Healthcare (Mental Health)

in committee · United States · House Apr 4, 2025

HR 2229: No Veteran Falls Through the Cracks Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to proactively reschedule mental health appointments for enrolled veterans who cancel them. Specifically, if a veteran cancels a mental health appointment (defined as a veteran enrolled in the VA's standard patient system under 38 U.S.C. §1705(a)), the VA must contact them by phone at least twice to reschedule - first immediately, and then if not rescheduled on the first call. The key mechanism is mandating two telephone attempts to reconnect veterans who cancel, aiming to prevent gaps in care. This directly affects veterans using VA mental health services who cancel appointments, ensuring they receive follow-up support.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates VA to proactively reschedule mental health appointments, improving access to care for veterans under VA mental health services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates VA to proactively reschedule canceled mental health appointments, improving veterans' healthcare access and continuity of care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 13, 2025

S 600: Supporting Adopted Children and Families Act

The Supporting Adopted Children and Families Act amends the Social Security Act to provide enhanced pre- and post-adoption support services for adopted children and their families. It establishes a $20 million annual federal grant program (2026-2029) to fund mental health services, counseling, peer support groups, and crisis intervention for adopted children under 21. The bill requires states to collect detailed data on adoption disruptions and dissolutions to better understand causes and develop prevention strategies. These provisions directly affect adopted children, their adoptive families, and state child welfare agencies that administer adoption services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $20M annually for mental health services, counseling, and crisis intervention for adopted children under 21, directly supporting healthcare access and mental health services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House May 20, 2026

HR 5203: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update directives of the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the management of acute sexual assault, and for other purposes.

HR 5203 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to update its policies for managing acute sexual assault cases involving veterans within 72 hours of the incident at VA facilities. It mandates that VA medical facilities must have access to certified sexual assault forensic examiners (SAFE/SANE providers), maintain rape kits, offer preventive care for STIs and pregnancy, and provide mental health referrals. The bill also requires annual staff training on these protocols and clear guidelines for VA police regarding reporting to local law enforcement while protecting veteran confidentiality. This directly affects veterans seeking care at VA facilities for recent sexual assault, ensuring standardized, trauma-informed care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates VA to provide STI/pregnancy prevention, mental health referrals, and access to forensic examiners for sexual assault victims, advancing healthcare services for veterans.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates VA to improve acute sexual assault response protocols including forensic exams, preventive care, and mental health referrals for veterans - directly enhancing healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Primary Care Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Mar 28, 2025

HR 1906: Rural Wellness Act

HR 1906, the Rural Wellness Act, extends a deadline for rural development funding to 2029 and requires that 17% of funds prioritize projects offering behavioral and mental health services like prevention, treatment, and recovery. It directs grant administrators to give preference to rural community facilities providing these services and employing staff trained in mental health care. The law applies to programs under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act and the Rural Development Act of 1972. This affects rural communities seeking health facility grants and changes how funding is allocated to address mental health needs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires 17% of rural development funds to prioritize behavioral/mental health services (prevention, treatment, recovery) and directs preference to facilities offering these services, directly expanding access to mental healthcare in rural areas.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse Telehealth Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · House Feb 2, 2026

HR 6601: CARE for First Responders Act

The CARE for First Responders Act (HR 6601) provides mental health support specifically for first responders, including emergency personnel and 911 operators (defined as "qualified emergency response providers"). It requires the creation of a 24/7 confidential hotline via the 988 Suicide Lifeline, peer support programs staffed by trained responders, and mobile crisis units that offer on-site mental health services during major disasters. The bill mandates trauma-informed, culturally appropriate care and education to reduce stigma around mental health, with a focus on helping responders and their families adjust after disaster work. It authorizes $5 million annually (2026-2030) for these services through grants to state/local health entities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health services (hotline, peer programs, mobile units) for first responders, directly advancing mental health care access as defined in healthcare topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Tags Emergency Management Public Safety

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in committee · United States · House Jun 26, 2025

HR 4186: Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act

HR 4186, the Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act, creates a federal grant program to expand mental health services for K-12 students in underserved areas. It authorizes $5 million annually (2026-2029) for grants to school districts partnering with community health providers to establish telehealth programs, focusing on rural, high-poverty, or health-professional-shortage-area schools. Funds can cover telehealth equipment, staffing, and facilities to deliver remote mental health care. The program requires grantees to comply with privacy laws and report on student access to services by 2027. This directly affects students lacking local mental health resources through concrete funding for telehealth infrastructure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds $5M/year for K-12 mental health telehealth services in underserved schools, directly expanding student access to educational support programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates federal grants to fund telehealth mental health services for underserved K-12 students, directly expanding access and funding mental health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health Telehealth

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 6, 2025

S 454: Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment Act

The Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment Act establishes federal grants to help states address gambling addiction and funds research on the issue. States will receive grants based on the same allocation method used for existing substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, with unclaimed funds redistributed to applying states. The bill authorizes funding from 37.5% of annual gambling tax revenue for state programs and 12.5% for research through the National Institute on Drug Abuse, covering fiscal years 2025-2034. It requires a congressional report on program effectiveness within three years of enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates 37.5% of gambling tax revenue to fund state addiction programs, directly using tax revenue for program funding as a core mechanism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds gambling addiction treatment/research via federal grants, directly supporting mental health services within healthcare policy framework.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 8, 2025

S 1329: PEER Support Act

S.1329, the PEER Support Act, establishes formal standards for peer support specialists in mental health and substance use recovery. It defines the profession (requiring lived experience and certification), mandates the federal government to create a new occupational category for these specialists by 2026, and creates an Office of Recovery within SAMHSA to support workforce development and best practices. The bill also requires a federal report analyzing state criminal background check policies for peer specialists and recommending ways to reduce barriers to certification. This legislation directly affects peer support specialists, state certification agencies, and federal agencies like SAMHSA, aiming to professionalize the field and improve access to recovery support services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates peer support standards for mental health/substance use recovery, directly reducing recidivism through rehabilitation. Mandates federal report on criminal background check policies, aligning with reform efforts to ease reentry barriers.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes standards for peer support specialists in mental health, mandates federal occupational category, creates SAMHSA Office of Recovery for workforce development and best practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · House Nov 20, 2025

HR 6038: Improving Veteran Access to Care Act

The Improving Veteran Access to Care Act (HR 6038) requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create and implement a plan to modernize health care appointment scheduling for veterans. The plan must include a new scheduling system allowing veterans to view and book appointments online (for primary, mental health, and specialty care), a self-service platform for booking or requesting referrals, and phone-based scheduling assistance. The VA must submit the plan to Congress within one year of enactment, fully implement it within two years, and provide annual progress reports detailing costs, metrics, and challenges. This bill directly affects veterans seeking VA health care and VA staff managing scheduling operations, focusing on concrete improvements to access and efficiency.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModernizes VA scheduling for online booking of mental health and primary care appointments, directly improving veteran access to healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRequires VA to modernize scheduling systems for better veteran healthcare access, directly improving service delivery and aligning with support indicators.95% confidence

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

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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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