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Bill

HR 1867

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove in-person requirements under Medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology.

119th Congress Introduced by Brian Fitzpatrick and 4 co-sponsors

Summary of H.R. 1867: Expanding Access to Mental Health Telehealth Act OverviewH.R. 1867, the Expanding Access to Mental Health Telehealth Act, is a bill introduced in the U.S. Hou

Introduced in House
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Bill Summary · HR 1867

Summary of H.R. 1867: Expanding Access to Mental Health Telehealth Act

Overview

H.R. 1867, the Expanding Access to Mental Health Telehealth Act, is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 5, 2025. The main purpose of this legislation is to remove the in-person requirements under Medicare for mental health services delivered through telehealth and telecommunications technology.

Key Provisions

The bill would make the following key changes:

  1. Eliminate In-Person Requirements: The legislation would remove the current requirement that a patient must have an initial in-person visit with a provider before receiving mental health services via telehealth under Medicare. This would allow greater access to remote mental health care.

  2. Expand Eligible Providers: The bill would expand the types of providers eligible to deliver mental health services through telehealth to include clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, and other mental health professionals.

  3. Maintain Parity in Reimbursement: The legislation would ensure that Medicare reimbursement rates for mental health services delivered via telehealth are equal to the rates for in-person visits.

Impact and Affected Parties

The Expanding Access to Mental Health Telehealth Act is intended to improve access to vital mental health care, especially for Medicare beneficiaries in rural or underserved areas who may face barriers to in-person visits. Key impacted parties include:

  • Medicare beneficiaries seeking mental health treatment
  • Mental health professionals providing telehealth services
  • Healthcare providers and facilities offering remote mental health care
  • Policymakers and regulators overseeing Medicare coverage and reimbursement

Procedural and Timeline Details

As an introduced bill, H.R. 1867 must go through the full legislative process, including committee hearings, floor votes in the House and Senate, and potential reconciliation between the chambers before being sent to the President for signature or veto.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which will likely hold hearings and markup sessions before sending it to the full House for consideration. The timeline for potential passage and enactment into law remains uncertain at this stage.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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