The Senate Finance Committee voted Nov. 8 to advance a healthcare package that includes changes intended to improve behavioral health access.
The Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act would increase Medicare payments to more mental health practitioners in underserved areas and require accurate provider directories in Medicare Advantage.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Here are five behavioral health proposals to know:
- The legislation would extend eligibility for Medicare bonus payments to more types of behavioral health providers practicing in health professional shortage areas. Currently only physicians are eligible for bonus payments — the legislation would expand eligibility to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors.
- The proposed legislation would allow clinical social workers to bill Medicare for health behavior assessment and intervention services.
- The bill would also increase Medicare payments for behavioral health services integrated with primary care.
- A provision in the legislation would require Medicare Advantage plans to maintain accurate provider directories online. Plans would be required to submit reports on their directory accuracy, and post accuracy scores from HHS on its directory.
- The proposed legislation would direct HHS to issue guidance on increasing the capacity of mental health and substance use disorder professionals in Medicaid, improving the design of youth mental health services in the program, and to collect data on the prevalence of conditions and mental health treatment provided to Medicaid beneficiaries.