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HR 6817

Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2025

119th Congress Introduced by Vicente Gonzalez and 2 co-sponsors

Establishes a Home-Based Telemental Health Care Grant Program to boost at-home telehealth for rural, medically underserved residents and farm/forestry workers.

Introduced in House
1
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Bill Summary · HR 6817

Summary of HR 6817 (Introduced December 17, 2025)

Overview

HR 6817 is a House bill introduced on December 17, 2025, with the stated aim of establishing a home-based telemental health care grant program. The program is intended to expand mental health and substance use services specifically in rural medically underserved populations and among individuals working in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. As of introduction, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Purpose and Intent

  • Create a grant program to support home-based telemental health care services.
  • Target underserved rural communities and workers in agriculture-related occupations (farming, fishing, forestry).
  • Increase access to mental health and substance use disorder services through telehealth modalities delivered in home settings.

Key Provisions (Current Information)

Note: The exact text of HR 6817 is not provided here, so the following provisions are inferred from the bill’s title and purpose. The final bill text would specify precise mechanics, eligible grantees, funding levels, and oversight requirements.

  • Establishment of a Home-Based Telemental Health Care Grant Program.
  • Prioritization of grants for:
    • Rural medically underserved populations.
    • Individuals employed in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.
  • Support for telehealth services delivered in or coordinated with patients’ homes.
  • Potential requirements for program administration, grant eligibility, and performance reporting (to be detailed in the enacted bill).
  • Possible collaboration with federal health agencies and state/local partners to implement telehealth services.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Rural residents with limited access to in-person mental health and substance use services.
  • Workers in farming, fishing, and forestry sectors who may have barriers to traditional mental health care access.
  • Health care providers and organizations eligible to receive grants to implement home-based telemental health programs.
  • Potential beneficiaries of telemental health services in rural communities who can access care from home.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced in the U.S. House on December 17, 2025.
  • Referred on December 17, 2025 to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration and markups.
  • Status beyond referral is not provided; committee action and any subsequent floor proceedings would determine progression.

Additional Considerations (What to Look For in the Full Text)

  • Specific funding authorization amounts and appropriation timelines.
  • Eligibility criteria for grant applicants (types of organizations, required capabilities, matching funds, geographic criteria).
  • Application and grant cycle details (annual vs. multi-year grants, performance metrics, reporting requirements).
  • Definitions (e.g., “home-based telemental health,” “rural medically underserved,” and the scope of mental health and substance use services covered).
  • Safeguards, privacy protections, and compliance with telehealth and health information privacy laws.
  • Partnerships with federal, state, or local agencies, and any evaluation mechanisms to measure impact.

This summary reflects the information available at introduction. The final bill text will provide the definitive provisions, funding levels, and implementation details.

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

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