{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-harshbarger-introduce-bipartisan-bill-expand-telehealth-services-rural", "Salinas, Harshbarger Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Telehealth Services for Rural Americans", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) introduced the bipartisan Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act, legislation that would expand access to remote mental health and substance use services in rural America, especially for individuals working in the farming, fishing, and forestry industries. U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Tina Smith (D-MN) are leading a companion bill in the Senate.\n\n\u201cAccessing mental health care shouldn\u2019t require an in-person visit, especially for Americans in rural areas who have to travel long distances to see a provider,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cOur bipartisan bill would expand telemental health services in rural Oregon, with an emphasis on those working in the farming, fishing, and forestry industries. This legislation would save folks time and resources and help more Oregonians get the care they need, when they need it.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a community pharmacist for over three decades in one of the country\u2019s most rural Congressional Districts, I understand the challenges patients face in underserved areas,\u201d said Rep. Harshbarger. \u201cBy expanding access to telemental health services, this common-sense legislation will help improve patient outcomes.\u201d\n\nThe Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Rural Health Liaison of the Department of Agriculture, to award grants to entities to establish mental health and substance use services for rural Americans in their homes, particularly those working in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. It would also authorize up to $10 million for each fiscal year through 2027 using current funds.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), NAMI Oregon, National Rural Health Association, Oregon Rural Health Association, American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, Oregon Cattlemen\u2019s Association, Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association, and Friends of Family Farmers.\n\n\u201cThe National Rural Health Association applauds Representatives Salinas and Harshbarger for their introduction of The Home Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2023,\u201d said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association. \u201cThis important legislation creates a telemental health demonstration program designed to address specific behavioral health and substance use needs for folks in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. This bill will increase access to behavioral health and substance use services for our most rural and medically underserved populations.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, as a non-profit trade association with a wide representation of rural and frontier providers, greatly appreciates and supports the Home Based Telemental Health Act of 2023,\u201d said Heather Jefferis, M.A., Executive Director of the Oregon Council for Behavioral Health. \u201cThis bill will help expand access for communities and individuals who have significant barriers to care, including geographic distance, stigma, and a lack of providers in their community. We extend our gratitude to Congress for their attention to our rural and frontier communities\u2019 needs. Thank you for helping local providers save lives.\u201d\n\n\"The Friends of Family Farmers is so grateful to Representatives Salinas and Harshbarger for taking on this effort,\" said Alice Morrison, Co-Director of the Friends of Family Farmers. \"Expanding telemental health options is a vital, tangible way to improve access to mental health services for our farmers, ranchers and others in rural communities. Everyone should have equitable access to care, and this legislation will help make that possible.\u201d\n\nTo read the full text of this legislation, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-harshbarger-introduce-bipartisan-bill-expand-telehealth-services-rural"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8509797044098377, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}