Improving Access to Mental Health Act of 2023

3/14/2024, 5:28 AM

Improving Access to Mental Health Act of 2023

This bill increases the Medicare reimbursement rate for clinical social worker services. The bill excludes clinical social worker services from the prospective payment system in which predetermined amounts form the basis for payment under Medicare.

Additionally, the bill alters the definition of clinical social worker services as it relates to Medicare. Under current law, such services (1) include services performed for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses, and (2) exclude services furnished to an inpatient of a skilled nursing facility as a condition of the facility's participation in the Medicare program. The bill repeals these provisions and instead specifies that such services include certain types of health behavior assessment and intervention.

Congress
118

Number
S - 838

Introduced on
2023-03-16

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

3/16/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Improving Access to Mental Health Act of 2023

This bill increases the Medicare reimbursement rate for clinical social worker services. The bill excludes clinical social worker services from the prospective payment system in which predetermined amounts form the basis for payment under Medicare.

Additionally, the bill alters the definition of clinical social worker services as it relates to Medicare. Under current law, such services (1) include services performed for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses, and (2) exclude services furnished to an inpatient of a skilled nursing facility as a condition of the facility's participation in the Medicare program. The bill repeals these provisions and instead specifies that such services include certain types of health behavior assessment and intervention.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to mental health services under the Medicare program.

Policy Areas
Health

Potential Impact
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Mental health
Nursing
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary4/19/2023

Improving Access to Mental Health Act of 2023

This bill increases the Medicare reimbursement rate for clinical social worker services. The bill excludes clinical social worker services from the prospective payment system in w...


Latest Action3/16/2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.