Kennedy, Heinrich introduce bipartisan bill to cut red tape delaying mental health treatment

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) in introducing the bipartisan Increasing Mental Health Options Act to eliminate outdated Medicare rules that delay mental health treatment for seniors and improve access to behavioral health care. Current Medicare rules require psychologists to obtain a physician’s approval before providing services in certain treatment settings, creating unnecessary delays for patients seeking care. This bipartisan legislation would remove that outdated requirement while preserving existing requirements for psychologists to coordinate and consult with patients’ physicians. The bill would also encourage psychologists to serve rural and underserved communities by making them eligible for Medicare bonus payments in mental health professional shortage areas. “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,” said Kennedy. “New Mexicans should have access to timely, high-quality mental healthcare whenever and wherever they need it. By expanding Medicare-covered treatment settings and encouraging more psychologists to practice where they're needed most, my Increasing Mental Health Options Act will help Medicare patients get the care they need sooner, in their home community. This is a commonsense step to ensure every New Mexican can get the mental healthcare they need, close to home,” said Heinrich. "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residents arrives already struggling with depression or anxiety, yet their path to timely help is often blocked by an outdated Medicare provision. 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. APA Services applauds Congresswoman Malliotakis and Senator Heinrich for introducing the bipartisan Increasing Mental Health Options Act to remove this barrier to prompt, effective treatment,” said Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD, CEO of the American Psychological Association Background: The Increasing Mental Health Options Act would: Allow psychologists to independently provide Medicare-covered services in all treatment settings without first obtaining unnecessary physician approval. Make psychologists eligible for Medicare bonus payments when they provide services in communities with shortages of mental health professionals. Maintain existing requirements for psychologists to consult and coordinate with patients’ physicians when appropriate. The bill would not expand psychologists’ scope of practice, change state licensing laws, alter the services Medicare covers or modify existing physician consultation requirements. Full text of the Increasing Mental Health Options Act is available here .