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Congress·In Committee·3 months ago

Congress Proposes Grants to Expand At-Home Telemental Health Care in Rural Areas

Also known as: Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

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Review
House
Senate
President

Impacts

Positive Impacts(1)
Farmer Rancher
Helps

Key Points

  • Congress would create a federal grant program to expand at-home mental health and substance use care by video/phone for rural underserved areas.
  • The program would also target people working in farming, fishing, and forestry—jobs where getting to care can be hard.
  • Grant funds could help providers and patients with basics needed for remote care, like better broadband access, patient devices, and provider technology.
  • Grantees would have to track quality and results, comparing remote care with in-person care, to show what works.
  • The Health Department would report to Congress within 3 years after the program starts, and then every 2 years after that.
HealthcareDrug PolicyInfrastructure

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Dec 17, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Dec 17, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Likely months after the bill becomes law and receives funding

Grant program launches after federal health agency sets up application rules and selects grantees

Eligible public and nonprofit telemental health networks could start applying for funding to expand home-based mental health and substance use services in covered rural areas and for farming/fishing/forestry workers

After grants are awarded and contracts/staffing are in place

Grantees begin offering expanded home-based telemental health visits and tech support

More appointment slots, fewer long trips to clinics, and potential help with devices or connectivity for patients who can’t otherwise do video visits

During the first year of a grant

Quality and outcome tracking systems are put in place by funded providers

Patients may be asked more follow-up questions (symptoms, functioning, satisfaction) as providers measure whether remote care is working as well as in-person care

No later than 3 years after the program starts

First required federal report on program impact and quality is sent to Congress

Results could influence whether Congress continues funding, expands the program, or changes what the grants can pay for

Every 2 years after the first report

Follow-up reports are sent to Congress every 2 years after the first report

Ongoing reports can shape future funding and may lead to updates in how home-based telemental health is delivered in rural areas

Related News

4 articles
LegiStorm·3 months ago

Reps. Salinas, Harshbarger Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Mental Health Telehealth Services for Rural Americans

Covers the Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act reintroduction and outlines the rural grant program, priority populations (farming/fishing/forestry), eligible uses (broadband, devices, provider tech), and reporting requirements.

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Benton Institute for Broadband & Society·2 months ago

Reps Salinas, Harshbarger Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Mental Health Telehealth Services for Rural Americans

Headlines/summary of the announcement describing the bill’s HHS grant program to expand home-based telemental health services in rural underserved areas and for farming, fishing, and forestry workers; includes allowed spending and evaluation requirements.

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Quiver Quant (CongressRadar)·3 months ago

Press Release: Reps. Andrea Salinas and Diana Harshbarger Reintroduce Bipartisan Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act to Support Rural Americans

Syndicated/aggregated write-up of the press release noting the bill’s goal to expand home-based telemental health access for rural communities and workers in agriculture/fishing/forestry via a new grant program.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 6817
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.