Medicare expands mental health access by letting psychologists practice independently
H.R. 9990 — Increasing Mental Health Options Act of 2026 · Filed by Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) · 3 cosponsors · Introduced Jul 30, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill expands Medicare coverage for mental health services by allowing clinical psychologists to independently provide and supervise behavioral health care in rural and underserved areas, and removes physician-oversight requirements in several care settings (nursing facilities, home health, partial hospitalization, inpatient psychiatric hospitals). It also creates a 10% payment bonus to clinical psychologists who practice in federally designated health professional shortage areas, funded from Medicare's Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is expanding clinical psychologist scope of practice and removing physician-gatekeeping requirements in Medicare-covered settings, paired with a rural/underserved-area payment incentive. This is a straightforward access-and-supply measure, not a hidden carve-out.
What the text implies
- Removal of physician supervision requirements may reduce coordination of care between psychologists and primary physicians, potentially fragmenting mental health records and clinical communication in complex cases.
- The 10% bonus is funded from the Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund (Part B), which is financed by beneficiary premiums and general revenue; this may indirectly increase pressure on Medicare's solvency or future premium adjustments.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
clinical psychologists and psychology practices; behavioral health service providers; mental health clinics and facilities in rural/underserved areas