Healthcare (Mental Health)

in committee · United States · House Dec 17, 2025

HR 6817: Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2025

This bill creates a federal grant program to expand mental health and substance use care for rural underserved populations, specifically targeting health professional shortage areas and individuals working in farming, fishing, or forestry. It authorizes $10 million annually (2025-2029) for eligible providers to deliver home-based telemental health services - using video or phone - directly to patients' homes or comfortable settings. Grantees must develop quality metrics comparing remote care to in-person services, expand broadband access, provide patient devices, and cover provider technology costs. The program requires annual reports to Congress on service impact and quality.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill authorizes $10M annually for federal grants to expand mental health care access via telemental services in underserved rural areas, directly advancing patient access and funding for mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health Telehealth Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · House Apr 1, 2025

HR 2587: Youth Mental Health Research Act

HR 2587, the Youth Mental Health Research Act, establishes a new NIH research initiative to coordinate studies on youth mental health across federal health institutes. It focuses on two key areas: researching community resilience and early intervention strategies for at-risk youth, and improving how mental health services are delivered in schools, communities, and other settings where young people spend time. The bill authorizes $100 million annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2030 to fund this research. This initiative directly supports future evidence-based approaches to youth mental health, without altering current services or directly affecting individuals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $100M annual funding for youth mental health research, directly advancing public service spending under budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill authorizes $100M annually for NIH youth mental health research and service delivery improvements in schools/communities, directly advancing mental health services funding and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Jan 22, 2026

HR 7227: Mental Health and MAMA Act of 2026

HR 7227, the Mental Health and MAMA Act of 2026, eliminates cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) for mental health and substance use treatment services during pregnancy and for one year after childbirth. It directly affects pregnant and postpartum individuals covered by group health plans or individual insurance policies, requiring these plans to cover such services with no out-of-pocket costs from pregnancy diagnosis through the 12-month period following birth. The law applies to in-network providers and includes telehealth services, with implementation delayed until two years after enactment. It amends key laws including the Public Health Service Act, ERISA, and the Internal Revenue Code to standardize this coverage requirement across health insurance systems. This policy change aims to improve access to care during a critical health period without altering existing coverage definitions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEliminates cost-sharing for mental health/substance use treatment during pregnancy/postpartum, expanding access to critical care without financial barriers in a high-need population.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Public Health

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in committee · United States · House Jan 6, 2026

HR 6940: Hope Heals Act of 2026

HR 6940, the Hope Heals Act of 2026, directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to assess how federal agencies can better identify individuals in mental health crises and coordinate suicide prevention resources. Within 180 days of enactment, HHS must evaluate sharing information, best practices, and screening tools like the PHQ-3 across departments including Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Education. The assessment requires consultation with mental health experts and must result in a report to Congress with recommendations for improving crisis identification and support. Federal agencies would then implement these recommendations to enhance coordination and awareness of mental health crisis signs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates HHS assessment to improve mental health crisis coordination and suicide prevention resources, directly supporting mental health services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly requires HHS to assess coordination with VA for mental health crisis resources, directly targeting veterans' healthcare needs through suicide prevention coordination.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Mar 6, 2025

HR 1899: Audio-Only Telehealth Access Act of 2025

The Audio-Only Telehealth Access Act of 2025 would require Medicare to cover and pay for telehealth visits conducted over the phone (audio-only), not requiring video, during the emergency period defined in the Social Security Act. This change would directly affect Medicare beneficiaries - particularly older adults or those in rural areas with limited internet access - and healthcare providers who offer telehealth services. The bill amends Section 1834(m)(9) of the Social Security Act to include audio-only visits under existing Medicare coverage rules, ensuring providers receive reimbursement at the same rate as video telehealth. It expands access to care by removing the need for video technology during the specified emergency period.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Medicare to cover audio-only telehealth visits, expanding access for rural/elderly beneficiaries with limited internet, directly improving patient access and coverage under healthcare policy.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAllows Medicare telehealth via phone, bypassing internet requirements for rural/elderly beneficiaries, promoting digital equity without internet access barriers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Mental Health Telehealth Broadband Access

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in committee · United States · House Nov 19, 2025

