1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Tele-Mental Health Improvement Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Prior to the COVID–19 pandemic, the United States faced a mental health crisis. (2) This mental health crisis touches all age groups. Suicide rates among individuals ages 10 through 24 increased by 56 percent from 2007 to 2017. More than 25 percent of college students have been diagnosed or treated by a professional for a mental health condition within the past year. Nearly one in five adults in the United States live with a mental illness. Suicide rates for all ages increased from 1999 to 2016. (3) The COVID–19 pandemic has resulted in large-scale economic hardship and long periods of social isolation for Americans. (4) In non-crisis conditions, a 1-point increase in unemployment correlates to a 1.3 percent increase in suicide rates. In April 2020, the unemployment rate increased from 4.4 percent to 14.7 percent. (5) Exposure to large-scale trauma like the current pandemic commonly results in negative emotional states, acute stress, physical health complaints, and poor sleep, particularly during the initial onset of the trauma. (6) People who receive practical and social support and resources soon after the initial onset of a trauma tend to have better outcomes. (7) There is an increased need for mental health services to be provided through telehealth platforms due to the necessity for social distancing. 3. Coverage of telehealth mental health and substance use disorder services (a) In general During the public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d ) on January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID–19, if a group health plan or group or individual health insurance coverage provides coverage of a mental health or substance use disorder service provided in-person, the group health plan or health insurance issuer offering such group or individual health insurance coverage— (1) shall provide