Flexibility for mental health condition certifications under the World Trade Center Health Program

(a) In general Section 3305(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300mm–4(a)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting subject to paragraph (6), before for; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (6) Licensed mental health provider flexibility for mental health condition certifications (A) In general For purposes of an initial health evaluation described in paragraph (1)(A) with respect to a mental health condition (including any such evaluation provided under section 3321(b) or through the nationwide network under section 3313), such evaluation may be conducted by a physician or any other licensed mental health provider in a category of mental health providers determined by the WTC Program Administrator under subparagraph (B). (B) Categories of licensed mental health providers Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025, the WTC Program Administrator shall issue regulations for the categories of licensed mental health providers who, in addition to licensed physicians, may conduct evaluations under subparagraph (A) with respect to a mental health condition and make determinations under section 3312(b) with respect to such a condition.. (b) Flexibility for WTC responders Section 3312(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 300mm–22(b)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(A)— (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking physician and inserting physician (or, in the case of a mental health condition, a physician or any other qualified mental health provider); and (B) in clause (i), by striking physician and inserting physician or other qualified mental health provider; (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking physician and inserting physician (or, in the case of a mental health condition, a physician or any other qualified mental health provider); (ii) in clause (i), by striking physician and inserting physician or other qualified mental health provider; and (iii) in clause (ii), by striking such physician's determination and inserting the determination of such physician or other qualified mental health provider; and (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking physician determinations and inserting determinations by physicians (or, in the case of a mental health condition, physicians or other qualified mental health providers); and (ii) in clause (i), by striking physician panel and inserting panel of physicians (or, in the case of a mental health condition, physicians or other qualified mental health providers); (3) in paragraph (5), by striking examining physician and inserting examining physician (or, in the case of a mental health condition, examining physician or other qualified mental health provider); and (4) by adding at the end the following: (6) Definition of qualified mental health provider For purposes of this subsection, the term qualified mental health provider means a licensed mental health provider in a category determined by the WTC Program Administrator under section 3305(a)(6)(B)..