Jan. 1, 2024, was a landmark day for the counseling profession. After a long advocacy effort to include mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists as approved providers in the Medicare program, the beginning of the year opened the provider rolls for the traditional Medicare program and Medicare Advantage plans. 

The enrollment process has been a resounding success. As of mid-June, over 38,000 mental health counselors have successfully enrolled as Medicare providers.

Studies prior to 2024 showed that only half of older adults with mental health conditions received any care. NBCC has undertaken many promotional and educational efforts to encourage counselors to take advantage of this new opportunity to address an incredible unmet need experienced by older adults.

“Treating Medicare clients has expanded the depth of my practice,” says Mary Jernigan, MA, NCC, LCMHC, past president of the Licensed Clinical Counselors of North Carolina. “It has strengthened my integrative medicine approach and provided an opportunity to improve the health of the aging population. It has expanded my cultural bandwidth generationally while encouraging greater understanding of the human spirit at all life stages.” 

The inclusion of counselors means that Medicare beneficiaries with mental health conditions have more choice and access to mental health providers in several delivery settings. Private practice, community mental health clinics, and larger systems can now employ counselors to treat older adults. Counselors are now a major presence in the older adult mental health space and overall system and can promote their practices for addressing the needs of clients across the life span.

“It improved the caseload, because clients who would normally be discharged due to insurance change can now remain a client,” says Patricia Adkins, MBA, Director of TriCare Counseling & Consulting, Inc. “We did attract past clients and new clients who were looking for approved providers.” 

No other congressional legislation or executive branch action could have such a remarkable behavioral health workforce result as including counselors in the Medicare program. The greatest benefit is to Medicare enrollees, who have improved access to mental health services. 

If you have not enrolled in Medicare, we encourage you to do so and to position your practice for the future.

“The benefit of enrolling in Medicare is being able to serve a population who have lived long, productive lives and are able to continue to overcome obstacles and contribute to their friends, family, and the world around them,” says Stephen Woods, MDiv, LCMHCS, LCAS. “I would recommend enrolling in Medicare to anyone who has an interest in expanding their range of services and helping people who will benefit from the compassionate care licensed counselors have to offer.”

Learn more about NBCC’s Medicare implementation efforts on our website.