LMFTs and LMHCs are qualified to provide mental health services to people with private insurance and those on Medicaid. But these same licenses are not enough for Medicare. With rising anxiety and depression due to COVID-19, we must allow Medicare patients to be able to see these practitioners. Source: Eduardo Barrios/Unsplash
Full Answer
Can an LMHC or LPC accept Medicare?
Aug 27, 2021 · LMFTs and LMHCs are qualified to provide mental health services to people with private insurance and those on Medicaid. But these same licenses are not enough for Medicare. With rising anxiety and...
Will licensed mental health providers accept Medicare?
New laws before congress may mean that soon all licensed mental health providers (that is LPCs, LMFTs, LMHCs, LCPCs, and others) will be able to accept medicare as a third party payment. Thriveworks Medical Credentialing staff discuss the current state of affairs.
What is the difference between an LMFT and an LMHC?
May 09, 2011 · LMHCs and LMFTs Accepting Medicare: Coming Soon. With the introduction of the Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2011, which was submitted to Congress, LMHCs (LPCs, LCPCs) and LMFTs may soon be able to be credentialed with Medicare, and reimbursed at the same rate as LICSWs. This is a promising step, and changes could be in …
Does Medicare cover mental health counselors and therapists?
Mar 13, 2021 · It would permit counselors and marriage and family therapists to provide mental health services to Medicare beneficiaries. The would make counselors eligible for Medicare telehealth reimbursement. Per the proposed act, “the amounts paid shall be 80 percent of the lesser of the actual charge for the services or 75 percent of the amount determined for …
What is the Mental Health Access Improvement Act?
1879 and H.R. 3032, entitled the Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2017, which amend title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.
What is a marriage and family therapist?
In the proposed bill, a Marriage and Family Therapist is defined as someone who possesses a master’s or doctoral degree which qualifies for licensure or certification as a marriage and family therapist pursuant to State law; after obtaining such degree has performed at least 2 years of clinical supervised ...
Who is Nathan Boyd?
Nathan Boyd oversees the staff in our billing, credentialing, phone answering, and software development teams here at KASA Solutions as VP of Operations. He has worked in the mental health field for several years, having begun his career as an in-home counselor and spent time in management and running businesses, including a mental health agency before joining KASA. Nathan is passionate about the counseling field and assisting business owners in starting and growing their business.
Does Medicare cover LMFTs?
Currently, the covered mental health professionals recognized by Medicare include psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health clinical nurse specialists, and clinical social workers.
Who is Senator Thompson?
Senator Thompson has more than a decade of advocating for counselors to get medicare reimbursement. He has proposed a number of bills supporting the reimbursement of counselors for Medicare. For more information about his work, see his Congressional webpage and write to your elected officials to support his advocacy on behalf of counseling.
What is the XVIII bill?
It would permit counselors and marriage and family therapists to provide mental health services to Medicare beneficiaries. The would make counselors eligible for Medicare telehealth reimbursement. Per the proposed act, “the amounts paid shall ...
How many hours do you need to be a mental health counselor?
A mental health counselor needs to have at least 1500 client contact hours doing psychotherapy (out of the required 3,000 total hours) in order to fulfill their licensure requirements. In addition mental health counselors can count time used for phone calls to and from clients, record keeping, supervision, professional development ...
What is a limited permit?
The limited permit is a limited license that is issued until the required experiential hours are completed. The clock starts on the licensure applicant's 3,000 hours only when the limited permit has been issued! It is often posted online before the applicant receives it in the mail.