Reducing Bureaucracy and Burden for the Repatriation of Mentally Ill Nationals

Published

Sep 4, 2026

Comments close

Oct 5, 2026

Citation

91 FR 56826

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Administration for Children and Families

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

Summary

The Department of Health and Human Services, through its Administration for Children and Families, is proposing to eliminate the current set of rules that govern the care and treatment of U.S. citizens with mental illness who are returned from abroad. The agency says the change will simplify the paperwork and administrative steps involved in repatriating these individuals, thereby reducing delays and costs for families and service providers. The proposal mainly affects U.S. nationals who have been diagnosed with a mental illness and are being brought back to the United States, as well as the federal, state, and local agencies that coordinate their medical care and placement. By removing the existing regulation and moving its provisions to a different part of the Code of Federal Regulations, the department hopes to create a clearer, more efficient process. The notice was published on September 4, 2026, and the public may submit comments through October 5, 2026. After the comment period closes, HHS will review the feedback and decide whether to adopt the final rule. If approved, the revised regulations would replace the old ones at a later date, once the agency completes the rulemaking process.

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