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Rural Behavioral Health Improvement Act of 2025
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove certain limitations on the delivery of behavioral health services at rural health clinics under the Medicare program.
Summary
This bill removes a restriction in the Medicare program that previously excluded facilities primarily focused on mental health treatment from being classified as rural health clinics. Under current law, such mental health facilities are ineligible for rural health clinic designation and Medicare reimbursement. The bill eliminates this exclusion, allowing behavioral health facilities in rural areas to qualify as rural health clinics and receive Medicare reimbursement. The change takes effect on January 1, 2027.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
23 cosponsors
- Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large] (R-GU)
- Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4] (R-IN)
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT)
- Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4] (R-CO)
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL)
- Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6] (R-AZ)
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-CA)
- Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3] (D-KS)
- Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6] (D-LA)
- Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2] (D-AL)
- Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6] (R-MO)
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA)
- Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1] (R-CA)
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA)
- Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22] (D-NY)
- Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1] (R-KS)
- Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3] (R-IA)
- Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-NH)
- Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3] (R-NE)
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM)
- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS)
- Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22] (R-CA)
- Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1] (R-MT)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Jill N. Tokuda’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Jill N. Tokuda → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Sep 8, 2025 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. · house
- Sep 8, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 8, 2025
Ms. Tokuda (for herself, Mr. Mann, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Ciscomani, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Fields, Mr. Mannion, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Costa, Mr. Baird, Mr. Graves, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Pappas, Ms. Boebert, and Mr. Smith of Nebraska) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove certain limitations on the delivery of behavioral health services at rural health clinics under the Medicare program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Rural Behavioral Health Improvement Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. EXCEPTION TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LIMITATION.
(a) In General.—Section 1861(aa)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)(2)) is amended, in the first sentence in the matter following subparagraph (K), by striking “or a facility which is primarily for the care and treatment of mental diseases”.
(b) Effective Date.—The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply beginning January 1, 2027. <all>
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