This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create guidance for states on how to expand the pediatric mental health workforce through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The guidance, which must be issued within 12 months of the bill's enactment, would address strategies for recruiting and retaining child psychiatrists, pediatricians, and other mental health providers who work with children, with special focus on serving rural and underserved areas, diverse racial and ethnic communities, and populations with limited English proficiency. The bill encourages states to use various approaches including loan repayment programs, scholarships, increased reimbursement rates, and integrated care models to attract and keep providers and reduce burnout. Two years after enactment, the Department must report back to Congress on how states are implementing these strategies and their effectiveness. The bill addresses the national shortage of pediatric mental health providers by leveraging existing federal health programs.
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