[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5357 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5357
To provide limited licensing reciprocity for a college mental health
provider to furnish mental health services through telehealth
technology to students of the institution of higher education that
employs such provider.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 15, 2025
Mr. Flood (for himself, Mr. Bacon, and Mr. Nunn of Iowa) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide limited licensing reciprocity for a college mental health
provider to furnish mental health services through telehealth
technology to students of the institution of higher education that
employs such provider.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``College Students Continuation of
Mental Health Care Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. LICENSING RECIPROCITY FOR COLLEGE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal or
State law, a college mental health provider may, in accordance with
subsection (b), furnish mental health services to a covered student in
the State in which such student is located through telehealth
technology, unless such provider is affirmatively excluded from
practice in such State.
(b) Requirements To Furnish Services.--
(1) Initiation of telehealth services.--Prior to furnishing
mental health services to a covered student pursuant to
subsection (a), a college mental health provider shall--
(A) verify the identity of such student;
(B) obtain an oral or written acknowledgment from
such student (or a legal representative of such
student), and make a record of such acknowledgment,
indicating that such student intends to receive mental
health services from such provider through telehealth
technology;
(C) obtain or confirm more than 1 means of
telehealth technology through which such provider may
contact such student in case of a technological
failure; and
(D) in the case that the college mental health
provider has not previously furnished services to such
student--
(i) obtain a written acknowledgment from
such student (or a legal representative of such
student) indicating that such student
understands that a treatment relationship is
being established with such provider; or
(ii) furnish such mental health services to
such student through a means of telehealth
technology that allows such provider and such
student to communicate in real time.
(2) Scope of practice.--A college mental health provider
furnishing services to a covered student pursuant to subsection
(a)--
(A) except as authorized under this section with
respect to the location of such student, shall act
within the scope of the license or certification from,
or other authorization by, the primary State described
in subsection (e)(1)(B); and
(B) is not required to act within the scope of any
license, certification, or other authorization issued
to similar providers in the State in which such student
is located if such provider would not be required to
act within such scope if such services were furnished
in the primary State, except that such provider--
(i) may not furnish to such student any
service or subset of services prohibited by the
State in which such student is located; and
(ii) may not furnish to such student any
service or subset of services in a manner
prohibited by the State in which such student
is located.
(c) Treatment of Medical Malpractice Insurance Coverage.--Any
medical malpractice insurance coverage shall provide that services
furnished by a college mental health provider to a covered student
pursuant to subsection (a) shall be treated under such coverage as
services furnished in the primary State.
(d) Interstate Compacts for Telehealth.--The consent of Congress is
hereby given to any 2 or more States to enter into agreements or
compacts, not in conflict with this section, to permit college mental
health providers to furnish mental health services to covered students
in each such State through telehealth technology.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) College mental health provider.--The term ``college
mental health provider'' means an individual who--
(A) is employed by an institution of higher
education to furnish mental health services to students
enrolled at such institution; and
(B) has a valid and unrestricted license or
certification from, or is otherwise authorized by, the
primary State to furnish such mental health services in
such State.
(2) Covered student.--The term ``covered student'' means,
with respect to a college mental health provider--
(A) an individual registered for courses at the
institution of higher education that employs such
provider; and
(B) an individual that attended courses at the
institution of higher education that employs such
provider at any point during the 3-month period ending
on the date on which such provider is seeking to
furnish such services to such individual pursuant to
subsection (a).
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(4) Primary state.--The term ``primary State'' means, with
respect to a college mental health provider, the State in which
the institution of higher education that employs such provider
is located.
(5) State.--The term ``State'' means a State, the District
of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States.
(6) Telehealth technology.--The term ``telehealth
technology'' means telecommunications and information
technology, including audio-visual, audio-only, or store and
forward technology, used to furnish mental health services at a
distance.
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