Florida Commits $2 Million to Expanding Telehealth Services in Schools

Florida officials are using $2 million in CARES Act funding to help schoolchildren access mental health services through telehealth.

First Lady Casey DeSantis announced this week that the money will go to schools in 18 counties identified by the state as areas where access to healthcare specialists is limited and broadband connectivity is low.

The money comes from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund, with funding from a stimulus bill passed in March by Congress to help states battle the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Florida Department of Education has identified telehealth as a priority during this time, when providers are looking to supplant in-person care with virtual care and school districts are struggling to stay the course.

“This funding continues to strengthen Florida’s efforts to support mental health and wellbeing through telehealth services,” Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Mary Mayhew told local media outlets during a mental health roundtable at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee. “Technology can bridge gaps and provide additional mental health care supports, which is critical for all Floridians, but especially for students in rural districts in our state. Increasing access to mental health services is more critical now than ever.”

The news was met with praise from the state’s healthcare industry, which has been clashing with state officials over telehealth rules and guidelines.

“Telehealth is one way to reach more people who need behavioral health services by removing obstacles, such as transportation issues, and this additional funding that will be directed to Florida’s rural counties will go a long way in helping Floridians lead healthier, more productive lives,” Natalie Kelly, CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities, which represents hundreds of healthcare providers across the state, said in a press release. 

Florida’s Legislature has been boosting funding for mental health counseling in schools for several years, with an emphasis on using telehealth since the 2018 mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

In 2019, more than 60 schools in the state’s Panhandle region opened in the fall with new telehealth stations, part of a state effort to expand access to telemental health services for students still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Michael in 2018.