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As you know, recognition of mental health counselors by Medicare has been a chief legislative goal of the American Mental Health Counselors Association, its leaders and public policy and legislation committee. We are on the brink of achieving this goal, but need your help to make it happen.
The Senate Finance Committee is expected to consider Medicare legislation in June. The more co-sponsors we have on S. 310, and the more they hear from their constituents about the importance of Medicare's coverage of mental health counselors, the better our chances in getting our provision included in the bill being written by the Finance Committee. This effort represents our best chance of getting counselor coverage in a Medicare bill. You and your counselor colleagues can help us achieve this goal.
We only have a short time frame in which to work. Our objective between now and mid-June is to get as many Senators as possible to sign on as co-sponsors of this legislation, which would reimburse state-licensed mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists under Medicare.
Phone calls are one of the most effective means of communication. Please take a few minutes of your time and call your Senators and ask them to cosponsor this important legislation. The phone number for the Capitol Switchboard is 202-224-3121. Ask for your Senators by first and last name. When the receptionist answers, ask for the staff person that covers Medicare issues. Following is a sample script for your use when making these calls.
As a constituent and a mental health counselor in your state, I urge you to co-sponsor and support S. 310, the Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act. This bipartisan legislation would reimburse state-licensed mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists for providing services to Medicare beneficiaries. Please help our seniors to get needed mental health care by cosponsoring and supporting S. 310 and by requesting its inclusion in any Medicare reform package. Thank you.
We cannot stress enough the importance of the timing of your calls. It is critically important that your Senators hear from you on this issue during the next two weeks.
If you have any questions about this initiative or need more information, please feel free to contact Beth Powell at 800-326-2642, ext. 105 or by e-mail at
bpowell@amhca.org.
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