Increasing Mental Health Options Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced
Summary
Boosts pay and expands where clinical psychologists can practice under Medicare to improve mental health access in rural and underserved areas. The bill would add a 10% payment bonus for psychologist services in shortage areas and let clinical psychologists provide and supervise services across multiple Medicare settings when state law allows.
Show full summary
- Clinical psychologists and employers would receive a 10% add-on to Medicare payments for services furnished in areas the Secretary designates as health professional shortage areas. The add-on begins in 2028 and is paid from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund on a monthly or quarterly basis.
- Medicare patients across care settings would have greater access to psychologist care because the bill permits clinical psychologists to serve as treating or supervising clinicians in Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Partial Hospitalization Programs, Home Health Services, and Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals to the extent authorized by state law.
- Facilities and state regulators would rely on state law to define how clinical psychologists supervise care, and the bill preserves requirements for clinician consultation and patient confidentiality. Services affected by these changes would be those furnished on or after January 1, 2028.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
10% Medicare add-on for psychologists
If enacted, this would add "clinical psychologist" into certain Medicare payment rules when the bill is enacted. Beginning in 2028, this would pay an extra 10% of the Medicare payment for each eligible psychologist service given to a Medicare Part B beneficiary in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) identified by the Secretary before the year starts. The add-on would be paid from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund to the clinical psychologist (or to an employer or facility in specified cases). Payments would be made monthly or quarterly.
More psychologist care in Medicare settings
If enacted, starting January 1, 2028 this would allow clinical psychologists to provide and, where specified, supervise "qualified psychologist services" in many Medicare-covered settings. Covered settings include skilled nursing facilities, comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation centers, home health, partial hospitalization, and inpatient psychiatric hospitals, to the extent State law authorizes those roles. This would apply only to the services defined as "qualified psychologist services" in Medicare. The bill would also make clear it does not change existing rules about clinical consultation with a beneficiary's physician or patient confidentiality.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
LA • R
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov