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Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026Section 6209 › Proposal

The in-person mental health requirement is put off to January 1, 2028

Making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes, section 6209, Sec. 6209. Written by .

The in-person mental health requirement is put off to January 1, 2028

The document says “is amendedWho acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 6209 in the PDF
What the document says

“``on or after January 31, 2026'' and inserting ``on or after January 1, 2028''.”

Making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes, Sec. 6209

Subsection (d) of section 6209 puts off the in-person requirement for mental health services furnished through telehealth. It makes the same change in section 1834(m)(7)(B)(i), and moves the date from January 31, 2026 to January 1, 2028 in section 1834(y)(2) for rural health clinics and section 1834(o)(4)(B) for federally qualified health centers.

What the document actually says

“``on or after January 31, 2026'' and inserting ``on or after January 1, 2028''.”

Making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes, Sec. 6209
That sentence, in plain words

Cross out the words on or after January 31, 2026. Write in the words on or after January 1, 2028.

What this is about

One rule would make a patient see a mental health provider in person before or during care by screen. This holds that rule off for two more years.

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