10
Loading video...
By Suzanne Blake
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Millions of Medicare beneficiaries could gain faster access to mental health treatment under a newly introduced bipartisan bill in the Senate.
The legislation, known as the Increasing Mental Health Options Act, was proposed by Senators John Kennedy of Louisiana, a Republican, and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, a Democrat.
The bill would eliminate a Medicare requirement that psychologists obtain physician approval before providing services in certain treatment settings, which the bill sponsors say would reduce delays in care while expanding access in rural and underserved communities.
Read More on Politics
“Medicare patients should not have to jump through hoops to get mental health treatment. Our bill will cut needless red tape so psychologists can treat patients sooner, especially in rural communities where mental health professionals are in short supply,” Kennedy said in a statement.
Why It Matters
Mental health needs among older Americans have become an increasingly important issue for Medicare.
Depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and other behavioral health conditions can affect seniors' quality of life as well as their physical health and ability to live independently.
The legislators pushing the bill say Medicare rules have not kept pace with modern mental health care delivery, and the outdated administrative requirements can slow treatment, particularly in settings where patients may need prompt behavioral health services.
...
What To Know
The Increasing Mental Health Options Act would make two major changes to Medicare.
First, it would allow psychologists to independently provide Medicare-covered services in all treatment settings without first obtaining physician approval. The current rules require psychologists to secure a physician's sign-off before providing care in some facilities, which can end up postponing treatment.
The legislation would also make psychologists eligible for Medicare bonus payments when they provide services in mental health professional shortage areas.
“The proposal recognizes mental health challenges among older Americans are often driven as much by isolation and lack of access to care as by clinical conditions themselves, and it would strengthen Medicare’s ability to identify, prevent and treat those issues,” Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek. “For seniors, that could equate to earlier intervention for depression, anxiety and loneliness, conditions that can mostly go untreated.”
The bill was introduced in the Senate last week and has now been referred to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.
How Medicare Beneficiaries Could Benefit
For Medicare patients, the most immediate impact would likely be faster access to treatment.
Under current rules, seniors seeking psychological services in certain care settings can face additional administrative steps before treatment begins. Removing those requirements would allow psychologists to start providing care sooner.
“We know that loneliness and depression are issues that affect our senior citizens, and they likely do not need a visit to their primary care physician to confirm their own feelings,” Drew Powers, founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek. “Removing the pre-approval step helps seniors get the care they need faster and with less expense.”
Patients in nursing homes could be among the biggest beneficiaries. Many newly admitted nursing home residents experience depression or anxiety, yet current Medicare requirements can delay access to psychological services.
"One in three newly admitted nursing home residents arrives already struggling with depression or anxiety, yet their path to timely help is often blocked by an outdated Medicare provision,” Arthur C. Evans, Jr., Ph.D., the CEO of the American Psychological Association, said in a statement. “Current Medicare rules prohibit psychologists from working with patients in skilled nursing facilities, partial hospitalization programs, and similar settings until treatment is approved by a physician, needlessly delaying care.”
The legislation could also improve access in rural America. By extending Medicare bonus payments to psychologists who serve shortage areas, lawmakers hope to attract more providers to communities where seniors often face long travel times or limited appointment availability.
The impacts go beyond health too, Powers said. “Mental health issues often have physical manifestations that require more care. Lonely, depressed seniors are prime targets for scams and financial elder abuse, costing seniors and their loved ones millions per year. Faster, easier mental health treatment mitigates these other problems.”
In practical terms, beneficiaries may see:
- Fewer administrative hurdles before receiving psychological treatment.
- Faster access to behavioral health services.
- Greater availability of providers in underserved areas.
- Expanded access to care in facilities such as skilled nursing facilities and partial hospitalization programs.
What Happens Next
The bill is in the earliest stage of the legislative process. After being introduced in the Senate, it was referred to the Senate Finance Committee, where lawmakers will decide whether to advance it for further consideration.
To become law, the measure would need approval from the Senate and House of Representatives before being signed by the president.
“The bill may have a reasonable chance of advancing because mental health for older adults has become one of the few areas with broad bipartisan agreement, and if it’s passed, its long-term impact could extend beyond improving quality of life by reducing healthcare costs,” Beene said.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines