Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Improving Access to Mental Health Services Act”.
Improving Access to Mental Health Services Act
A BILL
To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to allow National Health Service Corps members to provide obligated service as behavioral and mental health professionals at schools, other community-based settings, or patient homes, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 National Health Service Corps behavioral and mental health professionals providing obligated service in schools, other community-based settings, and patient homes
Subpart III of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act ([42 U.S.C. 254l et](/usc/42/254l et) seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“338N. Behavioral and mental health professionals providing obligated service in schools, other community-based settings, and patient homes
“(a) Schools and community-Based settings—An entity, to which a Corps member is assigned under section 333, may direct such Corps member to provide service as a behavioral and mental health professional at schools or other community-based settings located in health professional shortage areas.
“(b) Patient homes—An entity, to which a Corps member is assigned under section 333, may direct such Corps member to provide service as a behavioral and mental health professional through visiting the home of a patient located in a health professional shortage area.
“(c) Obligated service—Any service described in subsection (a) or (b) that a Corps member provides may count towards such Corps member's completion of any obligated service requirements under the Scholarship Program or the Loan Repayment Program. The Secretary shall not impose any maximum limitation on the number of hours of service described in subsection (a) or (b) that a Corps member may count towards completing such obligated service requirements.
“(d) Rule of construction—The authorization under subsection (a) or (b) shall be notwithstanding any other provision of this subpart or subpart II.”