S. 1797: Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act

This bill, titled the Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act, aims to enhance the availability of mental health services for seniors under the Medicare program. The primary focus is on improving access to clinical social worker services, particularly for residents in skilled nursing facilities. Below are the main components of the bill:

Improved Access to Mental Health Services

The bill proposes several key amendments to the Social Security Act that would facilitate better access to mental health services:

1. Inclusion of Clinical Social Worker Services

• The bill seeks to exclude clinical social worker services from the payment system that currently governs skilled nursing facilities. This means that these services would not be limited by the existing financial structure, potentially allowing for greater service availability.
• The definition of clinical social worker services will be expanded in the Social Security Act, making a wider range of services available to Medicare beneficiaries, particularly focused on mental health assessments and interventions.

2. Access to Comprehensive Services

• The bill amends the criteria for clinical social worker services under Medicare. Specifically, it allows for not only the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses but also health and behavior assessment and intervention services. This is an effort to broaden the scope of services that can be provided to seniors.
• Additionally, the bill will ensure that these new services are applicable to both inpatients of hospitals and residents of skilled nursing facilities, enhancing access across different care settings.

3. Effective Date of Amendments

The changes proposed in this legislation are set to take effect from January 1, 2026. This timeline provides time for the necessary adjustments to be made within the Medicare system and for healthcare providers to adapt to the new regulations and service offerings.

Conclusion

Overall, the bill aims to break down barriers to mental health access for seniors, particularly those residing in skilled nursing facilities, by making clinical social worker services more readily available and broadly defined within the Medicare program.

Relevant Companies

None found