At Long Last, Counselors, LMFTs Will Be Able to Bill for Medicare Services

After decades of lobbying and work by a coalition of counselor organizations and supporters, Congress in late December approved and President Joe Biden signed a new federal budget that included the Mental Health Access Improvement Act.

As a result, licensed counselors and marriage and family therapists will be able to bill clients who have Medicare coverage, expanding the list of mental health providers available to treat this population who often struggle to find therapists, especially in rural areas. Until now, the 55 million Americans with Medicare have only been able to receive behavioral health treatment from psychologists and licensed social workers.

Plans call for counselors and LMFTs to be eligible providers under Part B of the Medicare program beginning Jan. 1, 2024. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will develop specific rules on how counselors can apply for provider status, receive a Provider ID number and bill for services. The rules will be developed this year to allow billing to begin by the start of 2024.

CareNet President Bryan Hatcher, a licensed social worker himself, says he and the eligible Medicare mental health providers he knows are extremely grateful for the legislation.

“It’s about time,” he says of the legislation. “For too long, people in this age bracket in need of mental health care too often have struggled to find providers able to see them.

“The new law will improve CareNet’s ability to be this kind of resource for those on Medicare. And I’m confident of all of our providers’ skill to serve this population.”