Bipartisan legislation recently introduced by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) would expand telemental health services in America’s rural areas for those specifically working in the farming, forestry and fishing industries.
“Those living in rural areas may live far away from a mental health facility, making in-person visits difficult for those seeking care,” Sen. Rounds said on May 5. “Utilizing telemental health capabilities will allow South Dakotans in rural areas to receive quality care from the comfort of their homes.”
Sen. Rounds on March 28 sponsored the Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2022, S. 3937, with original cosponsors U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD), John Boozman (R-AR), and Tina Smith (D-MN). The bill is under consideration in the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
If enacted, S. 3937 would direct the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the director of the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to authorize up to $10 million for each fiscal year through 2026, using current funds, to award grants to entities to establish demonstration projects that would provide telemental health services for the specific farming, fishing and forestry workers in rural areas, according to a bill summary provided by the senator’s office.
Sen. Rounds said the bill saves time and resources and “provides an important mental health service during a difficult period for our farmers and ranchers, who for years have suffered economically due to challenging weather, trade disputes and price disparities.”
S. 3937 is supported by the South Dakota Farm Bureau, the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations, the South Dakota Farmers Union, the National Farmers Union, the National Rural Health Association, Sanford Health, Avera Health, and Monument Health.