell,
As the 117th Congress considers additional COVID-19 response funding, we ask you to include
targeted support for the behavioral health needs of our nation's children through the expansion of
the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) program with a $16 million dollar annual
allocation. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) administers the PMHCA
to reduce the national shortage of child and adolescent mental/behavioral health specialists.
HRSA currently partners with 21 states under existing funding and the additional $16 million
will permit HRSA to expand that partnership to remaining states, D.C., and the territories.
Families often have trusted relationships with their known providers and are likely to seek their
guidance when their loved ones face mental health crises. Since PMHCA's creation in the 21st
Century Cures Act, it expanded family and providers' access to mental health experts to improve
health and functional outcomes. The program also gives providers a safety net to obtain mental
health consultations in real time. Expanding pediatric primary care providers' access to mental
health consultation extends the limited pediatric mental health subspecialty workforce, provides
care where it is accessible to families, and increases the number of children with mental health
disorders receiving early and continuous treatment. Best practices for addressing psychiatric
needs suggests early treatment is most effective rather than no treatment or delayed help.
The COVID-19 pandemic challenged communities, families, and individuals in unprecedented
ways. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that between April and October
2020, the proportion of mental health--related emergency department visits for children aged 5--
11 increased by 24% and for 12-- to 17-year-olds increased 31%, compared to 2019. Studies also
reported more anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic symptoms among children, especially
among children from underrepresented minorities.
Children, their families and pediatric providers' access to PMHCA should not be based on zip
code. Currently, the program operates in 21 states, where these funded programs have increased
screening, referral, or treatment of children's mental health, with a focus on health equity and
quality improvement. Given how the pandemic has exacerbated the existing need for increased
child and adolescent behavioral health care, we must act to prevent and respond to these needs
by providing their community pediatric providers with telehealth support to diagnose, treat, and
refer children with behavioral health conditions. We are seeking $16 million in annual funding in the next COVID-19 relief package for HRSA to
expand PMHCA access to all states, D.C., and the territories. We look forward to working with
you to support the delivery of this critical funding for child mental health.
Thank you for your attention to this request.
Sincerely,