2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize New Grant Programs For
School-Based Mental Health Services, Which Would Have Increased The
Number Of School-Based Mental Health Professionals, Enhanced Access To
Mental Health Services For Students, And Allowed The Labor Department To
Enforce An Existing Law Regarding Parity In Health Insurance Coverage
For Mental Health. In September 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Mental Health Matters Act, which
would "authorize new grant programs to improve access to school-based
mental health services. The bill would authorize $200 million annually
for Education Department five-year grants to support partnerships
between institutions of higher education that offer degrees related to
school-based mental health and high-need local school districts to
increase the number of school-based mental health service providers,
including for salaries of recent graduates working in schools;
preparation programs to expand pathways to state licensure or
certification; and developing coursework focused on assisting specific
student populations, such as English learners, children of
servicemembers, LGBTQ+ students, and victims of violence or human
trafficking. It would also authorize $5 billion for fiscal 2023 for
state grants, with a 20 percent state match rate, to local school
districts to recruit and retain school-based mental health services
providers at high-need schools; a total of $100 million through fiscal
2032 for Health and Human Services Department grants to Head Start
agencies to implement interventions, best practices and staff training
that improve child behavioral health; and $50 million annually through
fiscal 2027 for HHS grants to educational agencies to increase student
access to evidence-based trauma support and mental health services.
Among other provisions, the bill would require postsecondary schools to
accept certain previously developed documentation as sufficient
documentation of disability for the provision of reasonable
accommodations and authorize additional funding for the national center
to support postsecondary students with disabilities. It would also
authorize a total of $275 million through fiscal 2032 for the Labor
Department to enforce existing law regarding parity in health insurance
coverage for mental health; allow civil lawsuits against health insurers
that violate such laws; and prohibit the inclusion of arbitration
clauses and class action or representation waivers in employer-sponsored
retirement plans." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by
a vote of 220-205. The Senate did not take substantive action on the
bill. [House Vote 459,
9/29/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 9/29/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7780]
The Bill Sought To Address Mental Health Concerns Among Students,
Families And Educators Impacted By The Coronavirus Pandemic.
According to The Hill, "The House passed a bill on Thursday that
seeks to address mental health concerns among students, families and
educators aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which lawmakers say
had a 'severe impact' on those three groups. The bill, titled the
Mental Health Matters Act, passed in a largely party-line 220-205
vote. One Republican, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), joined all
Democrats present in supporting it." [The Hill,
9/29/22]
The Bill Would Have Provided Grants To Create A Pipeline For
School-Based Mental Health Experts And Grown The Number Of
Professionals At Elementary And Secondary Schools In High-Need
Areas. According to The Hill, "The legislation, if passed by the
Senate and signed into law, would provide grants to establish a
pipeline for school-based mental health service professionals.
Additionally, it would grow the number of mental health experts at
elementary and secondary schools that are based in high-need
locations." [The Hill,
9/29/22]
The Bill Would Have Directed The Education Department To
Administer Grants To State Educational Agencies For Recruitment And
Retainment Of School-Based Mental Health Service Providers And
Public Schools. According to The Hill, "The measure would direct
the Department of Education to allocate those grants. The Department
of Education would also be ordered to administer grants to state
educational agencies to go towards recruiting and maintaining
school-based mental health service providers at public elementary
and secondary schools that are considered high need." [The Hill,
9/29/22]
The Bill Would Have Required For Disability Accommodations For
Students At Universities And Colleges And Established A Grant
Program To Increase Access To Evidence-Based Trauma Support And
Mental Health Services For Students. According to The Hill, "The
legislation also mandates that disability accommodations be
available to incoming students at higher education institutions if
they have documents outlining their disability, and it establishes a
grant program to bolster access for students to evidence-based
trauma support and mental health services through projects that
connect schools and local education agencies with trauma-informed
assistance and mental health systems." [The Hill,
9/29/22]
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R) Took Issue With The Provision That
Permitted The Labor Secretary To Impose Civil Penalties On Sponsors
Of Health Plans And Administrators Of Group Health Plans If They
Failed To Fulfill Parity Requirements Regarding Mental Health.
According to The Hill, "Rep. Virginia Foxx (N.C.), the top
Republican on the Education and Labor Committee, said the 'country
would be better off without' the legislation on the floor. She
specifically took issue with the provision that allows the Labor
Department secretary to levy civil monetary penalties on sponsors of
plans and administrators of group health plans if they do not
fulfill parity requirements regarding mental health." [The Hill,
9/29/22]
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R) Argued That Providing The Labor
Department With The Ability To Impose Civil Monetary Penalties
Against Health Plans And Increase The Threat Of Litigation Would
Only Coerce Plans To Drop Mental Health Coverage. According to The
Hill, "'Providing [the Department of Labor] with the authority to
level civil monetary penalties against plans and increase their risk
of litigation will only force plans to drop mental health coverage,'
Foxx argued. 'This money would be better spent on compliance
assistance instead of targeting employers based on ambiguous
standards,' she added." [The Hill,
9/29/22]