HR 6131: Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act

The Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act creates a federal grant program to increase the number of mental health professionals (counselors, social workers, and psychologists) in low-income public schools. It provides funding for partnerships between schools serving high percentages of low-income students and graduate institutions that train mental health professionals, aiming to reach recommended staff-to-student ratios (such as 1 counselor per 250 students). The bill also establishes a student loan repayment program for mental health professionals working in these schools, offering up to $200,000 in total repayment over five years. This legislation directly affects low-income school districts and mental health professionals working in those schools, with the goal of improving mental health support for students facing challenges like poverty, homelessness, or trauma.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates federal grants to fund mental health professionals in low-income schools, directly increasing educational access and support for students through staffing ratios.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health professionals in schools to improve access, aligning with 'supports mental health services' indicator. Explicitly addresses healthcare topic with clear intent.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Financial Aid Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Mar 30, 2026

HR 7735: Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act

This bill requires the VA and Defense Department to assess how well their current mental health programs help servicemembers and veterans transition to civilian life. Specifically, it mandates the Joint Executive Committee to complete an inventory of existing mental health services across the transition process and report findings - including any gaps or inefficiencies - to Congress within 180 days. It also directs the Committee to review the joint separation health assessment tool biennially to ensure its questions remain relevant and effective. The bill directly affects the VA and Defense Department agencies responsible for veterans' mental health care, aiming to improve coordination without creating new benefits or services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates assessment of mental health programs to identify gaps and improve transition support for veterans, strengthening existing services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates VA/Defense to assess mental health programs for veterans' transition, identify gaps, and improve support - directly advancing healthcare services for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Military Families Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Oct 8, 2025

HR 5706: Mental Health Emergency Responder Act

This bill creates a federal grant program to help communities develop non-police mental health crisis response teams. It provides funding for local governments, clinics, fire departments, and nonprofits to recruit behavioral health professionals, establish co-response teams (combining mental health clinicians with emergency responders), and integrate these teams into 911 or 988 dispatch systems. The grants specifically support replacing police as the primary responders for mental health crises with clinician-led mobile teams or emergency medical services, while respecting existing state laws on detention. Recipients must report on response outcomes, diversion rates (cases handled without police), and community feedback.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill replaces police with mental health teams for crises, reducing unnecessary law enforcement involvement and advancing criminal justice reform by diverting non-violent mental health responses from police systems.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health crisis response teams to replace police, directly expanding access to behavioral health services through federal grants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Mental Health Tags Public Safety

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in committee · United States · House May 9, 2025

HR 3320: Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act

This bill increases federal Medicaid funding for states that provide specific community-based mental health services to eligible adults. It directly affects adults aged 21+ with serious mental illness who earn under 150% of the poverty line. States qualify for higher federal funding (3-25 percentage points) based on offering at least three of seven defined services, including assertive community treatment, supported employment, peer support, and mobile crisis intervention. The bill requires services to be provided in the most integrated setting possible, meets quality standards to prevent hospitalization, and mandates states to collect and report demographic and outcome data every two years.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases federal Medicaid funding for community-based mental health services targeting eligible adults with serious mental illness, expanding access and support for mental health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 18, 2025

S 609: BRAVE Act of 2025

The BRAVE Act of 2025 aims to improve mental health services for veterans by addressing workforce needs, expanding Vet Center services, and tailoring care for women veterans. It requires reports on pay disparities for mental health staff, modifies the REACH VET program to better address women veterans' unique risk factors like military sexual trauma, and mandates annual mental health consultations for veterans receiving disability compensation for mental health conditions. The bill also includes provisions for improving Vet Center infrastructure, expanding access to residential mental health treatment for veterans with spinal cord injuries, and enhancing coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense for transitioning service members. These changes directly affect veterans seeking mental health services, Vet Center staff, and mental health professionals working with veterans. The legislation focuses on concrete policy changes to make mental health services more accessible, effective, and tailored to veterans' specific needs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health services for veterans via Vet Center expansion, tailored care for women veterans, and mandatory annual consultations - directly strengthens mental health care access.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly improves veterans' mental health services via expanded Vet Centers, tailored care for women veterans, pay disparity reports, and mandatory consultations, directly advancing healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health Substance Abuse Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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