Remove in-person requirements under Medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology.
H.R. 8227118th Congress

Remove in-person requirements under Medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology.

Introduced in the HouseRep. Kevin Hern (R-OK-1)8 sections · 1 min read
Version: ih · Apr 20, 2026

(a) Removing in-Person requirements for mental health services furnished through telehealth

Section 1834(m)(7) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(7)) is amended to read as follows:

(7) Treatment of substance use disorder services and mental health services furnished through telehealth

The geographic requirements described in paragraph (4)(C)(i) shall not apply with respect to telehealth services furnished on or after July 1, 2019, to an eligible telehealth individual with a substance use disorder diagnosis for purposes of treatment of such disorder or co-occurring mental health disorder, as determined by the Secretary, or, on or after the first day after the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B), to an eligible telehealth individual for purposes of diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of a mental health disorder, as determined by the Secretary, at an originating site described in paragraph (4)(C)(ii) (other than an originating site described in subclause (IX) of such paragraph) or, for the period for which clause (iii) of paragraph (4)(C) applies, at any site described in such clause.

(b) Mental health visits furnished by rural health clinics

Section 1834(y) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(y)) is amended—

(1) in the heading, by striking to hospice patients; and

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking prior to the day that is the 152nd day after the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B)).

(c) Mental health visits furnished by federally qualified health centers

Section 1834(o)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(o)(4) is amended—

(1) in the heading, by striking to hospice patients; and

(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking prior to the day that is the 152nd day after the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B)).

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