Sponsors (12)
The bill expands targeted telehealth mental‑health coverage for Medicaid enrollees under judicial home confinement—improving access for a high‑need reentry group—but narrows who benefits, caps visits, and relies on telehealth in ways that may leave some people without effective access and impose costs on states.
Medicaid enrollees released from public institutions who are under judicial home confinement gain access to up to 12 telehealth mental‑health visits per calendar year, expanding treatment access and reducing transportation and security barriers for a high‑need reentry population.
States receive a clear federal coverage requirement for this reentry population, reducing ambiguity and prompting delivery of services that some states might otherwise not prioritize.
Only people under judicial home confinement immediately after incarceration are eligible, excluding other Medicaid beneficiaries who may also have serious post‑release mental‑health needs.
The limit of 12 visits per calendar year may be insufficient for individuals with severe or chronic mental‑health conditions, risking treatment gaps.
Delivering the benefit only via telehealth may effectively exclude those without reliable broadband, devices, or private space—disproportionately affecting rural and low‑income beneficiaries.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires Medicaid to cover up to 12 telehealth mental-health visits per year for people released from incarceration to judicially-ordered home confinement.
Requires Medicaid state plans to cover up to 12 mental-health visits delivered by telehealth each calendar year for Medicaid enrollees who were released from a public institution and placed on judicially-ordered home confinement. One other section only sets the act's short title and does not change program rules.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Valerie Foushee · Last progress February 12, 2026