H.R. 3808: Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act

This bill, titled the Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act, aims to enhance access to mental health services for seniors enrolled in the Medicare program. Here are the key components of what the bill would do:

Changes to Medicare Regulations

• Exclusion of Certain Services from Payment Systems: The bill proposes to exclude clinical social worker services from the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system. This means that these services would not be included in the payment calculations for skilled nursing facilities, allowing for more focused reimbursement for these specific mental health services.
• Expanded Access to Clinical Social Worker Services: The bill amends the Social Security Act to broaden the definition of clinical social worker services. Specifically, it allows for services related to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses, including health and behavior assessment and intervention services, to be covered under Medicare. However, it specifies that these services will not include those provided to inpatient hospital settings.
• Effective Date: The new provisions are set to take effect for services provided on or after January 1, 2026.

Implications for Mental Health Services

By making these changes, the legislation aims to facilitate greater access to mental health care for seniors, allowing clinical social workers to provide a wider range of services under Medicare. This is intended to address an increasing need for mental health support among older adults, especially those who may not have easy access to mental health professionals.

Relevant Companies

None found