Sponsors (3)
The bill directs modest, targeted grant funding to expand home-based telemental and substance use services and supporting broadband/devices for certain rural and occupational groups, but limited funding, narrow eligibility, provider restrictions, and implementation timelines risk leaving many underserved people without timely access.
People in rural Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and workers in farming, fishing, and forestry gain funded access to home-based telemental health and substance use services.
Patients who qualify can receive care at home via funded telemental networks, reducing travel burdens, missed work, and the need to travel to distant clinics.
Grant funding can be used to expand broadband and provide patient devices, improving internet access needed to support telehealth in underserved areas.
Rural communities and agricultural workers may still lack needed services because funding is capped at $10 million/year, likely insufficient to meet broadband and care needs across many areas.
Limiting eligibility to certain occupations and designated rural HPSAs leaves other underserved populations (including many people with disabilities) without access to the funded home-based services.
Restricting grants to public or nonprofit networks excludes for‑profit providers that might expand capacity, potentially slowing or narrowing service availability.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes HHS grants (up to $10M/yr FY2025–FY2029) to expand home-based telemental health and substance use services, fund broadband/devices/provider tech, and require impact reporting.
Official title: To establish a home-based telemental health care grant program for purposes of increasing mental health and substance use services in rural medically underserved populations and for individuals in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Andrea Salinas · Last progress December 17, 2025
Authorizes HHS to award grants to public and nonprofit telemental health provider networks to expand home-based mental health and substance use services for people in rural Health Professional Shortage Areas and workers in farming, fishing, and forestry. Grants can pay for direct home-based telemental care, broadband and patient devices, provider technology cost offsets, and development of quality and impact metrics; HHS must report on program impact within three years and biennially after. Funding authority is up to $10 million per year for FY2025–FY2029.