Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2011
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-21T06:40:43Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 2011: Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2025
Purpose
This legislation amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare) to expand and secure coverage for mental and behavioral health services delivered via telehealth, removing prior limitations on such coverage.
Key Provisions
- Short title: The bill is named the Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2025.
- Amendment to existing law: Modifies Section 1834(m)(7) of the Social Security Act by:
- Replacing references to "mental health services" with "mental and behavioral health services."
- Removing the geographic restriction previously tied to the provision.
- Eliminating the conditional clause "subject to subparagraph (B)."
- Adding coverage for behavioral health services in addition to treatment of mental health disorders.
- Striking subparagraph (B) entirely.
- Effective date: The changes apply retroactively as if enacted with section 123 of division CC of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Broadens the scope of covered telehealth services from mental health only to include behavioral health.
- Removes geographic and other conditional restrictions that limited telehealth use for these services under the 2021 law.
- Establishes permanent, unrestricted Medicare coverage for these telehealth services without the prior limitations.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to update reimbursement policies and ensure consistent coverage for telehealth mental and behavioral health services.
- On citizens: Improves access for Medicare beneficiaries to remote mental and behavioral health care, potentially reducing barriers for those in underserved areas.
- On international relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Medicare beneficiaries seeking mental or behavioral health treatment.
- Healthcare providers offering telehealth services in these areas.
- The Department of Health and Human Services and CMS, responsible for implementation.
- Congressional committees overseeing Medicare policy, such as the Senate Committee on Finance.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Represents a legislative expansion of Medicare telehealth authority, altering prior statutory limits without raising apparent constitutional issues.
- Introduces retroactive application, which may affect prior claims or provider billing practices.
- Focuses solely on federal Medicare rules, with no noted effects on state laws or other programs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2025-06-10: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-10 — PDF (2 pages)