Children’s behavioral health bill advances
Senators gave first-round approval May 16 to a bill intended to expand the use of telehealth services to address children’s behavioral health needs in Nebraska.
Lincoln Sen. Amanda McGill, introducer of LB556, said one out of five children in the United States suffers from a mental health condition. Of those children, she said, only 20 percent receive any form of treatment, leaving them at risk for school failure, entry into the juvenile justice system and suicide.
“We need to accept that mental health is a children’s health issue,” McGill said.
A Health and Human Services Committee amendment, adopted 39-0, became the bill. As amended, LB556 would require the state Department of Health and Human Services to develop rules and regulations for utilizing telehealth services for children’s behavioral health.
The bill also would remove a current restriction on coverage for utilizing telehealth services if comparable services are within 30 miles of a child’s place of residence.
Committee chairperson Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln said the bill would remove barriers to the state’s limited children’s behavioral health services by expanding access to the telehealth system.
The bill would establish a pilot program for telehealth behavioral services that would include three clinics, with at least one urban and one rural clinic. Parents of children in pediatric practices within the pilot clinics would be offered routine mental and behavioral health screenings for their child during required school physical exams or at the request of a parent.
Children identified through screening as being at risk could be referred for further evaluation and treatment, and faculty and staff of several programs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center would be available via telehealth to the primary care practice.
The bill would require that an appropriately trained staff member or employee be available in person to a child receiving telehealth services in case of an emergency situation. The requirement could be waived by the parent.
“[The bill] gives parents the option to exercise discretion regarding their child’s needs,” Campbell said.
McGill offered an amendment, adopted 34-0, that would require development of a safety plan prior to the provision of an initial telehealth service in cases where there is a threat that a child may harm himself or herself or others.
Data from the pilot programs would be collected and evaluated by the Munroe-Meyer Institute and the pilot program would terminate after two years.
Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton supported the bill and the amendments. She said the pilot program is an important step in helping parents of children with behavioral and mental health problems – which continue to be stigmatized – to get the help that they need.
“This bill is meant to support parents who, more often than not, feel very lost, scared and confused,” Dubas said.
Senators advanced the bill to select file on a 35-0 vote.
