Healthcare (Mental Health)

in committee · United States · House Feb 9, 2026

HR 7444: Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act

This bill expands Medicare telehealth access for rural and underserved communities by removing geographic restrictions on where telehealth services can originate and allowing more services to be provided from patients' homes. It enables critical access hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and rural health clinics to receive full reimbursement for telehealth services and permits audio-only technology for certain appointments starting in 2027. The legislation also establishes permanent payment rates for telehealth services provided by these facilities and requires a review of audio-only technology use within five years to assess its impact on access and clinical appropriateness.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicare telehealth access, removes geographic restrictions, increases reimbursement for rural facilities, and improves patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill expands telehealth access and removes geographic restrictions, promoting digital equity and technology adoption in healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Mental Health Telehealth Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 23, 2026

S 4162: Get Justice-Involved Veterans BACK HOME Act

This bill establishes a pilot program to provide mental health care to incarcerated veterans, prioritizing those with service-connected disabilities related to PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual trauma. The program would offer telemental health services, mobile mental health units, or other appropriate care at no cost to veterans, with care delivered exclusively by Department of Veterans Affairs health care providers. Additionally, the bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to establish dedicated housing units for veterans in federal correctional facilities where feasible, along with specialized training for correctional staff and veteran-focused rehabilitation programs. The legislation also mandates automatic resumption of disability compensation payments upon a veteran's release from incarceration and requires annual reports on incarcerated veterans to Congress.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides mental health care to incarcerated veterans, enhancing rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through improved treatment programs.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes mental health care pilot program for incarcerated veterans with PTSD/TBI/sexual trauma, providing telemental health and mobile units at no cost through VA providers.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill establishes pilot program providing free mental health care to incarcerated veterans with service-connected disabilities, delivered by VA providers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 29, 2026

S 4220: Veterans Health Administration Novel Therapeutics Preparedness Act

This bill establishes a new Office of Novel Therapeutics within the Veterans Health Administration to prepare for the implementation of emerging mental health treatments, such as psychedelic-assisted therapies, that are currently under FDA review. The office will develop national clinical standards, create training programs for staff, and designate specific medical centers as centers of excellence to lead research and implementation efforts. It also requires the VA to submit an annual report to Congress on research activities, clinical outcomes, and workforce readiness, while coordinating with other federal agencies on regulatory and reimbursement issues. The legislation focuses on ensuring patient safety, maintaining evidence-based practices, and providing integrated care for veterans with conditions like PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes new office within VA to advance mental health treatments, develop clinical standards, create training programs, and designate centers of excellence for emerging therapies.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill establishes new office within VA to develop mental health treatments and training, directly improving veteran healthcare access and services95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 25, 2026

S 4210: Child Suicide Prevention Act

This bill creates two grant programs to help prevent suicide among individuals under 26 years old by funding health care and education initiatives. The first program provides up to $20 million to states, health departments, hospitals, and other organizations to train health care providers on identifying suicide risks, discussing firearm safety, and connecting at-risk individuals with support services. The second program allocates $10 million to medical and nursing schools to develop curricula on suicide prevention and safe firearm storage for health care professionals. Additionally, the bill authorizes the use of up to 15 percent of the first grant's funds to distribute secure gun storage devices at reduced or no cost to households with youth, along with counseling on their use. The Department of Health and Human Services will maintain an informational website and submit annual reports to Congress on the programs' progress through fiscal year 2030.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $30M in federal funding for suicide prevention programs, directly advancing budget allocation for public health services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $10M to medical and nursing schools for suicide prevention curriculum development, directly funding education initiatives.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $30M in grants to fund healthcare training, suicide prevention programs, and medical education initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Mar 25, 2026

HR 8081: Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act of 2026

The Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act of 2026 increases Medicare payments to psychologists by 10 percentage points, raising the reimbursement rate from 75 percent to 85 percent of the standard fee schedule. This change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries who receive mental health services from psychologists and the psychologists themselves who provide those services. The bill applies to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027, and modifies existing payment provisions in the Social Security Act without altering other aspects of mental health coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases Medicare payments to psychologists, improving access to mental health services and strengthening provider support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Mar 4, 2026

HR 7787: To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the mental health workforce, and for other purposes.

