Rep. Mike Flood Introduces Bill to Support College Students' Access to Mental Health Care

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Representative Mike Flood (NE) has introduced the "College Students Continuation of Mental Health Care Act" to provide college students with consistent access to mental health care throughout the year. According to Rep. Flood, the current regulations can prevent students from continuing their mental health services when they are off campus and out of state. The bill aims to address the mental health crisis affecting college students by allowing mental health providers to continue their care and services via telehealth.

Key Takeaways:

  • The "College Students Continuation of Mental Health Care Act" allows colleges and universities to extend the mental health care that college students use while on campus.
  • The bill enables mental health providers employed by Institutes of Higher Education to offer telehealth mental health care services to students of the same institution, regardless of state lines.
  • The legislation protects the ability of states to continue participating in existing interstate healthcare compacts and expands interstate telehealth care to incoming students who have registered for classes or attended courses within the last three months.
  • The bill has the support of various groups, including the American College Health Association, the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International, and the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association.
  • Rep. Flood has made mental health a priority in Congress and has introduced several bills to address the mental health crisis, including the "Improving Measurements for Loneliness and Isolation Act".
  • Rep. Flood is joined by Rep. Don Bacon (NE) and Rep. Zach Nunn (IA) in introducing the bill.
  • The American College Health Association (ACHA) CEO James Wilkinson appreciates Rep. Flood's commitment to ensuring students don't lose access to their mental health services when they leave the state for school breaks or internships.

Statistics:

  • 77% of students experience psychological distress (Source: Rep. Don Bacon)
  • Mental health support is a critical lifeline for students, and that need does not stop when they head home for break or the holidays (Source: Rep. Zach Nunn)
  • The ACHA has expressed gratitude to Rep. Flood and his colleagues for introducing this legislation to support the mental health and well-being of college students (Source: ACHA CEO James Wilkinson)

Sources:

  • Rep. Mike Flood's website: https://flood.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-flood-introduces-bill-support-college-students-access-mental-health-care