U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Chris Coons introduced bipartisan legislation on Mar. 25 to support mental health providers by increasing Medicare reimbursement rates for clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors.
The Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act aims to address shortages of mental health professionals, especially in rural areas, by raising the Medicare reimbursement rate from 75 percent to 85 percent of the Physician Fee Schedule amount for these providers. The bill is intended to help recruit and retain more professionals in underserved communities.
“Rural communities in Wyoming and across the country often face the greatest shortage of mental health providers,” Barrasso said. “As a doctor, I know firsthand how important it is to recruit and maintain quality mental health professionals. Our bill addresses these issues by ensuring mental health service providers are compensated fairly under Medicare. This will help expand access to mental health services and address workforce challenges in rural communities.”
Coons said, “Mental health care is health care, and the professionals who provide that care deserve to be paid fairly for their work. This bipartisan bill will fix the harmful and longstanding practice of paying mental health care workers less than other providers, so we can keep and recruit more mental health care providers and make sure Americans get the care they need.”
The legislation has received endorsements from several organizations including the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, American Counseling Association, Centerstone, Clinical Social Work Association, Medicare Mental Health Workforce Coalition, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Anthony Estreet of NASW said: “Providing adequate reimbursement for CSWs not only increases compensation that has remained stationary since the 1990s but ensures their ability to provide much-needed support… This legislation would help clinical social workers support those experiencing mental health crises without concern for reimbursement.” Christine Michaels with AAMFT stated: “By increasing the Medicare reimbursement rates… this legislation will increase the number of Medicare-eligible behavioral health providers.”
Hannah Wesolowski from NAMI said: “Ensuring providers are fairly compensated is critical… The Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act would strengthen access by increasing reimbursements for mental health providers under Medicare.” Kylie P. Dotson-Blake at NBCC added: “This bill increases reimbursement to 85 percent… incentivizing providers to serve older adults.” Brian Banks at ACA described it as “a critical step forward” that would ensure fair compensation.
Communities nationwide continue facing significant shortages of qualified behavioral healthcare professionals—an issue most acute in rural states—according to the official website. Currently about 40 percent of Americans live in areas with too few such professionals; over 166,000 CSWs, MFTs or MHCs participate in Medicare Part B programs.
Barrasso resides with his three children in Casper according to his official website. He chairs a Senate Energy subcommittee on Public Lands as well as serving as Senate Republican whip according to his official website. His focus includes Wyoming priorities like energy policy supporting ranchers while promoting affordability according to his official website, operating offices throughout Wyoming including Casper where he lives with his family according to his official website.
Barrasso has been recognized as Wyoming Physician of the Year during his career as an orthopedic surgeon according to his official website.
