By Sen. Martin Heinrich
WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and John Kennedy, R-La., introduced their Increasing Mental Health Options Act July 29. The legislation expands access to mental healthcare in rural communities across New Mexico, Louisiana, and the country by eliminating an outdated Medicare requirement that delays mental healthcare treatment and limits patient access to psychologists.
Unlike other insurers, Medicare doesn’t allow psychologists to practice independently in all treatment settings, creating unnecessary barriers that delay care. These restrictions hit rural communities especially hard, where Medicare beneficiaries have higher rates of depression and anxiety but are only half as likely as those in urban areas to see a mental health specialist.
The Increasing Mental Health Options Act cuts red tape by removing Medicare’s physician approval requirement, helping patients access mental healthcare faster and easier. The bill also strengthens access to this care in rural communities by making psychologists eligible for Medicare bonus payments when they provide care in areas with shortages of mental health professionals. According to a January New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee Brief, 32 of 33 New Mexico counties are designated as health professional shortage areas in primary care, behavioral health, or dental health.
“New Mexicans should have access to timely, high-quality mental healthcare whenever and wherever they need it,” Heinrich said. “By expanding Medicare-covered treatment settings and encouraging more psychologists to practice where they’re needed most, my Increasing Mental Health Options Act will help Medicare patients get the care they need sooner, in their home community. This is a commonsense step to ensure every New Mexican can get the mental healthcare they need, close to home.”
Specifically, the Increasing Mental Health Options Act will:
Allow psychologists participating in Medicare to independently provide services in all Medicare treatment settings, as they are allowed to do in Medicare office-based settings, under private sector health plans, in TRICARE, and within the Veterans Health Administration.
Incentivize psychologists to practice in areas with the greatest need by making them eligible for bonus payments when they choose to practice in communities designated as mental health professional shortage areas.
Maintain long-standing Medicare requirements on psychologists’ consultation with patients’ physicians in accordance with accepted professional ethical norms.
