42 U.S.C. § 254c–16: Mental health services…

Summary

The Secretary, through HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, must give grants to public or nonprofit telehealth networks to run demonstration projects that deliver mental health care and remote education by qualified providers to two special groups. Key terms: eligible entity = a public or nonprofit telehealth provider network that offers mental health services; qualified mental health professionals = Medicare-covered mental health providers with extra training for children/adolescents or the elderly; special populations = (A) children and teens in mental-health underserved rural or urban areas and (B) elderly people in long-term care facilities in mental-health underserved rural or urban areas; telehealth = using electronic and telecom tools for remote health care and health education. Grants must be split fairly between the two special groups and, as much as possible, across U.S. regions. Grant funds must pay for remote diagnosis and treatment and for working with local public health partners. Grants may also cover telecom costs and reasonable payment to providers. Grants cannot be used to buy or install transmission equipment (except what providers use to deliver care) or to buy or improve real property. Applicants must apply as the Secretary requires. A report evaluating the projects is due to Congress not later than 4 years after October 26, 2002. Congress authorized $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2002 and whatever sums are needed for fiscal years 2003–2006.

Title 42, §254c–16

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definitions

In this section: (1) Eligible entity

(2)Qualified mental health professionals

The term “qualified mental health professionals” refers to providers of mental health services reimbursed under the medicare program carried out under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) who have additional training in the treatment of mental illness in children and adolescents or who have additional training in the treatment of mental illness in the elderly.

(3)Special populations

The term “special populations” refers to the following 2 distinct groups:

(A)Children and adolescents in mental health underserved rural areas or in mental health underserved urban areas.

(B)Elderly individuals located in long-term care facilities in mental health underserved rural or urban areas.

(4)Telehealth

The term “telehealth” means the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health, and health administration.

(b)Program authorized

(1)In general

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall award grants to eligible entities to establish demonstration projects for the provision of mental health services to special populations as delivered remotely by qualified mental health professionals using telehealth and for the provision of education regarding mental illness as delivered remotely by qualified mental health professionals using telehealth.

(2)Populations served

The Secretary shall award the grants under paragraph (1) in a manner that distributes the grants so as to serve equitably the populations described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(3).

(c)Use of funds

(1)In general

An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds—

(A)for the populations described in subsection (a)(3)(A)—

(i)to provide mental health services, including diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, as delivered remotely by qualified mental health professionals using telehealth; and

(ii)to collaborate with local public health entities to provide the mental health services; and

(B)for the populations described in subsection (a)(3)(B)—

(i)to provide mental health services, including diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, in long-term care facilities as delivered remotely by qualified mental health professionals using telehealth; and

(ii)to collaborate with local public health entities to provide the mental health services.

(2)Other uses

An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may also use the grant funds to—

(A)pay telecommunications costs; and

(B)pay qualified mental health professionals on a reasonable cost basis as determined by the Secretary for services rendered.

(3)Prohibited uses

An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall not use the grant funds to—

(A)purchase or install transmission equipment (other than such equipment used by qualified mental health professionals to deliver mental health services using telehealth under the project involved); or

(B)build upon or acquire real property.

(d)Equitable distribution

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that such grants are equitably distributed among geographical regions of the United States.

(e)Application

An entity that desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary determines to be reasonable.

(f)Report

Not later than 4 years after October 26, 2002, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that shall evaluate activities funded with grants under this section.

(g)Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2003 through 2006.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Title XVIII of the Act is classified generally to subchapter XVIII (§ 1395 et seq.) of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2003—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 108–163, § 2(d)(1), substituted “subsection (a)(3)” for “subsection (a)(4)”. Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 108–163, § 2(d)(2)(A), substituted “subsection (a)(3)(A)” for “subsection (a)(4)(A)”. Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 108–163, § 2(d)(2)(B), substituted “subsection (a)(3)(B)” for “subsection (a)(4)(B)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2003 Amendment

Amendments

by Pub. L. 108–163 deemed to have taken effect immediately after the enactment of Pub. L. 107–251, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–163, set out as a note under section 233 of this title.

§254c–16 Mental Health Services Delivered Via Telehealth

Summary

Title 42, §254c–16

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Amendments

Citations & Metadata