To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove in-person requirements under Medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology.

This bill would make it easier for people on Medicare to get mental health care by video or phone. It removes rules that say you must see a provider in person or be in certain locations to use telehealth for mental health or substance use treatment. It also updates rules for rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers so these tele-mental health visits can count without an in‑person requirement.

In plain terms, if you’re a Medicare patient, you could have therapy or other mental health visits from home (or another convenient place) using telehealth, without needing to first go in person. The bill keeps earlier flexibilities that waived location limits for substance use treatment starting in mid‑2020 and extends similar flexibility for mental health care after the federal emergency period ends.

Key points

• Who is affected: People with Medicare seeking mental health or substance use care; providers, including rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers.
• What changes: Removes in‑person and location limits for telehealth mental health visits, allowing care by video or phone from more places, including home.
• When: Location limits for substance use care were waived starting July 1, 2020; similar flexibility for mental health visits applies after the federal emergency period ends.