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HRES1290119th Congress
Recognizing the significant and often overlooked behavioral health needs experienced by individuals and families affected by rare diseases, and for other purposes.
Sponsored By: Representative Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
Introduced
Summary
This resolution would declare behavioral health an essential component of comprehensive rare disease care. It would push agencies and stakeholders to expand access, strengthen the workforce, support peer programs, and address insurer barriers for roughly 25 to 30 million Americans, more than half of whom are children.
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- Families and patients: Would promote integrating behavioral health into clinical pathways and research so anxiety, depression, and trauma-related symptoms are treated alongside medical care.
- Caregivers: Encourages standardized, evidence-informed peer support programs, including virtual and community models, to help reduce caregiver burnout.
- Clinicians and the workforce: Urges investment in behavioral health staffing, especially child and adolescent providers, and calls for cultural competency training.
- Insurers and payors: Recommends that public and private payors review and address reimbursement barriers that limit access to integrated behavioral health services.
- Federal coordination: Calls on the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to prioritize behavioral health in rare disease initiatives and work with patient groups and researchers.
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Bill Overview
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov