April 24, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King has introduced bicameral legislation to help people in rural Maine communities have continued, reliable access to mental health care. The Compacts, Access, and Responsible Expansion (CARE) for Mental Health Professionals Act would incentivize interstate medical health provider networks with federally-funded grant opportunities. Interstate networks allow providers to practice across multiple states while avoiding duplicative registration processes thus reaching more rural communities with mental health resources.
“Technology has revolutionized healthcare for Maine people by bringing the services of a doctor’s office to the comfort of home. Today, you don’t have to drive an hour in a snowstorm to see a mental health professional, all you have to do is pick up the phone or turn on your laptop,” said Senator King. “This massive expansion in telehealth has provided life-changing care to rural and older populations that otherwise could not attend appointments, helped doctors manage their workload, and led to improved mental health outcomes for patients that would otherwise struggle to access care. With the CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act we can build on this success by helping states reduce arduous and duplicative licensing paperwork and provide telehealth opportunities for Maine people in the years to come.”
"NAMI Maine supports the CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act as a promising step forward in addressing the shortage of qualified mental health professionals and improving access to care for individuals, families and communities affected by mental illness," Executive Director Jennifer Thompson said.
Rural communities are disproportionately affected by the country’s mental health crisis. Sixty-five percent of rural counties do not have psychiatrists, and more than 60% of rural Americans live in areas lacking mental health providers, according to the Journal of Clinical and Translational Sciences. Across Maine, more than 40% of the population lives in rural counties. Additionally, 10 out of 16 Maine counties currently have a shortage of mental health professionals.
The House version of the bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
Senator King is a long-time advocate for the availability and accessibility of telemedicine. With expanded telemedicine services only authorized through 2024 and requiring a permanently extension to prevent a devastating rollback to pre-pandemic legal restrictions, Senator King co-sponsored of the bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act and the Telehealth Modernization Act which make current telehealth flexibilities permanent and ensure Medicare beneficiaries can continue enjoying access to telemedicine. Senator King also introduced the CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act, and co-sponsored the TREAT Act, to address interstate medical professional licensing issues.
Access to high-speed, affordable broadband also remains an obstacle to widespread adoption of telemedicine, but one that Senator King has worked to address. He helped pass the two largest investments in broadband infrastructure ever, with the bipartisan Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act and the American Rescue Plan. In the years ahead, Maine is expected to receive over $400 million to improve connectivity through affordable high-speed, future-proof broadband infrastructure. This, in turn, will help expand the reach of telehealth opportunities in all corners of the state.
