S.683 - More Behavioral Health Providers Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The "More Behavioral Health Providers Act of 2025" (S.683) aims to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act. The goal is to expand eligibility for incentives under the Medicare health professional shortage area bonus program. This expansion would include practitioners furnishing mental health and substance use disorder services.
The bill proposes to increase Medicare payments to physicians and other healthcare practitioners who provide mental health and substance use disorder services in designated health professional shortage areas. This is achieved by modifying Section 1833(m) of the Social Security Act to include these practitioners in the bonus program.
By incentivizing more healthcare professionals to practice in underserved areas, the bill seeks to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment for Medicare beneficiaries.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill will be increased access to mental health and substance use disorder services for individuals covered by Medicare, particularly in areas designated as health professional shortage areas.
Practitioners in these areas will receive higher Medicare payments, potentially attracting more professionals to these underserved regions. This could lead to a reduction in waiting times and improved quality of care for beneficiaries with mental health and substance use disorders.
Ultimately, the bill could improve the overall health and well-being of Medicare beneficiaries by addressing critical gaps in mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
Potential Benefits
- Increased Access to Care: Expands access to mental health and substance use disorder services, especially in underserved areas.
- Financial Incentives: Provides financial incentives for practitioners to work in shortage areas, attracting more professionals.
- Improved Health Outcomes: Better access to care can lead to improved mental health and substance use disorder treatment outcomes.
- Addresses Shortages: Directly addresses the shortage of mental health professionals in designated areas.
- Targets Vulnerable Populations: Focuses on Medicare beneficiaries, including those with limited access to care.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased Medicare Costs: Higher payments to practitioners could increase overall Medicare costs.
- Potential for Fraud: Increased financial incentives may create opportunities for fraudulent billing practices.
- Administrative Burden: Implementing the changes and monitoring compliance could create an administrative burden for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
- Limited Scope: The bill only addresses Medicare beneficiaries and does not address broader mental health access issues.
- Uncertainty of Impact: The actual impact on access to care may be limited depending on the number of practitioners who respond to the incentives.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the General Welfare Clause of the Constitution (Preamble). This clause allows Congress to enact laws that "promote the general Welfare" of the United States. Providing access to healthcare, including mental health and substance use disorder services, can be argued to fall under this power.
Furthermore, Article I, Section 8 grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. This bill falls under the power of Congress to allocate funds for the general welfare.
There are no apparent conflicts with specific constitutional provisions. The bill does not infringe on individual liberties or rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).