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Online Behavioral Therapy Access for Rural Residents via Medicare.

This act aims to improve access to mental health services for people in rural areas. It allows Critical Access Hospitals to provide behavioral therapy services online, which will be covered by the Medicare program. This means rural residents can get needed help without traveling to the hospital, especially important where transportation is an issue.
Key points
Enables Medicare payments for online behavioral therapies provided by rural hospitals.
Increases access to healthcare for rural residents, especially for mental health services.
Requires an in-person visit to the hospital within one year if the first service was online and the patient had no prior in-person care there.
article Official text account_balance Process page
Expired
Citizen Poll
No votes cast
Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_2228
Sponsor: Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5]
Process start date: 2021-03-26
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Rural Behavioral Health Access Act of 2021

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_2228.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-03-26.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Enables Medicare payments for online behavioral therapies provided by rural hospitals.
  • Increases access to healthcare for rural residents, especially for mental health services.
  • Requires an in-person visit to the hospital within one year if the first service was online and the patient had no prior in-person care there.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-27.

CATEGORIES

Health