Medicare: Expanding Access to Mental Health Care
The Senate Committee on Finance received this bill on July 23, 2026. It has not moved since that date and remains in the committee for review. Most bills do not receive a vote at this stage, so the proposal is currently stalled.
The bill has strong bipartisan support from well-known senators, but it faces a long road through the committee process and needs to be scheduled for a full vote.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Clinical psychologists who run independent practices, especially in rural or underserved areas, would gain more autonomy to treat Medicare patients without needing a physician's ongoing supervision, and could qualify for a 10 percent shortage-area bonus payment. This could make it more financially viable to open or keep a practice in areas with fewer patients or lower reimbursement volume.
“an amount equal to 10 percent of the payment amount for the service under this part”
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
The Increasing Mental Health Options Act, proposed by Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), would eliminate a Medicare requirement that psychologists obtain physician approval before providing services, aimed at reducing delays in care and expanding access in rural areas.
Senators John Kennedy and Martin Heinrich introduced the Increasing Mental Health Options Act to eliminate outdated Medicare rules requiring physician approval for psychologist services. The bill also offers 10% bonus payments to psychologists working in health professional shortage areas.
The bipartisan Increasing Mental Health Options Act aims to expand access to mental healthcare in rural communities by eliminating Medicare requirements that delay treatment. It allows psychologists to practice independently in all Medicare settings and provides incentives for underserved areas.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Increasing Mental Health Options Act of 2026
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.