Second Chance Mental Health Access Act of 2026

House Bill

H.R. 7535

119th Congress

Second Chance Mental Health Access Act of 2026

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 12, 2026

Primary Sponsor

Valerie Foushee

D - NC

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Summary

This bill would require Medicaid to cover at least 12 mental health counseling sessions per year via telehealth for people who were recently released from jail or prison. By ensuring access to remote mental health care, the legislation aims to help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reintegrate into their communities and reduce the risk of returning to prison.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Introduced2/12/2026

StatusReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

See this page through your district lens

Enter ZIP to personalize representatives and vote context.

Stay on top of this issue

Subscribe for weekly bill and representative updates.

Vote Prediction

Second Chance Mental Health Access Act of 2026

This bill would require Medicaid to cover at least 12 mental health counseling sessions per year via telehealth for people who were recently released from jail or prison. By ensuring access to remote mental health care, the legislation aims to help formerly in

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

0%

0 predictions

This bill would require Medicaid to cover at least 12 mental health counseling sessions per year via telehealth for people who were recently released from jail or prison. By ensuring access to remote mental health care, the legislation aims to help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reintegrate into their communities and reduce the risk of returning to prison.

Bill Number: 7535
Introduced: 2/12/2026
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Second Chance Mental Health Access Act of 2026
Bill Number: 7535
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced: 2/12/2026
Summary: This bill would require Medicaid to cover at least 12 mental health counseling sessions per year via telehealth for people who were recently released from jail or prison. By ensuring access to remote mental health care, the legislation aims to help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully rein

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would require Medicaid to cover at least 12 mental health counseling sessions per year via telehealth for people who were recently released from jail or prison. By ensuring access to remote mental health care, the legislation aims to help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reintegrate into their communities and reduce the risk of returning to prison.

Last updated: 2/24/2026

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Guarantees 12 telehealth mental health visits annually through Medicaid for people who have been recently incarcerated
Addresses the critical mental health needs of individuals transitioning back into society after incarceration, when support services are often most needed
Uses telehealth to overcome common barriers like transportation challenges, stigma, and limited availability of mental health providers in underserved areas
Could help reduce recidivism rates by providing crucial mental health support during the vulnerable reentry period
Builds on growing recognition that mental health care is essential for successful rehabilitation and public safety

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would directly benefit the approximately 600,000 people released from prison each year, many of whom struggle with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. By providing accessible telehealth services through Medicaid, it would help these individuals get the mental health support they need without the barriers of travel, scheduling conflicts, or fear of judgment. Communities would also benefit from lower recidivism rates and improved public safety when formerly incarcerated people receive proper mental health care.

Policy Areas

No policy areas assigned yet.

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

7535, 119th Congress (2026). "Second Chance Mental Health Access Act of 2026". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-hr-7535

Public Opinions

Community submissions related to this bill.

Share your opinion

No public opinions yet. Be the first to submit one for this bill.