S. 2050: Advancing Student Services In Schools Today Act

This bill, titled the Advancing Student Services In Schools Today Act (ASSIST Act), aims to make changes to the Social Security Act, particularly focusing on enhancing mental health and substance use disorder services for students in schools and school-based health centers. Below are the key provisions of the bill:

Increased Federal Funding for Behavioral Health Services

The bill proposes to increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for state expenditures on certain behavioral health services provided by mental health and substance use disorder care providers in schools or school-based health centers. Specifically, the FMAP for these services would be raised to 90% for qualifying expenditures made after the enactment of this provision.

Grant Program for Provider Expansion

Within 12 months after the bill's enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will award grants or contracts to increase the number of mental health and substance use care providers in schools. Eligible entities that can apply for these grants include:

• Local educational agencies
• Institutions of higher education
• Schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
• School-based health centers

Eligibility and Application Requirements

Entities seeking grant funds must submit an application that outlines:

• The mental health and substance use disorder needs of their student population
• How they will ensure that their care providers deliver culturally appropriate and linguistically competent services

Restrictions on Use of Funds

Funds from the grants cannot be used for establishing or supporting threat assessment teams.

Reporting Obligations

Entities receiving funding must submit an annual report detailing:

• The number of mental health and substance use disorder care providers employed
• The types of services provided and their effectiveness
• Retention practices for these care providers
• Retention rates of providers at their facilities

Government Accountability

The Secretary of Health and Human Services must report to Congress on the effectiveness of the grant programs 18 months after the bill becomes law and every five years thereafter.

Definitions of Key Terms

The bill defines important terms, such as:

• Eligible entity: Includes local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, Bureau of Indian Affairs schools, and school-based health centers.
• Mental health and substance use disorder care provider: Licensed individuals such as school counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists specializing in child or adolescent psychiatry, school social workers, and peer support specialists.

Overall Objective

The primary goal of the ASSIST Act is to improve access to essential mental health and substance use disorder care services for students in schools, addressing the recognized gaps in support that negatively affect the health and well-being of children in the United States, including those eligible for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Relevant Companies

None found