Loebsack Introduces Legislation to Expand Access to Mental Health Services for Children

Statement

Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after he recently introduced legislation that would help remove some of the barriers that prevent children from receiving necessary mental health care. Loebsack's legislation, the Children's Access to Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Act, would provide federal matching funds to state and regional networks of mental health professionals, commonly known as Child Behavioral Health Access Programs. Currently, these networks are funded through a variety of private and public financing mechanisms.

"At a time when there are simply not enough mental and behavioral health professionals across the country to provide services for those who need them, finding providers with pediatric experience can be especially difficult," said Rep. Dave Loebsack. "For developing children and adolescents, coordinating critical mental health resources and primary care services simply makes sense. However, more work needs to be done to bolster this critical infrastructure across the country, which is why I am proud to introduce this important legislation."

"The Children's Access to Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Act will help connect children more effectively with mental health services by integrating mental health into pediatric primary care settings. The bill's enhanced federal match for state Medicaid programs will help states create or expand innovative child behavioral health integration programs in pediatric primary care settings and help ensure more children with emerging or diagnosed mental health disorders receive early and continuous treatment," said American Academy of Pediatrics President Benard P. Dreyer, MD, FAAP. "The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) thanks Rep. Loebsack for his leadership on children's mental health and looks forward to working with Congress to advance this important legislation."

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