A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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
The Increasing Mental Health Options Act of 2026 aims to amend the Social Security Act to increase access to psychological and behavioral health services. It proposes an incentive payment for clinical psychologists practicing in designated health professional shortage areas. The bill also seeks to reduce oversight requirements for services provided by clinical psychologists in several settings. These settings include comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, partial hospitalization services, home health services, and inpatient psychiatric hospital services. These changes are intended to allow patients to receive care from or under the supervision of a clinical psychologist as authorized by State law.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +7
Does this make mental health care easier to get?
The bill expands access to psychological and behavioral health services by allowing clinical psychologists to provide care in various settings.
- Scored +6
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill specifically incentivizes psychologists to practice in health professional shortage areas, which often include rural communities.
- Scored +5
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill improves access to care by incentivizing psychologist practice in designated health professional shortage areas.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Incentives for Rural Practice: Under Section 2, clinical psychologists providing services in areas designated as health professional shortage areas will receive an additional payment equal to 10 percent of the service payment amount from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund. This is intended to encourage practice in underserved areas.
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Expanded Care Options in Outpatient Settings: Section 3(a) allows individuals receiving qualified psychologist services in comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities to be under the care of a clinical psychologist as authorized under State law.
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Improved Oversight for Nursing Facilities: Section 3(b) updates rules for skilled nursing facilities so that residents receiving qualified psychologist services may be under the supervision of a clinical psychologist as authorized under State law.
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Enhanced Partial Hospitalization Care: Section 3(c) amends rules for partial hospitalization services to allow patients to be under the care of a clinical psychologist or under their supervision as authorized under State law.
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Expanded Home Health Care: Section 3(d) modifies home health services to allow individuals to be under the care of a clinical psychologist as authorized under State law.
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Support in Psychiatric Hospitals: Section 3(e) updates inpatient psychiatric hospital services to allow patients receiving qualified psychologist services to be under the supervision of a clinical psychologist as authorized under State law.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly mentioned in the text.
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? — The bill expands access to psychological and behavioral health services by allowing clinical psychologists to provide care in various settings. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill improves access to care by incentivizing psychologist practice in designated health professional shortage areas. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill expands Medicare coverage to include expanded roles and incentive payments for clinical psychologists.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill specifically incentivizes psychologists to practice in health professional shortage areas, which often include rural communities. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill expands mental health service options for seniors receiving care in skilled nursing and home health settings. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill expands access to mental health services in underserved areas which often serve low-income populations.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill provides a 10 percent incentive payment to encourage clinical psychologists to practice in shortage areas.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Expanding healthcare access can assist in poverty reduction by improving health outcomes for low-income individuals.
- 7/23/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
John KennedyRepublican · Louisiana