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Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026Section 6208 › Proposal

The in-person requirement for mental health telehealth is put off to January 31, 2026

Making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026, and for other purposes, section 6208, Sec. 6208. Written by .

The in-person requirement for mental health telehealth is put off to January 31, 2026

The document says “is amendedWho acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 6208 in the PDF
What the document says

“Section 1834(m)(7)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(7)(B)(i)) is amended, in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking "on or after October 1, 2025" and inserting "on or after January 31, 2026".”

Making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026, and for other purposes, Sec. 6208

Subsection (d) delays the requirement that a patient be seen in person before or alongside mental health care given by telehealth. The same delay is written into the rules for rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers.

What the document actually says

“Section 1834(m)(7)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(7)(B)(i)) is amended, in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking "on or after October 1, 2025" and inserting "on or after January 31, 2026".”

Making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026, and for other purposes, Sec. 6208
That sentence, in plain words

The date when the rule starts is moved. It now starts on or after January 31, 2026.

What this is about

A rule would make patients come in person as well as meet by video. It has not started yet. This puts it off again.

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