Increasing Federal investment in pediatric behavioral health services

The Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) (as amended by section 2004) is amended by adding at the end the following: XXXV Assistance for construction and modernization of children’s mental health and substance use disorder infrastructure 3501. Increasing Federal investment in pediatric behavioral health services (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities for the purpose of improving their ability to provide pediatric behavioral health services, including by— (1) constructing or modernizing sites of care for pediatric behavioral health services; (2) expanding capacity to provide pediatric behavioral health services, including enhancements to digital infrastructure, telehealth capabilities, or other improvements to patient care infrastructure; (3) supporting the reallocation of existing resources to accommodate pediatric behavioral health patients, including by converting or adding a sufficient number of beds to establish or increase the hospital’s inventory of licensed and operational, short-term psychiatric and substance use inpatient beds; and (4) addressing gaps in the continuum of care for children, by expanding capacity to provide intermediate levels of care, such as intensive outpatient services, partial hospitalization programs, and day programs that can prevent hospitalizations and support children as they transition back to their homes and communities. (b) Eligibility To be eligible to seek an award under this section, an entity shall be a hospital or rural health clinic that predominantly treats individuals under the age of 21, including any hospital that receives funds under section 340E. (c) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. (d) Supplement, not supplant Funds provided under this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant Federal and non-Federal funds available for carrying out the activities described in this section. (e) Reporting (1) Reports from award recipients Not later than 180 days after the completion of activities funded by an award under this section, the entity that received such award shall submit a report to the Secretary on the activities conducted using funds from such award, and other information as the Secretary may require. (2) Reports to Congress Not later than one year after the completion of activities funded by an award under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on the projects and activities conducted with funds awarded under this section, and the outcome of such projects and activities. Such report shall include— (A) the number of projects supported by awards made under this section; (B) an overview of the impact, if any, of such projects on pediatric health care infrastructure, including any impact on access to pediatric mental health and substance use disorder services; (C) recommendations for improving the investment program under this section; and (D) any other considerations as the Secretary determines appropriate..