The Second Chance Mental Health Access Act of 2026 requires state Medicaid programs to cover 12 mental health telehealth visits per calendar year for individuals who were recently incarcerated and are currently under home confinement as part of their judicial sentence. This bill targets formerly incarcerated people during their transition back into the community, recognizing that mental health support is critical during this vulnerable period. The coverage applies to individuals released from public institutions on or after the bill's enactment date, and the visits would be conducted remotely via telehealth technology. The legislation does not specify new federal funding appropriations, instead requiring states to incorporate these telehealth visits as a Medicaid benefit. This represents a modest expansion of mental health coverage aimed at reducing recidivism and supporting reentry for this population.
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