Sponsors (3)
The bill directs modest federal funding to expand home-based telemental and substance-use services for targeted rural areas and occupations and to build supporting broadband and quality metrics, but limited funding, narrow eligibility, provider restrictions, and infrastructure or administrative barriers could substantially constrain who actually benefits.
People in rural Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and farming, fishing, and forestry workers gain funded access to home-based telemental health and substance-use services.
Patients — especially those in rural areas and people with disabilities — can receive care at home via funded telemental networks, reducing travel time, missed work, and access barriers.
Grants may fund broadband expansion and patient devices in targeted areas, improving internet access and the infrastructure needed for telehealth.
Rural communities and target workers may still lack needed services because funding is capped at $10 million per year, which is likely insufficient to meet broadband, device, and service needs across many areas.
The program’s narrow eligibility (limited to certain occupations and rural HPSAs) will leave other underserved populations without access to funded home-based telemental services.
Restricting grants to public or nonprofit networks excludes for-profit providers that could expand services, potentially reducing provider capacity and innovation.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes HHS grants to public/nonprofit telemental-health networks to expand home-based telemental and substance-use services and supporting infrastructure for rural and agricultural populations.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Andrea Salinas · Last progress December 17, 2025
Authorizes the HHS Secretary, working with the USDA Rural Health Liaison, to award grants to public or nonprofit telemental-health provider networks to expand home-based mental health and substance-use services for people in rural Health Professional Shortage Areas and for those working in farming, fishing, or forestry. Grants can fund direct home-based care, development of comparative quality and impact metrics, and supporting infrastructure such as broadband expansion, patient devices, and provider technology cost offsets. The program includes reporting requirements to Congress (first report within 3 years, then every 2 years) and a funding authorization of up to $10 million per year for fiscal years 2025–2029 from amounts made available to the Secretary.