More Behavioral Health Providers Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Budzinski
Introduced
Summary
Expands Medicare bonus payments to mental health and substance use disorder providers in shortage areas. It creates two payment pathways that attach extra Medicare pay for covered behavioral health services and specifies which practitioners and services qualify.
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- Behavioral health clinicians: Physicians and newly defined “applicable practitioners” become eligible for bonus pay. Applicable practitioners include physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors.
- Payment rates: Physicians’ services in Health Professional Shortage Areas receive an extra 10% of the Medicare payment. Specified behavioral health services in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas receive an extra 15%.
- Timing and funding: The “specified health services” and practitioner definitions apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027. Bonus payments are distributed monthly or quarterly from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
10% Medicare boost for shortage-area doctors
If enacted, physicians who give Medicare-covered services in Secretary-identified Health Professional Shortage Areas would get an extra 10% payment. The Secretary must identify qualifying shortage areas before the year. Payments would be made monthly or quarterly from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund to the physician or, when allowed, to the employer or facility. This extra 10% does not apply to services eligible for the separate 15% mental-health bonus.
15% Medicare boost for mental health services
If enacted, Medicare-covered services for diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of mental health or substance use disorders in Secretary-identified Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas would get an extra 15% payment. The 15% bonus would apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027 under the bill's definition. Payments would be made monthly or quarterly from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund to the physician, applicable practitioner, or to an employer or facility. The bill defines applicable practitioners to include physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Budzinski
IL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]
KS • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov