The Senate Finance Committee today released a discussion draft of legislation to expand the mental health workforce. According to a summary of the provisions, the discussion draft includes policies that would:

•    Add 400 new Medicare-funded residency positions to teaching hospitals for training new physicians in psychiatry and psychiatry subspecialties.
•    Cover mental health services provided by marriage and family therapists and licensed professional counselors under Medicare Part B.
•    Expand access to certain clinical social worker services under Medicare.
•    Expand Medicare's Health Professional Shortage Area bonus program to attract more mental health care providers to shortage areas.
•    Create a Medicaid demonstration to increase behavioral health provider capacity.
•    Require Medicaid to issue guidance to states on increasing the mental health workforce. 
•    Modify Medicare’s direct supervision requirements to make it easier for patients to see psychologist trainees.

The House Ways and Means Committee yesterday voted to advance five mental health packages to the full House.  

Related News Articles

Headline
The Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services today announced the creation of the DOJ-HHS False Claims Act Working Group to combat health care fraud…
Headline
Jon Ulven, Ph.D., behavioral health psychologist and chair of adult psychology at Sanford Health, details the fragile behavioral health landscape in rural…
Headline
The Senate narrowly passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) on July 1 by a 50-50 tally, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.…
Headline
The AHA June 29 sent a letter to senators urging them to amend the budget reconciliation bill before its final passage in the Senate. The Senate version of the…
Headline
Kevin McEwan, DNP, R.N., chief nursing officer at Madison Memorial Hospital, shares how Medicaid provides vital behavioral health and maternal and child care…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced it has identified a fraud scheme targeting Medicare providers and suppliers. CMS said scammers…