MCCA is a
State chapter of the
American
Mental Health Counselors Association
MCCA is a
State chapter of the
American
Mental Health Counselors Association
The Maine Clinical Counselors Association actively supports legislation important to consumers and providers of mental health services. MCCA's legislative committee promotes legislation and alerts the MCCA membership about legislative issues related to mental health. Information may be provided through the newsletter, special mailings, and this website.
E-News from Washington
Vol. 08-25
June 13, 2008
Senate Is Drafting Medicare Legislation to be Considered Soon
On Friday, June 6, 2008, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced S. 3101, legislation to prevent a 10% reimbursement rate cut for Medicare participating physicians. Senator Baucus had been working with other members of the Finance Committee to draft this legislation since January, but at the end of May it became clear that Democrats and Republicans would not be able to reach a final compromise.
S. 3101, also known as the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008,” is the result of Senator Baucus’ decision to introduce legislation without Republican support. The Democratic proposal would halt the impending pay cut and include a 1.1% increase in physician reimbursements through 2009; the legislation also includes provisions to encourage e-prescribing, increase access to rural health care, and reduce Medicare’s discriminatory mental health co-payment.
As the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) is expected to introduce a Republican alternative in the coming days. The Republican alternative is also expected to contain provisions that will address e-prescribing and issues in rural areas but not a reduction in Medicare’s mental health co-payment. It may include a slightly bigger increase in physician reimbursements.
Democrats and Republicans are all acutely aware of the need to increase access to Medicare services in underserved areas—especially in rural America. Counselors living in shortage areas are well-positioned to help address this need, and Senators Baucus and Grassley should both include Medicare coverage of counselors as part of their legislation.
This will be an uphill battle as there is little money to pay for counselor coverage and our time is limited; success can only once Senators know how important this issue is to their constituents.
TAKE ACTION:
Counselors are encouraged to call their Senators and tell them:
Seniors have the highest rate of suicide in the nation.
More than 1 in 5 Medicare beneficiaries has a diagnosable mental illness, and up to 63% of older adults with a mental disorder do not receive the services they need.
There are not enough current Medicare mental health providers to provide necessary services to those in need.
Counselors’ education and training is on par with that of other Medicare providers, such as clinical social workers.
ASK the Senator to work to include counselor coverage of LPCs in Medicare’s “physician pay fix” legislation and to discuss its importance during the upcoming debate.
Senate offices can be reached by calling 202-224-3121 and asking for your Senator’s office.
For more information, please contact Beth Powell (AMHCA) at 800-326-2642 x105 or bpowell@amhca.org or Peter Atlee (ACA) at 800-347-6647 x242 or patlee@counseling.org.
Beth Powell
Director, Public Policy and Professional Issues
American Mental Health Counselors Association
The only organization working exclusively for mental health counselors
801 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 304
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-548-6002, ext. 105
800-326-2642, ext. 105
FAX: 703-548-4775
Website: www.amhca.org
E-mail: bpowell@amhca.org
Mark your calendar now: July 17-19, 2008
AMHCA’s Annual Conference at the Town & Country Resort in San Diego, CA