This bill creates a federal loan forgiveness program to encourage mental health professionals to work in areas with shortages of care providers. It directly affects students and graduates enrolled in mental health training programs at minority-serving institutions who agree to work full-time in underserved communities for at least five years. Under the program, eligible individuals would receive loan deferment during their service period, and after completing five years of employment, the government would repay up to $200,000 of their outstanding student loans. The bill defines qualified mental health providers to include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other licensed professionals specializing in mental and behavioral health care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates loan forgiveness program to encourage mental health professionals to work in underserved areas, directly strengthening mental health workforce and improving access to care.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates federal loan forgiveness to encourage mental health professionals to work in underserved areas, expanding workforce access and supporting employment in critical healthcare fields.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 11, 2026

S 4061: RAYS Act

This bill, known as the Raising Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention Act, requires schools that receive federal education funding to include mental health and suicide prevention resources on student identification cards. The law mandates that these cards display contact information for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and any state or local suicide prevention hotlines available in the area. Schools that do not issue physical ID cards must instead post this information prominently on their websites and include it on digital platforms students regularly use. The bill also directs the federal education secretary to run outreach campaigns to help students, parents, and school staff learn about these mental health resources.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens student mental health support by requiring schools to display crisis resources on ID cards, enhancing student safety and access to help.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates inclusion of mental health and suicide prevention resources on student ID cards, improving access to critical health services and supporting mental health awareness.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 29, 2026

S 4043: Health Care for Homeless Veterans Act

This bill makes permanent the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide treatment and rehabilitation services to seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans. It amends the United States Code by removing a temporary expiration clause that previously limited this program. The legislation directly affects veterans who face both mental health challenges and homelessness, ensuring they can continue receiving support without interruption. By codifying this authority into law, the bill removes the need for periodic renewal of the program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill makes permanent VA authority to provide mental health and rehabilitation services to homeless veterans, directly advancing healthcare access and support.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill makes permanent VA authority to provide treatment and rehabilitation for homeless veterans, directly addressing homelessness and housing support.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill makes permanent VA authority to treat seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans, strengthening healthcare and support services for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Homelessness Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Mar 12, 2026

HR 7911: Dream’s Caregiver Health and Wellness Act

This bill would create a new grant program to support caregivers of seniors, people with disabilities, or those with chronic illnesses. The Department of Health and Human Services would distribute up to $250 million over five years to nonprofit organizations for services like meals, transportation, mental health support, and wellness programs. Nonprofits would need to submit applications and report annually on how they used funds and what outcomes they achieved. The program aims to reduce caregiver burnout and build support networks while adapting to changing needs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes grant program to support caregiver wellness with $250M funding for mental health services and wellness programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Mar 26, 2026

HR 8115: Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2026

This bill, the Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2026, expands the Department of Veterans Affairs' existing precision medicine initiative to specifically include research on repetitive low-level blast exposure, dementia, and other brain and mental health conditions affecting veterans. It requires the VA and Department of Defense to establish a data-sharing partnership within one year to combine relevant military health data for research purposes. The legislation mandates specific research studies on blast exposure impacts, including assessments of clinical interventions, implementation studies of proven treatments, and quality improvement efforts to enhance diagnosis and care. Additionally, the bill directs the VA to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to validate brain health biomarkers and authorizes $5 million annually through fiscal year 2030 to fund these expanded research efforts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands VA precision medicine initiative to include brain health research, mandates data-sharing partnerships, and addresses mental health conditions affecting veterans.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill expands VA precision medicine research to include veteran-specific brain health conditions and mandates data sharing for improved veteran healthcare outcomes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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