[Counselor_Educ] Fw: AMHCA Action Alert on Medicare Legislation

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Nikol Bowen, PhD, PCC
Assistant Professor
Counseling and Higher Education
Patton College of Education
Ohio University bowenn at ohio.edu 
<mailto: bowenn at ohio.edu 
>

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________________________________
From: jfinley at amhca.org 
< jfinley at amhca.org 
>
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 3:58 PM
To: Bowen, Nikol
Subject: AMHCA Action Alert on Medicare Legislation

[ https://amhca.site-ym.com/resource/resmgr/Advocacy/AMHCAActionAlert.jpg] 
Dear Nikol Bowen,

Medicare Legislation Action Alert

New bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to extend Medicare provider status to mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists. On July 22, 2015 Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced the “Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act” (S. 1830< http://www.amhca.org/link.asp?e=bowenn@ohio.edu&job=1978329&ymlink=3860702&finalurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Econgress%2Egov%2Fbill%2F114th%2Dcongress%2Fsenate%2Dbill%2F1830%3Fq%3D%257B%2522search%2522%253A%255B%2522%255C%2522s1830%255C%2522%2522%255D%257D 
>) and on June 12, 2015 Representatives Chris Gibson (R-NY) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) introduced the House version as (HR. 2759< http://www.amhca.org/link.asp?e=bowenn@ohio.edu&job=1978329&ymlink=3860702&finalurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Econgress%2Egov%2Fbill%2F114th%2Dcongress%2Fhouse%2Dbill%2F2759%2Ftext%3Fq%3D%257B%2522search%2522%253A%255B%2522%255C%2522hr2759%255C%2522%2522%255D%257D 
>). The identical bills would allow Medicare beneficiaries access to mental health counselor services and marriage and family therapists (MFTs) through Medicare. By providing these mental health professionals the opportunity to participate in the Medicare program, the bills expand the number of mental health providers available to beneficiaries.

Describing the need for the legislation, AMHCA notes that in the United States 20 percent of individuals aged 55 and older experience some type of mental health problem. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, there are approximately 4,000 Mental Health Professionals Shortage Areas in the United States, and half of all counties in the U.S. have no practicing psychiatrists, psychologists or clinical social workers. Seniors in rural communities are the most adversely affected by these shortage areas. The time to promote Medicare recognition of mental health counselors and MFTs is now. Urge your two Senators and Representative to co-sponsor this vital legislation that would authorize MHCs and MFTs to be paid by Medicare for outpatient mental health services to beneficiaries.

Action Requested
AMHCA members are urged to email their two U.S. Senators and one Representative to urge them to co-sponsor S. 1830< http://www.amhca.org/link.asp?e=bowenn@ohio.edu&job=1978329&ymlink=3860702&finalurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Econgress%2Egov%2Fbill%2F114th%2Dcongress%2Fsenate%2Dbill%2F1830%3Fq%3D%257B%2522search%2522%253A%255B%2522%255C%2522s1830%255C%2522%2522%255D%257D 
>/HR. 2759< http://www.amhca.org/link.asp?e=bowenn@ohio.edu&job=1978329&ymlink=3860702&finalurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Econgress%2Egov%2Fbill%2F114th%2Dcongress%2Fhouse%2Dbill%2F2759%2Ftext%3Fq%3D%257B%2522search%2522%253A%255B%2522%255C%2522hr2759%255C%2522%2522%255D%257D 
>. AMHCA members may find their Senators and Representative’s email address on their office websites. See these suggested email messages to Senate < http://www.amhca.org/link.asp?e=bowenn@ohio.edu&job=1978329&ymlink=3860702&finalurl=https%3A%2F%2Famhca%2Esite%2Dym%2Ecom%2F%3Fsamplesenate 
> and House< http://www.amhca.org/link.asp?e=bowenn@ohio.edu&job=1978329&ymlink=3860702&finalurl=https%3A%2F%2Famhca%2Esite%2Dym%2Ecom%2F%3Fsamplehouse 
> offices.

Background and Justification
About 50 percent of rural counties have no practicing psychiatrists or psychologists. Mental Health Counselors and MFTs are often the only mental health providers in many communities, and yet they are not now recognized as covered providers within the Medicare program. These therapists have equivalent or greater training, education and practice rights as currently eligible provider groups that can bill for mental health services through Medicare.

Other government agencies already recognize these professions for independent practice, including The National Health Service Corps, the Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs and TRICARE. Medicare needs to utilize the skills of these providers to ensure that beneficiaries have access to necessary services.

  *   Lack of Access in Rural and Underserved Areas--Approximately 20 percent of individuals aged 55 and older experience some type of mental health problem. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, there are approximately 4,000 Mental Health Professionals Shortage Areas in the United States, and half of all counties in the U.S. have no practicing psychiatrists, psychologists or clinical social workers. However, many of these mental health professional shortage areas have mental health counselors whose services are underutilized due to lack of Medicare coverage.
  *   Medicare Inefficiency--Currently, Medicare is a very inefficient purchaser of mental health services. Inpatient psychiatric hospital utilization by elderly Medicare recipients is extraordinarily high when compared to psychiatric hospitalization rates for patients covered by Medicaid, VA, TRICARE, and private health insurance. One-third of these expensive inpatient placements are caused by clinical depression and addiction disorders that can be treated for much lower costs when detected early through the outpatient mental health services of MHCs.
  *   Underserved Minority Populations--The United State Surgeon General noted in a report entitled Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity that “striking disparities in access, quality, and availability of mental health services exist for racial and ethnic minority Americans.” A critical result of this disparity is that minority communities bear a disproportionately high burden of disability from untreated or inadequately treated mental disorders.
  *   Medicare provider eligibility for mental health counselors and MFTs is long overdue--These two professions represent over 40 percent of today’s licensed mental health practitioners. Unfortunately, Medicare has not been modernized to recognize their essential contribution in today’s health delivery system. Congressional scoring rules obscure the dollars saved by utilizing their services to treat mental health conditions before they exacerbate into more serious mental and physical disorders.

Please direct inquiries to James K. Finley, AMHCA Associate Executive Director: jfinley at amhca.org 
<mailto: jfinley at amhca.org 
>



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The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) works to enhance the profession of mental health counseling through advocacy, education, licensure, and professional development.

AMHCA, 801 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, 703-548-6002, www.amhca.org




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