(7) Despite this overwhelming need, access to 
behavioral health services remains among the most 
pressing health care challenges in our country. 
(8) An estimated 56 percent of Americans with 
a mental health disorder did not receive treatment in 
2017. 
(9) Similarly, half of children and adolescents 
did not receive treatment for their mental health dis-
order in 2016. 
(10) Further complicating access to care, as de-
mand for behavioral health services increases in 
communities across the United States, the number 
of psychiatrists available to treat them continues to 
decline. 
(11) The population of practicing psychiatrists 
declined by more than 10 percent between the period 
of 2003 through 2013, while the population of pri-
mary care physicians and neurologists grew during 
the same period. 
(12) Technology has evolved to connect individ-
uals to health care services in new ways, including 
via telehealth. 
(13) Moreover, studies show that video visits 
are an effective strategy to provide mental health 
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treatment to children and, in fact, may be preferable 
in some cases. 
(14) During the 115th Congress, Congress rec-
ognized the potential of telehealth to ensure that 
those in urgent need of substance use disorder treat-
ment receive the care they require. 
(15) As passed and signed into law, sections 
2001 and 1009 of the SUPPORT for Patients and 
Communities Act (Public Law 115–271) expands 
the use of telehealth services for the treatment of 
opioid use disorder and other substance use dis-
orders. 
(16) It is widely recognized that there is a close 
relationship between mental health and substance 
use disorders. 
SEC. 3. MEDICARE TREATMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 
SERVICES 
FURNISHED 
THROUGH 
TELE-
HEALTH. 
Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4)(C)— 
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and (7)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘(7), and (8)’’; and 
(B) in clause (ii)(X)— 
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(i) by striking ‘‘or telehealth services’’ 
and inserting ‘‘, telehealth services’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or telehealth services 
described in paragraph (8)’’ before the pe-
riod at the end; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(8) TREATMENT
OF
BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH 
SERVICES
FURNISHED
THROUGH
TELEHEALTH.— 
The geographic requirements described in paragraph 
(4)(C)(i) shall not apply with respect to telehealth 
services that are behavioral health services furnished 
on or after July 1, 2020, to eligible telehealth indi-
viduals, including initial patient evaluations, follow- 
up medical management, and other behavioral health 
services, as determined by the Secretary, at an origi-
nating site described in paragraph (4)(C)(ii) (other 
than an originating site described in subclause (IX) 
of such paragraph).’’. 
SEC. 4. MEDICAID MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 
TREATMENT THROUGH TELEHEALTH. 
Section 1009 of the SUPPORT for Patients and 
Communities Act (Public Law 115–271) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
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(A) in the header, by striking ‘‘TREAT-
MENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS’’ 
and inserting ‘‘TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE 
USE
DISORDERS
AND
MENTAL
HEALTH 
DISORDERS
AND
BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH 
DISORDERS’’; 
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary’’ 
and inserting ‘‘The Secretary’’; 
(C) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘treatment for sub-
stance use disorders’’ and inserting ‘‘treat-
ment for substance use disorders and men-
tal health disorders and behavioral health 
disorders’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘psychotherapy,’’ 
after ‘‘counseling,’’; 
(D) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or 
mental health disorders and behavioral health 
disorders’’ after ‘‘substance use disorders’’; 
(E) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘and 
mental health disorders and behavioral health 
disorders’’ after ‘‘substance use disorders’’; and 
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(F) by adding at the end, below and after 
paragraph (3), the following flush left text: 
‘‘The Secretary shall issue the guidance under this sub-
section not later than 1 year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, with respect to the matters described 
in the previous provisions of this subsection relating to 
substance use disorders, and not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, with respect to the 
matters described in such previous provisions relating to 
mental health disorders and behavioral health disorders.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the header, by striking ‘‘TREAT-
MENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS’’ 
and inserting ‘‘TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE 
USE
DISORDERS
AND
MENTAL
HEALTH 
DISORDERS
AND
BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH 
DISORDERS’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘treat-
ment for substance use disorders’’ and inserting 
‘‘treatment for substance use disorders and 
mental health disorders and behavioral health 
disorders’’ each place it appears; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
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(i) by inserting ‘‘with respect to sub-
stance use disorders,’’ after ‘‘paragraph 
(1),’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following 
new sentence: ‘‘Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General shall submit to Con-
gress a report containing the results of the 
evaluation conducted under paragraph (1), 
with respect to mental health disorders and 
behavioral health disorders, together with 
recommendations for such legislation and 
administrative action as the Comptroller 
General determines appropriate.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d)(1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by inserting ‘‘and mental health disorders 
and behavioral health disorders’’ after ‘‘sub-
stance use disorders’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘, 
and mental health disorders and behavioral 
health disorders’’ after ‘‘opioid use disorder’’; 
and 
(C) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘and mental health disorders and behavioral 
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health disorders’’ after ‘‘substance use dis-
orders’’. 
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 
as is included in the enactment of the SUPPORT for Pa-
tients and Communities Act. 
Æ 
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