Bill > HR6994

This bill, the Mental Health TALK SAFE Act of 2026, aims to modify the rules for prescribing controlled substances, particularly mental health medications, through telehealth, which refers to healthcare services provided remotely using interactive telecommunications systems like audio-video equipment. It clarifies that a valid prescription can be issued by a telehealth practitioner who has conducted at least one telehealth evaluation for an approved mental health controlled substance, or by any practitioner who has conducted at least one telehealth evaluation for controlled substances used to treat opioid use disorder. The bill also expands the definition of a "covering practitioner" to include those who have had an in-person, telemedicine, or telehealth evaluation within the last 90 days. It introduces new definitions for "approved mental health controlled substance," "exempt entity" (like federally qualified health centers and hospitals), and various other terms related to telehealth entities and practitioners, establishing specific criteria for telehealth entities to operate, including requirements for staffing, patient volume, and compliance officers. Furthermore, the bill prevents pharmacists from refusing to fill a telehealth prescription solely based on it being issued via telehealth, requiring them to first attempt to resolve concerns by communicating with the patient and prescriber, and imposes civil penalties for violations. It also removes certain special registration requirements for telemedicine and allows practitioners to use a telehealth entity's address as their principal place of business if they meet specific criteria. Finally, the Act addresses psychiatrist licensure by allowing psychiatrists licensed in a "primary State" to provide services in a "secondary State" under certain conditions, provided their medical liability insurance covers these services and the secondary State's licensure requirements are substantially similar to the primary State's, with the overall intent of preempting state laws that would restrict these telehealth activities.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6994/all-info