On April 21, 2026, the House of Representatives passed two critical pieces of legislation that could improve the reach of behavioral health services among populations with limited access to medical services. The first bill, H.R. 3419opens in new window, reauthorizes a grant program—under the oversight of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)—that funds telehealth resource centers through 2030. These regional centers provide a wide range of no-cost technical assistance, education, and other resources on a variety of telehealth topics. The bill was unanimously advanced out of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce (E&C Committee) on September 17, 2025.
The second bill, H.R. 2493opens in new window, reauthorizes another set of HRSA grant programs aimed at improving health care outreach, networks, and quality among rural communities. The bill also makes a minor adjustment, clarifying that programs operating under the grants should be using these funds to "to meet the health care needs of rural underserved populations in the local community to be served," and those programs should be developed with input from local stakeholders. This bill was also reported out by a unanimous vote of the E&C Committee on September 17, 2025.
Presently, it is not clear if the Senate will take up these pieces of legislation. Regardless, APA Services staff will continue to monitor this legislation as Congress works through its appropriations process for FY 2027 and sets up legislation for potential movement later in the year.
For more information, email Andrew Strickland.