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.
Congressional Summary
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.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-02-03
- Date Added
- 2026-03-30
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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