<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"> <style></style> </head> <body bgcolor="#F2F2F2" lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple" style="word-wrap:break-word"> <div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal">Dear Counselor Education community at Ohio University,<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Please tell Congress to expand access to mental health care!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">ACA has made it easy for you to do so!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>The US Congress will be acting on legislation this year that would recognize licensed professional counselors as independent providers under Medicare. This would be a huge victory for our professional counselors and meet a critical need for members of society. ACA has made it very easy to communicate your support by simply going to the following link: <b><a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.votervoice.net%2FCOUNSELING%2FCampaigns%2F83851%2FRespond&data=05%7C01%7Ccounselor_educ%40listserv.ohio.edu%7C4311ad637ed048efd66a08da34441fdf%7Cf3308007477c4a70888934611817c55a%7C0%7C0%7C637879764432281052%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=iiqgmDETbgpynIADKSwOVMwmr1FVZRvUeeJAdxtEBIU%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://www.votervoice.net/COUNSELING/Campaigns/83851/Respond" shash="eogabHw08+YTW+llafCMILjnNhbVh6yYu/NIK4ONcchv2ooxq4lH8qNcnnV0O55rygzhT/Qy5/yqoXbxe6S5zBllq7oba12DSRV0PeiUJiIx3+5Dhfm3jOcmFA2mI52h8kiqb+MWR4A38zGCIC6Ma4L5iStcfEnzFE7YfeQDSZE=" title="https://www.votervoice.net/COUNSELING/Campaigns/83851/Respond"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">www.votervoice.net/COUNSELING/Campaigns/83851/Respond</span></a></b> <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I</span> hope you will join me and the ACA leadership in supporting this critical legislation.</i><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3">When you go to ACA's Voter Voice site, you are asked for your address which will then AUTOMATICALLY provide your Senators and US Representative. <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3">ACA has already populated the message with a generic ask that they support our bills. You can personalize the message if you wish.<o:p></o:p></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thanks, and kind regards,<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br> Chris Bhat, Professor, Ohio University<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Member, ACA Governing Council<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div> <div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> ACA Government Affairs <<a href="mailto:advocacy@counseling.org">advocacy@counseling.org</a>> <br> <b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 12, 2022 10:55 AM<br> <b>To:</b> Bhat, Christine <<a href="mailto:bhatc@ohio.edu">bhatc@ohio.edu</a>><br> <b>Subject:</b> [External] Attention: Our Nation’s Mental Health Needs Are at Stake<o:p></o:p></p> </div> </div> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div style="border:none;border-left:solid #FCD146 4.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 8.0pt;margin-top:7.5pt;margin-bottom:7.5pt;cursor:default"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:#FDFAE7"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Use caution with links and attachments.</span></b><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:.75pt"><span style="font-size:1.0pt;color:white">Please tell Congress to support their constituents by expanding access to mental health care. The Mental Health Access Improvement Act (S. 828/H.R. 432) would close the gap in federal law that prevent<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div id="backgroundDiv"> <div align="center"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600" style="width:6.25in;background:white"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" style="padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt"> <div align="center"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><img border="0" width="700" height="170" style="width:7.2916in;height:1.7708in" id="_x0000_i1029" src="https://d3dkdvqff0zqx.cloudfront.net/groups/counseling/images/ea932e4cbd2d1fa9a4e137066c711399d6f728fa.jpeg"></span><o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" style="padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt"> <div align="center"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%" id="templateBody"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" style="padding:3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="vvContent"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="100%" valign="top" style="width:100.0%;padding:11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p>Please tell Congress to support their constituents by expanding access to mental health care. <o:p></o:p></p> <p>The <strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Mental Health Access Improvement Act</span></strong> (<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.votervoice.net%2FBroadcastLinks%2Fy7d58v1QBoYBRoY2MnfOrg&data=05%7C01%7Ccounselor_educ%40listserv.ohio.edu%7C4311ad637ed048efd66a08da34441fdf%7Cf3308007477c4a70888934611817c55a%7C0%7C0%7C637879764432281052%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TgJvZARv9JN8qHaH6SV%2B%2B1XuTlyBtZPNVnzey0fBmq4%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/y7d58v1QBoYBRoY2MnfOrg" shash="w5KRHuswJXrXa0YOoTn0BjpF6E0kR/2CkbchrMShVqvPLCP0Qzp7e3kBnwKWslKyz5mmhkMAXbo2X4euQXkQhwXUSnzDdGiwj0011wSKxI83tf3DxxjW3btnZGydU9P/SzsFZ/lPjKVUEpMu5LpOugaNmbRylcGiZLhOPvVfIr4=">S. 828</a>/<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.votervoice.net%2FBroadcastLinks%2FA23z8UdMv025WpJ4pgL9eA&data=05%7C01%7Ccounselor_educ%40listserv.ohio.edu%7C4311ad637ed048efd66a08da34441fdf%7Cf3308007477c4a70888934611817c55a%7C0%7C0%7C637879764432281052%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Ni5YbkxSZ3wMjIZtSt4Q%2Fyg4qKTIxJodnywrZ%2B4yJZg%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/A23z8UdMv025WpJ4pgL9eA" shash="Wy/SAnJBm7gwjscs6CJKEn+8ernpN+484wXF70MMd0ViuRHcLpaQWQJXlmYPybjhvKAze6DM6rFB0n9c+XXi50NUXpTD7sNoINTS3EFUHyrIGN61JEd6oV2cori8CxqkF8UQaJhWfBdVANlaVmIItkRR9FohgqTcNZuHLgPlH14=">H.R. 432</a>) would close the gap in federal law that prevents mental health counselors from being recognized as Medicare providers. This legislation would give Medicare beneficiaries access to more than 225,000 additional licensed mental health professionals and help close the widening treatment gap between people on Medicare and people with private insurance.