I am struck, again, by how stupidly the #Alto #HSR project in #Canada is being built.

If you want to get every #province competing to (re)build a national #rail service, build #trains from #Vancouver #BC through #Calgary to #Edmonton #AB, with the stipulation it can only be powered with #Renewable #electricity.

All the mistakes/learning happen in the west. Everyone gets #railroad envy. Everything gets cheaper as it gets closer to #Ottawa.

And your party is heroes. Unlike the #LCPC.

#CdnPoli

Many licensed professional counselors (LPC/LCPC) will consider this great news -- it means we will soon be able to accept MediCARE.

I want nothing to do with it. Nothing to do with the bureaucracy and billing headaches. For me it means that I will have to opt out every few years.

It means I will likely lose my long-time client whose BCBS secondary insurance picks up the full tab because my license type can not currently take MediCARE.

It means Maryland LCPCs still taking MedicAID will have to often bill both MediCARE and MediCAID -- or not take the many clients with both govt. insurance programs.

Yeah I guess. Perhaps it is a win overall as there will be more mental health options for clients nationwide.

Michael Reeder LCPC
Baltimore, MD
[email protected]

#LPC #counseling #psychotherapy #medicare #aca #mentalhealth #lcpc
#MentalHealthAccessImprovement Act

-------- Original Message --------
From: American Counseling Association <[email protected]>
Sent: December 22, 2022 3:30:15 PM EST
To: [email protected]
Subject: BREAKING: Senate Passes the Mental Health Access Improvement Act

We have almost passed the finish line!
 
Senate Passes the Mental Health Access Improvement Act
 
 
Today, the Senate, with a vote of 68-29, passed the 1.7 trillion dollar fiscal year (FY) 2023 omnibus package, H.R.2617 [ https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/JRQ121922.PDF ] . Entitled the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Among other provisions included in the omnibus is the Mental Health Access Improvement Act [ https://www.counseling.org/government-affairs/federal-issues/medicare-reimbursement ] (S. 828 [ https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/828 ] /HR432 [ https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/432 ] ), which would create greater access to mental health services for millions of Americans.
 
What’s Next?
 
Next, to the House for a vote as early as this afternoon. Once the legislation passes the House, on to President Biden's desk for his signature. Once signed, the legislation will immediately become an enacted law. Which means Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) will be added to the list of Medicare providers.
 
This process may take 12–24 months for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to update regulatory language and internal systems that will accept LPCs as Medicare providers. Your ACA Government Affairs and Public Policy team will monitor things as they progress and will keep you informed every step of the way.
 
If you would like to become involved in ACA’s advocacy efforts, please contact the ACA Government Affairs and Public Policy team at [email protected] [ mailto:[email protected] ] .

American Counseling Association
PO Box 31110
Alexandria, VA 22310-9110
(p) 800-298-2276 | (f) 800-473-2329
 
Stop Getting ACA Emails [ http://ACAA.informz.net/ACAA/pages/default_unsubscribe?_zs=1UmCA1&_zmi=6GWl ]

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