42 U.S.C. § 254c-16 : US Code - Section 254C-16: Mental health services delivered via telehealth

Search 42 U.S.C. § 254c-16 : US Code - Section 254C-16: Mental health services delivered via telehealth

(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Eligible entity
The term "eligible entity" means a public or nonprofit private
telehealth provider network that offers services that include
mental health services provided by qualified mental health
providers.
(2) Qualified mental health professionals
The term "qualified mental health professionals" refers to
providers of mental health services reimbursed under the medicare
program carried out under title XVIII of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) who have additional training in the
treatment of mental illness in children and adolescents or who
have additional training in the treatment of mental illness in
the elderly.
(3) Special populations
The term "special populations" refers to the following 2
distinct groups:
(A) Children and adolescents in mental health underserved
rural areas or in mental health underserved urban areas.
(B) Elderly individuals located in long-term care facilities
in mental health underserved rural or urban areas.
(4) Telehealth
The term "telehealth" means the use of electronic information
and telecommunications technologies to support long distance
clinical health care, patient and professional health-related
education, public health, and health administration.
(b) Program authorized
(1) In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office for
the Advancement of Telehealth of the Health Resources and
Services Administration, shall award grants to eligible entities
to establish demonstration projects for the provision of mental
health services to special populations as delivered remotely by
qualified mental health professionals using telehealth and for
the provision of education regarding mental illness as delivered
remotely by qualified mental health professionals using
telehealth.
(2) Populations served
The Secretary shall award the grants under paragraph (1) in a
manner that distributes the grants so as to serve equitably the
populations described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection
(a)(3) of this section.
(c) Use of funds
(1) In general
An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section
shall use the grant funds -
(A) for the populations described in subsection (a)(3)(A) of
this section -
(i) to provide mental health services, including diagnosis
and treatment of mental illness, as delivered remotely by
qualified mental health professionals using telehealth; and
(ii) to collaborate with local public health entities to
provide the mental health services; and
(B) for the populations described in subsection (a)(3)(B) of
this section -
(i) to provide mental health services, including diagnosis
and treatment of mental illness, in long-term care facilities
as delivered remotely by qualified mental health
professionals using telehealth; and
(ii) to collaborate with local public health entities to
provide the mental health services.
(2) Other uses
An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may
also use the grant funds to -
(A) pay telecommunications costs; and
(B) pay qualified mental health professionals on a reasonable
cost basis as determined by the Secretary for services
rendered.
(3) Prohibited uses
An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section
shall not use the grant funds to -
(A) purchase or install transmission equipment (other than
such equipment used by qualified mental health professionals to
deliver mental health services using telehealth under the
project involved); or
(B) build upon or acquire real property.
(d) Equitable distribution
In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall
ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that such grants are
equitably distributed among geographical regions of the United
States.
(e) Application
An entity that desires a grant under this section shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary determines to be
reasonable.
(f) Report
Not later than 4 years after October 26, 2002, the Secretary
shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress
a report that shall evaluate activities funded with grants under
this section.
(g) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
section, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be
necessary for fiscal years 2003 through 2006.