S. 2356: Accelerating the Development of Advanced Psychology Trainees Act

This legislation, known as the Accelerating the Development of Advanced Psychology Trainees Act (ADAPT Act), aims to expand access to psychological services for individuals enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Here are the key components of the bill:

Coverage for Psychological Services

The bill proposes to amend the Social Security Act to allow services rendered by advanced psychology trainees to be reimbursed under Medicare. This includes:

• Defining "advanced psychology trainee" as either a doctoral intern in a supervised training program or a postdoctoral resident working toward licensure in psychology.
• Stipulating that services provided by these trainees must occur under the general supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist, meaning the psychologist does not need to be present for the service to be provided.

Implementation Timeline

The amendments to the coverage provisions will take effect one year after the bill is enacted, providing time for relevant systems to adapt.

Modifier Code Development

The bill mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a specific billing code, referred to as the "GC modifier code," within one year of the bill's enactment. This code will facilitate accurate billing for services provided by advanced psychology trainees.

Guidance for States

In addition to Medicare provisions, the bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop guidance for states regarding the coverage of services provided by advanced psychology trainees under Medicaid and CHIP. This guidance will include:

• Legal mechanisms for activating coverage.
• Recommended billing codes and modifiers.
• Examples of states that have successfully utilized waivers to include advanced psychology trainees’ services in their programs.

Overall Goals

The main intent behind the bill is to enhance the availability of mental health services by utilizing advanced trainees, thereby helping to meet the growing demand for psychological care while ensuring that these services are appropriately compensated under public health programs.

Relevant Companies

• None found