The American Hospital Association is among the organizations and foundations that make up the Mental Health Liaison Group, which expressed support for the Helping Kids Cope Act in a June 29 letter to the bill's sponsors.
HR 2412 would authorize Health Resources and Services Administration grants to increase access to pediatric behavioral health services at children's hospitals and through community-based providers.
"To address the national emergency in children's mental health, we must make urgently needed investments in pediatric mental health and substance use disorder treatment services, including both the pediatric mental health workforce and necessary infrastructure to deliver high-quality care to children at every level of need," the letter said.
"The Helping Kids Cope Act takes important steps to prioritize well-coordinated and integrated systems of care that are prepared to deliver culturally competent, developmentally appropriate mental health care to children across a range of settings."