It is important that Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists are allowed to become approved providers for Medicare. Here is why this issue matters (from the American Mental Health Counselors Association):
- Surveys show that millions of Medicare beneficiaries have seen a significant increase in anxiety, depressive, PTSD, and substance use disorders during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Over the last year, nearly 25 percent of Americans (spiking up to 50 percent during some time frames surveyed) over the age of 65, are reporting symptoms of anxiety disorders and depressive disorders as reported by the Census Bureau and CDC.
- Unfortunately, there’s a shortage of mental health and substance abuse providers in the Medicare system to help these older adults who are at risk.
- Over 200,000 marriage and family therapists and licensed mental health counselors across the country are specifically trained to address mental health and substance abuse, including opioid addiction – but are not approved Medicare provider thereby limiting access to need services.
Learn more at https://www.amhca.org/advocacy/medicare