YourVoice.Now Summary
Your MoneyMedicaid would have to pay for a mental health visit and a checkup on the same day — and the text is not limited to youth.
Your Money
A state Medicaid plan could not refuse to pay for a mental health visit and a primary care visit given on the same day. Both have to happen at the same office, clinic, or other outpatient site. The same provider or another one may give the second visit.
People turned away today have to come back another day for the second visit. That means a second trip, more time away from work, and more childcare. Nothing in the text limits the rule to young people, despite the name.
More about this bill
On Medicaid, you could see a counselor and your regular doctor on the same day. States could no longer refuse to pay for one visit just because the other happened that day. Both visits would have to be at the same office, clinic, or other outpatient site. The second visit could be with the same provider or a different one. Many people are sent back a second day for the second visit today. That means another trip, more time off work, and more childcare. The name of the bill points at youth. Its text does not limit the rule to young people, so adults on Medicaid would be covered too. Mental health care and regular checkups are named in the text. Drug and alcohol treatment is not. Video visits are not named either. States would have to write the change into their Medicaid plans.
Congressional Summary
Improving Coordination and Access to Resources Equitably for Youth Act or the Improving CARE for Youth ActThis bill prohibits state Medicaid programs from denying coverage for primary care and mental health services that are furnished on the same day at the same office, clinic, or other outpatient facility.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-08-04
- Date Added
- 2026-08-27
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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