This bill, known as the Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2025, establishes a new grant program under the Public Health Service Act. The program authorizes the Secretary to award grants to eligible entities, specifically public or nonprofit private telemental health provider networks, to increase access to mental health and substance use services. These services are targeted at covered populations , which include health professional shortage areas in rural regions and individuals working in farming, fishing, or forestry industries, delivered remotely to patients in their homes or other comfortable locations. Grant recipients must use funds to deliver these home-based telemental health services and to develop comprehensive metrics for measuring the quality and impact of such care compared to traditional in-person services. Funds can also support infrastructure enhancements, such as expanding broadband access, providing devices for patients, and offsetting technology costs for providers to deliver high-quality care. The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, is required to report to Congress on the program's impact and quality of care, with up to $10,000,000 authorized annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
This bill, known as the Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2025, establishes a new grant program under the Public Health Service Act. The program authorizes the Secretary to award grants to eligible entities, specifically public or nonprofit private telemental health provider networks, to increase access to mental health and substance use services. These services are targeted at covered populations , which include health professional shortage areas in rural regions and individuals working in farming, fishing, or forestry industries, delivered remotely to patients in their homes or other comfortable locations. Grant recipients must use funds to deliver these home-based telemental health services and to develop comprehensive metrics for measuring the quality and impact of such care compared to traditional in-person services. Funds can also support infrastructure enhancements, such as expanding broadband access, providing devices for patients, and offsetting technology costs for providers to deliver high-quality care. The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, is required to report to Congress on the program's impact and quality of care, with up to $10,000,000 authorized annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.