This bill makes it easier for people to get mental health and substance abuse treatment through video visits with doctors. Right now, Medicare only allows these telehealth visits if you're in a rural area and you go to a specific medical office. This bill removes that rural requirement and lets you have these visits from your own home instead, starting in 2025. So if you live in a city or suburb and prefer to talk to a therapist or counselor from your couch, you'll be able to do that through Medicare. The bill also tells Medicaid (the health program for lower-income people) to study and report on how to expand these same kinds of services, though it doesn't make immediate changes to Medicaid rules. Overall, it's about removing barriers so more people can access mental health care conveniently without having to travel to an office.

EASE Behavioral Health Services Act

Kennedy, John

Enhance Access to Support Essential Behavioral Health Services Act or the EASE Behavioral Health Services Act This bill removes restrictions that require the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) to be in a rural area, and allows the home of a beneficiary to serve as the originating site, for behavioral health telehealth services under Medicare. The bill applies to services provided on or after January 1, 2025. The bill also expands the scope of required guidance, studies, and reports to address the provision of such services under Medicaid.