Rural Behavioral Health Improvement Act of 2025

This bill seeks to enhance the availability of behavioral health services for Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas. It proposes to achieve this by amending Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, specifically targeting limitations placed on rural health clinics (RHCs) regarding the delivery of such services. The core provision involves striking language that currently restricts RHCs from providing behavioral health services if they are considered facilities primarily for the care and treatment of mental diseases. By removing this specific limitation, the bill aims to broaden the scope of behavioral health care that RHCs can offer under the Medicare program. These changes are slated to become effective on January 1, 2027 , potentially improving access to crucial mental health support in underserved rural communities.