Counselors, we’ve done it! The Mental Health Access Improvement Act passed in the Senate yesterday and the House today.

The bill has been sent to President Biden to be signed into law. Counselors will get Medicare privileges. Years of advocacy have paid off.

 The Senate Appropriations Committee published the legislative text for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 omnibus package H.R.2617, titled the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

Of note, we’re excited to share the following immediate update:

Coverage of Marriage and Family Therapist Services and Mental Health Counselor Services Under Part B of the Medicare Program is included. 

Expanded patient access to tele-mental health services. Recognizing the value and increased use of telehealth, the fiscal year 2023 appropriations legislation kept several of these flexibilities in place.

The Florida Mental Health Counselors Association applauds Congress for addressing bipartisan, bicameral policies that preserve important tools that allow providers to better serve patients, including extending telehealth flexibilities, and allowing greater access to mental health services to those in the Medicare population.

If you would like to become involved in FMHCA’s advocacy efforts, please contact the FMHCA legislative committee at anorton@flmhca.org.

Information made available to SMHCA by Dr. Aaron Norton LMHC, LMFT, MCAP, CRC, CFMHE, CFBA (SMHCA, Legislative Committee Chair)

To keep track of the bill follow NBCC: 

https://www.votervoice.net/NBCCGrassroots/bills

A bill tracker was last updated yesterday 2.2.23