Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-New Mexico). Courtesy photo

For Immediate Release
Date: March 2, 2021

Luján Joins Colleagues in Urging Senate Leadership To Prioritize Behavioral Health Needs of Children in Next COVID-19 Relief Package

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) in urging Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to include targeted funding for the behavioral health needs of our nation’s children through the expansion of the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) program in the next COVID-19 relief package. In a letter, the senators emphasized the rise in anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic symptoms among children amid this pandemic, especially among children from underrepresented minorities.

“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 senators wrote.

The senators continued: “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.”

A full copy of the letter can be found below and here.

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.