I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8458 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to 
psychological and behavioral services. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 17, 2024 
Ms. MALLIOTAKIS (for herself, Ms. CHU, Mr. PFLUGER, and Ms. SCHA-
KOWSKY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand 
access to psychological and behavioral services. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Increasing Mental 
Health Options Act of 2024’’. 
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SEC. 2. EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR INCENTIVES TO 
PRACTICE IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED 
AREAS. 
Section 1833(m) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395l(m)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘In the 
case’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) In the case of services furnished by a clinical 
psychologist (as defined by the Secretary for purposes of 
section 1861(ii)) in a year (beginning with 2025) to an 
individual, who is covered under the insurance program 
established by this part and who incurs expenses for such 
services, in an area that is designated (under section 
332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act) as a health 
professional shortage area as identified by the Secretary 
prior to the beginning of such year, in addition to the 
amount otherwise paid under this part, there also shall 
be paid to the clinical psychologist (or to an employer or 
facility in the cases described in clause (A) of section 
1842(b)(6)) (on a monthly or quarterly basis) from the 
Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund an 
amount equal to 10 percent of the payment amount for 
the service under this part’’; and 
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(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or clinical 
psychologist’’ after ‘‘physician’’. 
SEC. 3. ELIMINATING UNNECESSARY OVERSIGHT AND AP-
PROVAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BEHAVIORAL 
HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED BY CLINICAL 
PSYCHOLOGISTS. 
(a) COMPREHENSIVE OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION 
FACILITIES.—Section 1835(a)(2)(E)(iii) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395n(a)(2)(E)(iii)) is amended by 
inserting ‘‘, except that an individual receiving qualified 
psychologist services as described in section 1861(ii) may 
be under the care of a clinical psychologist with respect 
to such services to the extent authorized under State law’’ 
before the semicolon. 
(b) 
SKILLED
NURSING
FACILITIES.—Section 
1819(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (5)(G), by inserting ‘‘clinical 
psychologist,’’ after ‘‘nurse practitioner,’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (6)(A), by inserting ‘‘, except 
that a resident receiving qualified psychologist serv-
ices as described in section 1861(ii) may be under 
the supervision of a clinical psychologist with respect 
to such services to the extent authorized under State 
law’’ before the semicolon. 
(c) PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION SERVICES.— 
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chologist with respect to such services to the extent 
authorized under State law;’’. 
(2) Section 1891(a)(3)(F) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395bbb(a)(3)(F)) is amended by inserting 
‘‘clinical psychologist,’’ after ‘‘physician,’’. 
(e) INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL SERVICES.— 
Section 
1814(a)(2)(A) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
1395f(a)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘(or, in the case 
of qualified psychologist services, under the supervision of 
a clinical psychologist to the extent authorized under State 
law)’’ after ‘‘under the supervision of a physician’’. 
(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—In accordance with 
section 410.71(e) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations 
(or any successor regulation), nothing in the provisions of, 
and amendments made by, this section shall be construed 
as changing or eliminating existing requirements regard-
ing clinical consultation by clinical psychologists with a 
beneficiary’s physician, in accordance with accepted pro-
fessional ethical norms and taking into consideration pa-
tient confidentiality. 
(g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to services furnished on or after 
January 1, 2025. 
Æ 
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