{"id":"900d04e3-89aa-449f-8dae-26dc82cbd2a4","feedVisibility":"normal","congress":119,"billType":"hr","billNumber":7324,"title":"More Behavioral Health Providers Act of 2026","displayTitle":"More Behavioral Health Providers Act of 2026","abstract":"More Behavioral Health Providers Act of 2026 This bill provides for additional Medicare payments to health care practitioners who provide services in mental health professional shortage areas for individuals with mental health or substance use disorders. The bill applies to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors.","displaySummary":"<p><strong>YVN Summary</strong></p>\n\n<p>Medicare currently pays doctors a 10% bonus for practicing in areas with a shortage of health professionals, but that bonus doesn't cover mental health or substance abuse treatment. Starting in 2027, this bill would create a 15% bonus specifically for mental health and substance use disorder services provided in areas designated as mental health professional shortage areas. It would also expand who qualifies beyond just physicians to include nurse practitioners, clinical social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors — the providers who do most of the day-to-day behavioral health work in underserved communities.</p>","status":"COMMITTEE_CONSIDERATION","topics":[],"introducedAt":"2026-02-03T00:00:00+00:00","latestActionAt":"2026-02-03T00:00:00+00:00","congressGovUrl":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7324","accountabilityFlags":{},"tldr":"Adds a 15% Medicare bonus for mental health and addiction care in underserved areas, and lets more provider types (not just doctors) bill for it.","summaryStandard":null,"flagExplainers":{},"flagValence":{},"needsResummary":false,"displaySummaryHtml":null,"rawStatusText":"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.","chamber":"HOUSE","policyArea":"Health","legislativeSubjects":[],"lawStatus":null,"lawNumber":null,"latestActionText":"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.","latestTextVersion":"Introduced in House","textVersionUsed":"Introduced in House","dateAdded":"2026-03-30T00:00:00+00:00","summarizedAt":"2026-03-30T00:00:00+00:00","recordId":"900d04e3-89aa-449f-8dae-26dc82cbd2a4","feedIdentityKey":"119/hr/7324","websiteBillId":"HR-7324","yourvoiceSummary":"Medicare currently pays doctors a 10% bonus for practicing in areas with a shortage of health professionals, but that bonus doesn't cover mental health or substance abuse treatment. Starting in 2027, this bill would create a 15% bonus specifically for mental health and substance use disorder services provided in areas designated as mental health professional shortage areas. It would also expand who qualifies beyond just physicians to include nurse practitioners, clinical social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors — the providers who do most of the day-to-day behavioral health work in underserved communities.","updatedAt":"2026-10-25T02:16:54.97822+00:00"}