February 12, 2026
Mrs. Foushee (for herself, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Norton, Mr. Bell, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Ross, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Moulton, and Mrs. Watson Coleman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage of 12 mental health telehealth visits per calendar year for certain previously incarcerated individuals under the Medicaid program.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Second Chance Mental Health Access Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Requiring coverage of 12 mental health telehealth visits per calendar year for certain previously incarcerated individuals under the Medicaid program
(a) In general
Section 1902(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (88), by striking and
at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (89), by striking the period and inserting ; and
; and
(3)
by inserting after paragraph (89) the following new paragraph:
(90)
provide, in the case of an individual enrolled under the State plan (or waiver of such plan) who is subject to home confinement pursuant to judicial process and who was incarcerated in a public institution immediately prior to such home confinement, for coverage of 12 mental health visits furnished via telehealth during each calendar year occurring during the period of such confinement.
(b) Effective date
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to individuals released from a public institution on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.