Grassroots Action Center
Immediate Action Needed
Ask your members of Congress to support removing barriers to high-quality, virtual mental health care for Medicare beneficiaries.
The Situation
New legislation would permanently remove the requirement that Medicare beneficiaries must have face-to-face appointments within 6 months when receiving mental health services through telehealth. This outdated mandate creates unnecessary obstacles for patients who could otherwise receive effective care from home.
The Telemental Health Care Access Act has been extended multiple times through temporary funding measures, most recently in March, delaying the in-person requirement until Sept. 30, 2025. The proposed legislation would make this elimination permanent.
What’s at Stake
Currently, Medicare recipients use telehealth for 38.4% of behavioral health services compared to just 6% for standard medical visits. Mental health conditions have become the top telehealth diagnosis since COVID-19, jumping from 34% to 67% of all remote visits. This policy change would align mental health telehealth rules with substance use disorder services, which already have no in-person requirements.
Key Benefits
Higher appointment completion rates: Telehealth shows 64% better attendance than in-person visits.
Improved treatment continuity: Patients can maintain consistent care without artificial barriers.
Enhanced access: Particularly important for rural and mobility-limited populations.
Better health outcomes: Consistent appointments lead to more effective condition management.
The Urgent Need
With 1 in 5 adults experiencing mental illness and 55% receiving no treatment, removing barriers to care is critical. The 6-month in-person requirement contradicts efforts to expand mental health access and may worsen the national mental health crisis.
Research demonstrates that keeping appointments is strongly linked to positive patient outcomes. When patients receive timely, uninterrupted care, they're better able to manage their conditions and prevent symptom deterioration.
With current telehealth flexibilities set to expire Oct. 1, 2025, this legislation represents a crucial step in ensuring continued mental health access for Medicare beneficiaries who have come to rely on remote care options.
Take Action Now
Contact your members of Congress immediately
Request their support for the Telemental Health Care Access Act (H.R. 3884/S.2011).
Share how these actions and the loss of health insurance would affect your practice and clients.
