117 HR 432 IH: Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2021
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-01-21
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I
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 432
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 21, 2021
Mr. Thompson of California (for himself and Mr. Katko) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under part B of the Medicare program, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2021”.
2.

Coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under part B of the Medicare program
(a)

Coverage of Services
(1)

In general
Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended—
(A)
in subparagraph (GG), by striking “and” after the semicolon at the end;
(B)
in subparagraph (HH), by inserting “and” after the semicolon at the end; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(II)
marriage and family therapist services (as defined in subsection (lll)(1)) and mental health counselor services (as defined in subsection (lll)(3));”.
(2)

Definitions
Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(lll)

Marriage and Family Therapist Services; Marriage and Family Therapist; Mental Health Counselor Services; Mental Health Counselor
(1)
The term marriage and family therapist services means services performed by a marriage and family therapist (as defined in paragraph (2)) for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses, which the marriage and family therapist is legally authorized to perform under State law (or the State regulatory mechanism provided by State law) of the State in which such services are performed, as would otherwise be covered if furnished by a physician or as an incident to a physician’s professional service, but only if no facility or other provider charges or is paid any amounts with respect to the furnishing of such services.
(2)
The term marriage and family therapist means an individual who—
(A)
possesses a master’s or doctoral degree which qualifies for licensure or certification as a marriage and family therapist pursuant to State law;
(B)
after obtaining such degree has performed at least 2 years of clinical supervised experience in marriage and family therapy; and
(C)
in the case of an individual performing services in a State that provides for licensure or certification of marriage and family therapists, is licensed or certified as a marriage and family therapist in such State.
(3)
The term mental health counselor services means services performed by a mental health counselor (as defined in paragraph (4)) for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses which the mental health counselor is legally authorized to perform under State law (or the State regulatory mechanism provided by the State law) of the State in which such services are performed, as would otherwise be covered if furnished by a physician or as incident to a physician’s professional service, but only if no facility or other provider charges or is paid any amounts with respect to the furnishing of such services.
(4)
The term mental health counselor means an individual who—
(A)
possesses a master’s or doctor’s degree in mental health counseling or a related field;
(B)
after obtaining such a degree has performed at least 2 years of supervised mental health counselor practice; and
(C)
in the case of an individual performing services in a State that provides for licensure or certification of mental health counselors or professional counselors, is licensed or certified as a mental health counselor or professional counselor in such State.”.
(3)

Provision for payment under part B
Section 1832(a)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395k(a)(2)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:
“(v)
marriage and family therapist services (as defined in section 1861(lll)(1)) and mental health counselor services (as defined in section 1861(lll)(3));”.
(4)

Amount of payment
Section 1833(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)) is amended—
(A)
by striking “and (CC)” and inserting “(CC)”; and
(B)
by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: “, and (DD) with respect to marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under section 1861(s)(2)(II), 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 payment of a psychologist under subparagraph (L)”.
(5)

Exclusion of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services from skilled nursing facility prospective payment system
Section 1888(e)(2)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395yy(e)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting “marriage and family therapist services (as defined in section 1861(lll)(1)), mental health counselor services (as defined in section 1861(lll)(3)),” after “qualified psychologist services,”.
(6)

Inclusion of marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors as practitioners for assignment of claims
Section 1842(b)(18)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the following new clauses:
“(vii)
A marriage and family therapist (as defined in section 1861(lll)(2)).
(viii)
A mental health counselor (as defined in section 1861(lll)(4)).”.
(b)

Coverage of Certain Mental Health Services Provided in Certain Settings
(1)

Rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers
Section 1861(aa)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)(1)(B)) is amended by striking “or by a clinical social worker (as defined in subsection (hh)(1))” and inserting “, by a clinical social worker (as defined in subsection (hh)(1)), by a marriage and family therapist (as defined in subsection (lll)(2)), or by a mental health counselor (as defined in subsection (lll)(4))”.
(2)

Hospice programs
Section 1861(dd)(2)(B)(i)(III) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(2)(B)(i)(III)) is amended by inserting “, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor” after “social worker”.
(c)

Authorization of marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors To develop discharge plans for post-Hospital services
Section 1861(ee)(2)(G) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ee)(2)(G)) is amended by inserting “, including a marriage and family therapist and a mental health counselor who meets qualification standards established by the Secretary” before the period at the end.
(d)

Effective Date
The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to services furnished on or after January 1, 2022.