WASHINGTON — The American Psychological Association led 38 national organizations representing groups including consumers, providers, the aging, people with disabilities, veterans and farmers in supporting a bill to improve Medicare patients’ access to mental and behavioral health services provided by psychologists.
The legislation was also endorsed by the Kennedy Forumopens in new window, a key mental health and substance use organization led by former Rep. Patrick Kennedy.
“In the midst of a global pandemic, the mental health care needs of our country have never been more acute,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD. “It’s essential that people be able to access mental health treatment when they need it, now and in the future.”
Psychologists are key to meeting the demand for behavioral health services, providing not only psychotherapy and behavioral health care, but psychological and neuropsychological testing and help for patients managing physical health conditions, Evans said.
“For too long, Medicare has excluded psychologists from providing their full range of services to Medicare beneficiaries as they do in other health care programs, often requiring unnecessary oversight by a physician,” he added. “For patients, particularly those in rural areas, this can mean the difference between receiving treatment or not. When a physician is unavailable, mental health services may be seriously delayed or not offered at all. This legislation would treat psychologists on par with other health care providers who aren’t physicians, including chiropractors, optometrists, dentists and podiatrists.”
The bill is H.R. 884opens in new window, the Medicare Mental Health Access Act.