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INFORMATIONAL ALERT
Legislation Will Reimburse Mental Health Counselors Under Medicare
Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) are anticipated to introduce the Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2003 in the coming days. The legislation, which was originally introduced in the 106th Congress by the late Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and Rep. Stark, would allow direct reimbursement to mental health counselors for providing services to Medicare beneficiaries.
The counselor provisions are part of broader legislation, which is intended to resolve inequities in Medicare's discriminatory mental health benefit. Among other things, the legislation would reduce the co-payment for outpatient mental health services, from 50 percent to 20 percent. The legislation also creates Medicare coverage for intensive residential services - like crisis residential programs - and intensive outpatient services - like psychiatric rehabilitation. These provisions, as well as others included in the legislation, will strengthen and restructure Medicare's mental health benefit for beneficiaries in need of mental health services.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Beth Powell, AMHCA Director of Public Policy and Professional Issues at 800-326-2642, ext. 105, or by e-mail at bpowell@amhca.org.
Stay tuned for additional information, including a SAMPLE LETTER for you to send to your Senators and Representative asking for their support for the bill!
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