<o:p></o:p></p> <p>Passing the <strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Mental Health Access Improvement Act</span></strong> will:<o:p></o:p></p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo6"> provide you as a licensed mental health counselor the option of enrolling as a provider within the Medicare program, thus increasing your opportunities to earn income;<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo6"> improve access to mental health care for people age 65 and older, people under age 65 with disabilities and people with end stage renal disease (kidney failure); and<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo6"> increase mental health provider options for U.S. veterans.<o:p></o:p></li></ul> <p>If this legislation becomes law:<o:p></o:p></p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo9"> licensed mental health counselors like you will receive reimbursement for mental health care services rendered to eligible clients at a rate equal to that currently paid to Medicare providers in the field of social work.<o:p></o:p></li></ul> <p> <o:p></o:p></p> <p>We at the American Counseling Association are calling on you and others in the counseling community to continue engaging your congressional representatives on the need for this legislation. Let them know today that including mental health counselors as Medicare providers will help to close a critical gap in coverage for many people. We need all counselors of all specialties to support this legislation. A win here is a win for the entire counseling community. After you take action, please ask your colleagues, family and friends to do so too and to share this Action Alert with their networks. Thank you for your support.<o:p></o:p></p> <p>Please note: The term “mental health counselor” encompasses all licensed practicing counselors working in the United States, regardless of how the licensed counselors are referred to in a particular state.<o:p></o:p></p> <p> <o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black"><br> <br> Click the link below to log in and send your message:<br> <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.votervoice.net%2FBroadcastLinks%2FwqMEKoSa2S0z_QD3V7migQ&data=05%7C01%7Ccounselor_educ%40listserv.ohio.edu%7C4311ad637ed048efd66a08da34441fdf%7Cf3308007477c4a70888934611817c55a%7C0%7C0%7C637879764432281052%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=I6bggEEpvYPEn6lFO%2Fjcx0MU2ko6LkBYlnfS8GdXFSI%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/wqMEKoSa2S0z_QD3V7migQ" shash="wUQ2lPgi7o9mQw0zaMF7F9Akm4C7xCY99M7NfLLfL9P1tFVb417KY3kWl8gxt6rd9biusg3BvRON0B56V6kNzNvfVGhPMWQTVyENbD2lVGPzc13GwpxdVvHoyYTqV9OUMtOZhl8u2mpirnyl+jZdxjlyZfKsXgxTTSo5p1P81S4=">https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/wqMEKoSa2S0z_QD3V7migQ </a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <div style="margin-top:12.0pt;margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black"> <hr size="1" width="100%" align="center"> </span></div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" style="padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt"> <div align="center"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%" id="templateFooter"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#666666">Click <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.votervoice.net%2FBroadcastLinks%2FQaPQ2WTI_Z5yRyWWZx0H-w&data=05%7C01%7Ccounselor_educ%40listserv.ohio.edu%7C4311ad637ed048efd66a08da34441fdf%7Cf3308007477c4a70888934611817c55a%7C0%7C0%7C637879764432281052%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=UsbAxdhlMkiXIRaRl8uCCOLh8pZF3xwMy0B%2BKpm3r8c%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/QaPQ2WTI_Z5yRyWWZx0H-w" shash="Dfrd3RgQvnySN8eSSUU161cw5Wli+WIs3kGXpmZxiKIedbNsXFeyHuMNKjK4m7TLlm98hbXj1ZibwI9nkwBWC0ic+QaqX1dqzxkxSB5oHJn0T9URaH33LvJcFMghIQhRo6G4vT3QQ5Tsf5oJWrWqHCLYdV6y0y/Eql0k0wiGLaY="> here</a> to unsubscribe from this mailing list. <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" style="padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.votervoice.net%2F&data=05%7C01%7Ccounselor_educ%40listserv.ohio.edu%7C4311ad637ed048efd66a08da34441fdf%7Cf3308007477c4a70888934611817c55a%7C0%7C0%7C637879764432281052%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Rnj2LbGolKD89hoT27eiHHmeLA9UhN8%2BAg6%2B4q6xPts%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://www.votervoice.net/" shash="jsO95IPuWz5NYrZsprdYTaa8J5D8q7YqfO97XbuEtU3Fsmly4Mo6buWY+g4NzL9L68UAFVZoiWjbxLF27Ekh7zqTFld/MaocVkonyPTZrD3b3PjAOfQx4VOfXZempOgzXjIdnJOV0RDRCxxjXgM5E8q+X3ysvaJXdGO6K3sBmyI="><span style="text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="174" height="45" style="width:1.8125in;height:.4687in" id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://d3dkdvqff0zqx.cloudfront.net/images/poweredby/vvpoweredby-gray-fiscalnote.en-US.png" alt="Powered by VoterVoice"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> <p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="1" height="1" style="width:.0104in;height:.0104in" id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/jRp0QxlZoEL4NWzzLE_cXQ.jpg"><o:p></o:p></p> </div> </div> </body> </html>

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