Tulsa Standard

Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01), Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) have come together to introduce the Behavioral Health Accessibility Act of 2024. The bipartisan legislation aims to remove the in-person requirements for behavioral health services delivered via telehealth.

Rep. Hern emphasized the importance of expanding access to care through telehealth, stating, "It's evident that maintaining in-person requirements for telebehavioral health visits is hindering access to care. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort with my colleagues to eliminate these barriers to ensure all Americans have equal access to vital mental health services."

Congresswoman Susie Lee highlighted the significance of telehealth for families, particularly in rural communities, saying, "Millions of families rely on telehealth services to access the care they need. In-person requirements for behavioral telehealth visits pose a serious obstacle to rural communities that rely on this service. It's time to take a strong step forward with this bipartisan legislation to ensure access to essential healthcare tools."

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Taskforce, stressed the need to remove burdensome regulations hindering access to mental health services, stating, "I’m proud to join this bipartisan legislation that would eliminate the in-person requirements for Medicare recipients receiving care via telehealth. This will ensure that vulnerable communities can access the care they deserve."

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis emphasized the importance of expanding access to mental health care, saying, "I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation that removes in-person evaluation requirements for behavioral telehealth services so patients can receive care more efficiently, regardless of their physical location."

The Behavioral Health Accessibility Act of 2024 aims to address the increasing demand for mental health services by leveraging telehealth technology to provide convenient and effective care to all Americans.