Noem, Schakowsky Aim to Increase Mental Health Care Access for Medicare Recipients

Representatives Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) today introduced the Medicare Mental Health Access Act. If enacted, this bipartisan legislation would give Medicare recipients better access to mental health care by removing barriers that force seniors to be referred by a primary care doctor before seeing a clinical psychologist.

"Strong mental health is important to healthy aging, so it's essential that we make care in this area more accessible to Medicare recipients," said Noem. "Especially in rural areas, like South Dakota, and other underserved communities, clinical psychologists play an indispensable role in meeting the mental health needs of older Americans. I'm hopeful this legislation will help remove barriers of access and by doing so, boost the mental health and wellbeing of seniors throughout South Dakota and across the nation."

"I'm proud to introduce this legislation along with Congresswoman Kristi Noem. Clinical psychologists are key Medicare mental health providers, delivering 40% of the outpatient and 70% of the inpatient psychotherapy services to beneficiaries," said Schakowsky. "It is critically important to ensure that clinical psychologists can provide their services to Medicare beneficiaries without unnecessary burdens. With 10,000 people enrolling in Medicare every day, it is more important than ever that we ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to critical mental health services."

The Medicare Mental Health Access Act would define clinical psychologists as "physicians" for the purposes of Medicare, thereby allowing patients to see them directly, rather than relying on a referral from their primary care doctor.

Under the bill, clinical psychologists would be treated neutrally under the Medicare Electronic Health Records program. In 2019, they will enter the new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System like other providers considered physicians under Medicare.

Source