Rural Wellness Act

This bill aims to boost mental and behavioral health care in rural areas. It tells the U.S. Department of Agriculture to put projects that build or improve facilities for prevention, treatment, and recovery services at the front of the line for certain rural loans and grants. It also gives priority to grants used for behavioral and mental health education and treatment, and it favors applicants that employ staff with the right training to identify and treat these conditions. Loans and grants may also be used to set up telehealth systems for mental and behavioral health treatment.

The bill extends, through fiscal year 2029, special set‑asides and priorities for substance use disorder treatment under three USDA programs: Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grants, the Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants, and the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants. It sets aside 17% of distance learning and telemedicine grant funds for telemedicine projects that provide substance use disorder treatment (currently 20%).

• Who is affected: Rural communities and providers seeking USDA funding for facilities, education, and telehealth that support mental and behavioral health care.
• What changes: Priority for mental/behavioral health projects and education; preference for applicants with trained staff; permission to fund telehealth systems; a 17% set‑aside for telemedicine projects focused on substance use disorder treatment .
• When: These set‑asides and priorities are extended through FY2029.