Medicare Coverage Bills Introduced!

Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate to establish Medicare coverage of licensed professional counselors. On March 23rd, Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced S. 671, the “Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2009.”  The next day, Representative Bart Gordon (D-TN) introduced H.R. 1693, identical legislation with the same title.  The legislation would also establish coverage of licensed marriage and family therapists.  ACA and AMHCA worked closely with Senators Lincoln and Barrasso, and with Congressman Gordon, on the development and preparation of the legislation.

Counselors are strongly encouraged to call, write, or e-mail their Senators to ask them to cosponsor S. 671, and their Representative to ask for cosponsorship of H.R. 1693.  Congress will pass Medicare legislation this year, in order to prevent a scheduled 20% pay cut for physicians under the program from taking effect on January 1, 2010.  We need counselor coverage to be part of this Medicare package. 

The more cosponsors we have S. 671 and H.R. 1693, the more likely we are to gain their inclusion in the larger Medicare legislation to be approved by Congress.  You can quickly identify your Senators and Representative, and see suggested language for contacting them on this issue, at http://capwiz.com/counseling.  

Please take a moment to call or e-mail your Representative and Senators and ask them to cosponsor the “Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2009” (H.R. 1693 / S. 671).  This legislation will improve Medicare beneficiaries’ access to outpatient mental health care in a cost-effective manner, by establishing coverage of highly-qualified LPCs.

For more information, contact ACA Legislative Representative Peter Atlee , at 800-347-6647 x242, or by e-mail at patlee@counseling.org.

Peter Atlee
Legislative Representative
American Counseling Association
ph  703-823-9800 x242 | 800-347-6647 x242
www.counseling.org