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.
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The in-person mental health requirement is put off to January 1, 2028
The document says “is amended”Who 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''.”
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''.”
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.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, Public Law 119-75, sec. 6209, 140 Stat. 648 (2026). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ75/html/PLAW-119publ75.htm
This page
“The in-person mental health requirement is put off to January 1, 2028,” Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, section 6209, Sec. 6209. Read the Mandate, https://readthemandate.org/consolidated-appropriations-act-2026/proposal/sec6209-in-person-mental-health-delay/ (retrieved October 10, 2026).
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