Letter to the Hon. Patty Murray, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services and Education, and the Hon. Roy Blunt, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services and Education - Rosen Leads Colleagues in Calls to Increase Funding for Mental Health, Telehealth, and Distance Learning Programs

Letter

Dear Chair Murray and Ranking Member Blunt,
As you consider the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations
bill for Fiscal Year 2022, we request that you support two effective programs that help improve
the health and well-being of American children. Specifically, we request that you provide robust
funding for the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program, a federal telehealth initiative,
which is particularly important for those in rural and underserved areas; and sustained funding
for the Emergency Medical Services for Children program, which helps ensure that all children
have access to pediatric-focused emergency health care. Both programs operate under the Health
Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and increased the need for reliable and accessible
mental health services. Early intervention to address mental health needs is absolutely critical,
especially for children. Trauma, depression, anxiety, and other conditions are only exacerbated
when treatment is delayed or foregone altogether. Unfortunately, recent data from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that while nearly one in six U.S. children are
diagnosed with a mental health disorder, only twenty percent of those with a mental health care
need receive care from a specialized mental health care provider. In the last year we have seen a
mental health crisis unfold among our children and youth, including youth suicide. We must
provide greater access to mental health treatment, and bolster the support for pediatrician offices
that are often on the frontline for initial interventions and mental health services.
We know there is a significant shortage of children's mental health providers, particularly in rural
and underserved areas. This is where technology can play a role in bringing care to areas that
need it most. The Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program provides grants to integrate
mental health services into pediatric primary care settings through telehealth. So far, grants have
been awarded to 21 states across the country. Robust funding is critical to ensuring additional
access points.
We also must continue to invest in emergency care for our children. According to the CDC,
nearly 17 percent of children reported one or more visits to the emergency room in 2017. The
Emergency Medical Services for Children program is the only federal grant program dedicated
to improving the health outcomes of children in emergency departments. Children's medical
needs are different from adults and require specialized training and equipment. This critical
program improves pediatric capacity within our emergency systems, ensuring that children
receive the specialized care they need at the most critical moments.
Thank you for your work in supporting essential health programs, including those for our most
vulnerable youth in rural and underserved parts of the country. We look forward to working with
you and urge you to support the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program and the
Emergency Medical Services for Children program.