Rural Wellness Act
Rural Wellness Act
Plain Language Summary
# Rural Wellness Act Summary **What the bill does:** The Rural Wellness Act would make mental health and substance abuse treatment services a priority under several Department of Agriculture rural development programs. Specifically, it would expand funding and support for building mental health facilities in rural areas and enable telehealth services so rural residents can access mental health care remotely.
The bill would reauthorize these programs through 2029. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily targets rural communities, which often have fewer mental health providers and treatment facilities than urban areas. It would help rural residents, healthcare providers, and communities seeking to expand behavioral health services. **Key provisions:** The bill prioritizes grants and loans for developing mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities in rural areas, allows funding to be used for telehealth infrastructure, and extends authorization for existing rural health programs through fiscal year 2029. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (as of the 119th Congress), meaning it has been introduced but has not yet been voted on by the full House.
CRS Official Summary
Rural Wellness ActThis bill prioritizes behavioral and mental health treatment services under certain rural development grant and loan programs. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2029 the set-asides and prioritizations for substance use disorder treatment services under the Department of Agriculture's (1) Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program, (2) Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program, and (3) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.Under the community facilities program, the bill prioritizes direct loans and grants for the development of behavioral and mental health services facilities, including facilities that provide treatment services. Further, loans and grants provided under the program may be used to develop facilities and systems to provide telehealth services for behavioral and mental health treatment.Under the Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program, the bill prioritizes grants for behavioral and mental health education and treatment.Under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program, the bill includes a 17% set-aside for telemedicine projects that provide substance use disorder treatment services (currently a 20% set-aside).
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.