The Increasing Mental Health Options Act of 2026 expands Medicare coverage for mental health services by allowing clinical psychologists to independently provide and bill for psychological and behavioral health services in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and home health services. The bill offers a 10 percent payment bonus to clinical psychologists who practice in rural and medically underserved areas starting in 2028, similar to existing incentives for physicians in these regions. These changes eliminate requirements for physician oversight of clinical psychologist services while still maintaining professional consultation standards between psychologists and patients' doctors. The amendments take effect on January 1, 2028, and are funded through Medicare's Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund. This legislation aims to increase access to mental health care, particularly in underserved communities where mental health professional shortages are acute.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.