'Our bill addresses these issues by giving Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP patients greater access to mental health services closer to home,' said Barrasso.
Introduce and support legislation to increase access and coverage to behavioral, psychological, and mental health services for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP patients in rural areas.
Occurrences
Senators Coons and Barrasso introduced the Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act to increase Medicare reimbursement rates for clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors, aiming to support mental health providers and strengthen access to mental health care services.
Barrasso, Bennet Introduce Bill to Improve Access to Mental Health Services in Rural Areas ... The Accelerating the Development of Advanced Psychology Trainees (ADAPT) Act , will establish Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage for advanced psychology trainees, allowing nearly 4,000 trainees to bill for services provided under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. This legislation will help rural areas across the country expand access to mental health services, improve recruitment of mental and behavioral health providers, and will help reduce burnout among our current mental health care workforce. ... Our bill addresses these issues by giving Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP patients greater access to mental health services closer to home.
Evidence
On March 27, 2026, Senators Chris Coons and John Barrasso introduced the Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act, aiming to increase Medicare reimbursement rates for clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors. This bipartisan legislation seeks to expand access to mental health services and address workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas.
On July 25, 2025, Senators John Barrasso and Michael Bennet introduced the Accelerating the Development of Advanced Psychology Trainees (ADAPT) Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to establish Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP coverage for advanced psychology trainees, allowing them to bill for services provided under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. The bill seeks to expand access to mental health services in rural areas and improve recruitment of mental health providers.
On May 15, 2025, Senators John Barrasso and Chris Coons introduced the Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act. This bipartisan bill aims to improve Medicare beneficiaries' access to licensed clinical social workers by allowing these professionals to participate in the Medicare program, thereby expanding the number of mental health providers available to seniors.
On December 4, 2025, Senators John Barrasso and Sheldon Whitehouse introduced the ACO Assignment Improvement Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to expand participation in Medicare's coordinated-care programs by ensuring Medicare recognizes care provided by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists when determining participation in an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). This change seeks to help Medicare patients receive more coordinated and high-quality care.
On January 12, 2026, Senator John Barrasso, along with Senators Peter Welch, Shelley Moore Capito, and Jacky Rosen, introduced the Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to expand Medicare coverage of genetic counseling services by allowing genetic counselors to be reimbursed directly by Medicare. The bill seeks to improve access to these services, particularly in rural communities.
Assessments
Senator Barrasso introduced and supported multiple bipartisan bills in the same term aimed at increasing access to behavioral, psychological, and mental health services for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP patients in rural areas. However, the evidence only documents the introduction and support of relevant legislation, not enactment into law or full implementation. No evidence indicates these bills became law or directly resulted in expanded coverage or access, so the outcome is partial. The legislative effort is substantial and targeted toward the claim.