|
N E W S
CONTACT: Virginia Moore For Immediate Release
Office Administrator
703) 548-6002, ext. 106 or (800) 326-2642, ext. 106
U.S. House Passes Legislation to Include Mental Health Counselors in Medicare
Alexandria, Va., August 3, 2007 – For the first time ever, the U.S. House of Representatives, on August 1, 2007, passed
legislation to establish coverage of state-licensed mental health counselors under Medicare.
The provision is included in H.R. 3162, the “Children’s Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act of 2007,”
legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which provides health
insurance coverage to more than 6 million children whose families earn too little to qualify for Medicaid. H.R. 3162 also
makes much-needed improvements to the Medicare program.
Under the bill, state-licensed mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists would be able to bill Medicare
for providing outpatient mental health services, at the same rate as clinical social workers. The provision, if signed by
the President, would take effect on January 1, 2008. The bill also makes other needed improvements to Medicare’s mental
health benefit, including eliminating the discriminatory 50% co-payment requirement for outpatient mental health services.
H.R. 3162 passed the House by a vote of 225 to 204. Among other things, the cost of the bill would be offset by raising the
federal tobacco tax by .45 cents a pack, reducing federal payments to insurers and reducing excess payments to private Medicare
Advantage plans, and phasing out over four years subsidies to insurers who charge more than Medicare reimbursement rates.
The Senate is expected to pass their version of the bill, S. 1893, the “Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization
Act of 2007,” prior to Congress’ annual August recess. Following passage by the Senate, a conference committee
will be appointed to reconcile differences in the House and Senate bills. We are hopeful that since the provision has passed
the Senate in past years and has garnered significant support, it will survive the conference committee negotiations. AMHCA
will work with members of the committee to ensure that the provision remains in the final SCHIP bill.
AMHCA President Gary Gintner, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, said, “AMHCA commends the House of Representatives for passing H.R. 3162,
the “Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act,” and for including language to ensure greater access
to mental health services for our nation’s seniors and disabled Medicare beneficiaries. We look forward to working with
the authors of the legislation to ensure its ultimate enactment by the 110th Congress.”
* * *
“The mission of the American Mental Health Counselors Association is to enhance the profession of mental health counseling
through licensing, advocacy, education and professional development.”
Virginia L. Moore
Office Administrator
American Mental Health Counselors Association
The only organization working exclusively for mental health counselors
801 North Fairfax Street, Suite 304
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 800-326-2642 ext. 106
Phone: 703-548-6002 ext. 106
FAX: 703-548-4775
Website: www.amhca.org
|
