John Barrasso (R-WY)
Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 7 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S1616)
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act of 2026," aims to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act. The primary goal is to improve access to mental health services within the Medicare program. It proposes changes to how certain payments are calculated for specific services. These amendments would increase the payment percentage for certain services from 75 percent to 85 percent of the fee schedule amount. If passed, these changes would take effect for services provided on or after January 1, 2027.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +6
Does this make mental health care easier to get?
By increasing provider reimbursement rates, the bill aims to improve access to mental health services for Medicare beneficiaries.
- Scored +5
Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65?
The bill increases the payment rate for certain mental health services from 75 to 85 percent of the fee schedule amount under Medicare.
- Scored +5
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill improves the financing of mental health services specifically for the Medicare population, which consists largely of seniors.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Increased Payment for Providers: Under Section 2(a)(1) and Section 2(a)(3), the bill changes the payment rate from 75 percent to 85 percent of the fee schedule amount. This could provide more financial support to those providing mental health services under Medicare.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — By increasing provider reimbursement rates, the bill aims to improve access to mental health services for Medicare beneficiaries. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill increases the payment rate for certain mental health services from 75 to 85 percent of the fee schedule amount under Medicare.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill improves the financing of mental health services specifically for the Medicare population, which consists largely of seniors. Would retired people be better off under this? — Increasing mental health service reimbursement rates supports the healthcare infrastructure relied upon by retirees covered by Medicare.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill amends Title XVIII of the Social-Security Act to increase payments for specific mental health services.
- 7/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/16/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/25/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S1616)
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John BoozmanRepublican · Arkansas
Shelley CapitoRepublican · West Virginia
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon