The Mental Health Access Improvement Act has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives as H.R. 432 by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA-5) and Rep. John Katko (R-NY-24). This bill contains language consistent with the bill introduced in the 116th Congress and would allow mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists to bill Medicare for counseling services. NBCC, along with the Medicare Mental Health Workforce Coalition, is also working to have the bill introduced in the Senate very soon. The new Congress presents both opportunities and challenges for legislation like this, and it is clear that bipartisanship will be necessary to finally get this bill passed.
Our Government Affairs team is currently working to secure as many cosponsors as possible for the legislation. Last Congress, the bill had more cosponsors than ever before, and it was reported favorably out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. We are hoping to build on that momentum in this Congress and we need your help! Visit our Grassroots Action Center to contact your representative and tell them to cosponsor H.R. 432, the Mental Health Access Improvement Act!
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