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The mental health counseling profession took a huge step forward today as the Senate, during debate on broad Medicare prescription drug legislation, added provisions to establish Medicare coverage of state-licensed professional counselors. AMHCA and ACA are thankful to each of its members for participating in these efforts - we would not have taken this step forward without your help!
The Senate is expected to approve the underlying bill, S. 1, the "Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Improvement Act," late tonight or early tomorrow morning. Although passage of the counselor language is an historic step, we are only halfway home. The provision must now survive a House/Senate conference committee, where differences in the two versions must be reconciled. There is no equivalent provision in the House Medicare bill.
Background:
Although it took nearly nine days of debate on the prescription drug bill before the professional counselor amendment was added, final passage of the provision was relatively non-controversial. Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY) and Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), sponsors of the stand-alone counselor/marriage and family therapist coverage bill, S. 310, were preparing to offer the amendment on he floor of the Senate, requiring an up-or-down vote for passage. The Senators also continued to work with the staff of the Finance Committee, which oversees Medicare legislation, to try to add the provision to the bill as part of a large package of amendments endorsed by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Max Baucus (D-MT). Such "manager's amendments" are typically approved quickly, with little debate. Ultimately, the Thomas/Lincoln provision was approved in exactly this fashion by unanimous consent, showing the lack of significant opposition to establishing Medicare coverage of all core mental health professionals. The coverage of state-licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists under Medicare faced a last-minute challenge from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), which ultimately proved unsuccessful.
What You Can Do:
Counselors are encouraged to contact their Senators to urge them to vote for S. 1 and its establishment of coverage for state-licensed professional counselors. You can reach your Senators by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and asking for their offices.
Next Steps:
Following final passage of the Senate and House of their respective versions of Medicare legislation, members of a conference committee will be appointed to iron out differences in the two bills. AMHCA and ACA are hopeful that the provision has garnered sufficient support, and is non-controversial enough, to survive these negotiations. Our organizations will continue to work closely with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists to see that S. 310's provisions are enacted.
AMHCA and ACA grassroots advocates are encouraged to stay tuned for further notices, and to stand ready for action. As soon as conferees are named to the bill, we will send out an alert to request that members of the conference committee be contacted to encourage retention of the counselor provision in the final legislation. Until then, please feel free to contact Beth Powell with AMHCA (800-326-2642, ext. 105; e-mail:
bpowell@amhca.org ) or Dara Alpert of ACA (800-347-6647, ext. 242, e-mail:
dalpert@counseling,org ) should you have any questions or concerns on this issue.
If you have any questions, please contact Beth Powell, AMHCA's Director of Public Policy and Professional Issues, at 800-326-2642, ext. 105 or by e-mail at
bpowell@amhca.org
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