Second Chance Mental Health Access Act of 2026

HR7535, the "Second Chance Mental Health Access Act of 2026," was introduced in the House on February 12, 2026, by Rep. Foushee (D-NC) and 10 cosponsors. The bill was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on the same day. This indicates the bill is in its initial stages of the legislative process, with no further actions recorded since its introduction. The bill proposes to amend the Social Security Act to require Medicaid coverage for 12 mental health telehealth visits per calendar year for individuals enrolled in a State plan who are under home confinement and were incarcerated immediately prior to that confinement. The bill does not specify a direct funding amount; rather, it mandates a coverage requirement within the existing Medicaid program. Therefore, no new appropriations are authorized or allocated by this specific bill. The financial impact would be absorbed by the Medicaid program, potentially increasing demand for telehealth mental health services. Structural beneficiaries, if this bill were to pass, would primarily be companies providing telehealth services and mental health care providers. However, given the specific and limited population targeted (previously incarcerated individuals under home confinement), the overall market expansion for these services would be marginal. No specific publicly traded companies are uniquely positioned to benefit significantly from this niche market segment at this early stage. As of April 7, 2026, the bill remains in committee. For HR7535 to advance, it would need to be considered and passed by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, then passed by the full House, followed by similar processes in the Senate, and finally signed into law by the President. This is a lengthy process, and the bill's current status as an early-stage referral suggests a low probability of immediate passage or market-moving impact.