The Washington Post (10/29) reports, “For decades, Medicare has covered only mental health services provided by psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers and psychiatric nurses.” However, “with rising demand and many people willing to pay privately for care, 45 percent of psychiatrists and 54 percent of psychologists don’t participate in Medicare.” In response, “beginning in January, Medicare for the first time will allow marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors to provide services.” This group “of more than 400,000 professionals makes up more than 40 percent of the licensed mental health workforce and is especially critical in rural areas.” Advocates additionally “note the importance of expanded Medicare coverage for telehealth, including mental health care,” that has become more widely available due to expanded coverage during the pandemic. The American Psychiatric Association’s Council on Healthcare Systems and Financing Chair Robert Trestman, PhD, MD, “called on lawmakers and regulators to maintain those expansions and continue to reimburse mental health telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person visits, another pandemic innovation.”
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— “The Washington Post (requires login and subscription)