ICYMI: Congressman Taylor Helps Lead Bipartisan Bill to Address Substance Abuse and Expand Telehealth Services
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) helped reintroduce the Rural Wellness Act alongside Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Rep. Brad Finstad (MN-01), and Rep. Don Davis (NC-01) on March 6, 2025. This bill was previously introduced in the 118th Congress by Rep. Budzinski and Rep. Finstad.
The Rural Wellness Act will reauthorize the prioritization of grants for telemedicine projects addressing behavioral and mental health, including substance abuse. These grants are part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program.
“There is a devastatingly high rate of mental health challenges and substance abuse in our Nation, and where a person lives shouldn’t dictate their ability to access critical health care services,” said Congressman Taylor. “Tragically, Ohio’s Second Congressional District has the highest rate of unintentional drug overdoses in our entire state. I am proud to help lead the reintroduction of the Rural Wellness Act to increase access to behavioral telehealth services and substance abuse treatment for rural Americans.”
“No one should have to travel hours just to visit the doctor, and telemedicine is an efficient way to reduce the barriers to care so often faced by rural communities,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m proud to be working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to introduce legislation to expand access to this technology while prioritizing care for mental and behavioral health, as these challenges impact countless folks across the country – no matter where you live. I’ll always fight to ensure that rural residents can receive the high-quality, accessible care they deserve.”
Congressman Finstad said, “Access to telehealth in rural communities has been life-changing for those who would otherwise have a difficult time traveling long distances to the nearest medical facility. I joined Congresswoman Budzinski in reintroducing the Rural Wellness Act to ensure residents of southern Minnesota have access to timely, high-quality healthcare through expanded telemedicine services."
"Community mental health services in rural America must be more accessible and available, as they are in other areas of the country," said Congressman Davis. "The Rural Wellness Act prioritizes behavioral and mental health services for rural communities and ensures we are not leaving behind those who need to seek help."
The full bill text is available here.