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Senate Finance Committee Workforce Working Group Draft Legislation on Mental Health and Substance Treatment Services - 9/22/22

  • 1.  Senate Finance Committee Workforce Working Group Draft Legislation on Mental Health and Substance Treatment Services - 9/22/22

    National Council Staff
    Posted 09-22-2022 19:34
    Dear Association Executives - This morning the Senate Finance Committee Workforce Working Group released draft legislative text intended to address the workforce shortage impacting mental health and substance use service provision. In the draft are a number of National Council priorities, including the Mental Health Access Improvement Act, which would allow for Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselors to provide services to Medicare beneficiaries and seek subsequent reimbursement.

    We have attached both the draft legislation and a summary produced by our outside counsel for your review and use.

    Next Steps:

    Three of the five Senate Finance Committee Working Groups have released draft legislative text. We anticipate additional drafts the first week of October. We do not expect the Senate Finance Committee to hold a markup for this legislative proposal. We will keep you apprised of any additional information and/or momentum related to this legislative package, but would like to note that a potential vehicle for the package may be the health section of a possibly forthcoming Omnibus Spending Package.

    Thank you so much, please let us know if you have any questions.

    National Council Policy Team

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    Neal Comstock
    Director of Membership
    National Council
    NealC@TheNationalCouncil.org
    202 748-8793
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