Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

Section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 5936) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting, including crisis hotlines after websites; (2) in subsection (d), by striking 2023 and inserting 2031; (3) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and (4) by inserting after subsection (e) the following: (f) Referrals to providers As part of the efforts of the recipient of a grant under subsection (a) to connect individuals to behavioral health counseling and wellness support and to ensure individuals have access to a comprehensive scope of mental health and substance use treatments and supports, when applicable, the grant recipient may establish referral relationships with— (1) certified community behavioral health clinics described in section 223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (42 U.S.C. 1396a note; Public Law 113–93); (2) health centers (as defined in section 330(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(a))); (3) rural health clinics (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa))); (4) Federally qualified health centers (as defined in that section); and (5) critical access hospitals (as defined in section 1861(mm) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(mm)))..

(a) In General Section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 5936) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting, including crisis hotlines after websites; (2) in subsection (d), by striking 2023 and inserting 2031; (3) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and (4) by inserting after subsection (e) the following: (f) Referrals to providers As part of the efforts of the recipient of a grant under subsection (a) to connect individuals to behavioral health counseling and wellness support and to ensure individuals have access to a comprehensive scope of mental health and substance use treatments and supports, when applicable, the grant recipient may establish referral relationships with— (1) certified community behavioral health clinics described in section 223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (42 U.S.C. 1396a note; Public Law 113–93); (2) health centers (as defined in section 330(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(a))); (3) rural health clinics (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa))); (4) Federally qualified health centers (as defined in that section); and (5) critical access hospitals (as defined in section 1861(mm) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(mm))).. (b) Farmer assistance, resilience, and mental health evaluation research study (1) Study Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, in coordination with the regional lead institutions of the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network established under section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 5936), submit to Congress a report that contains— (A) an assessment on the availability and usage of mental health care, including tele-mental health services, by agricultural professionals, including— (i) the incidence and prevalence of common mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders, trauma- and stressor- related disorder (including adjustment disorders), or suicidal ideation, among agricultural professionals; (ii) the incidence and prevalence of agricultural professionals seeking treatment for mental health conditions, including counseling, psychotherapy, or support groups in traditional mental health care settings; (iii) the incidence and prevalence of agricultural professionals seeking treatment for mental health conditions including counseling, psychotherapy, or support groups via tele-mental health care; (iv) the availability of traditional mental health care settings and treatment in rural areas, including counseling, psychotherapy, or support groups; (v) the availability of tele-mental health care treatment in rural areas, including counseling, psychotherapy, or support groups; and (B) the Secretary’s recommendations to improve the uptake, effectiveness, and deployment of, and access to, traditional mental health services and tele-mental health services among agricultural professionals in rural areas. (2) Coordination In preparing the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary may consult with the following: (A) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (B) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (C) State departments of agriculture. (D) Cooperative extension services (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)). (E) Within the Department— (i) the Economic Research Service; and (ii) the Office of Rural Development, including the Rural Health Liaison. (3) Definitions In this subsection: (A) The term farmer means an individual whose primary occupation is the planting and cultivation of crops or other agricultural products. (B) The term rancher means an individual whose primary occupation is the rearing and care of animals for agricultural purposes. (C) The term agricultural professional means a farmer or a rancher. (D) The term mental health condition means a condition commonly affecting individuals as prescribed by clinical guidance or consensus, including conditions listed in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or another source, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (E) The term tele-mental health care means mental health care that is furnished by a mental health care provider primarily through the use of a phone, the internet, or videoconferencing.