117 S870 IS: Improving Access to Mental Health Act of 2021 U.S. Senate 2021-03-18 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 870IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 18, 2021Ms. Stabenow (for herself, Mr. Barrasso, and Ms. Sinema) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceA BILLTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to mental health services under the Medicare program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Improving Access to Mental Health Act of 2021.

2.

Improved access to mental health services under the Medicare program

(a)

Access to clinical social workers

Section 1833(a)(1)(F)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)(F)(ii)) is amended by striking 75 percent of the amount determined for payment of a psychologist under clause (L) and inserting 85 percent of the fee schedule amount provided under section 1848.(b)

Access to clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities

(1)

In general

Section 1888(e)(2)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395yy(e)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting clinical social worker services, after qualified psychologist services,.(2)

Conforming amendment

Section 1861(hh)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(hh)(2)) is amended by striking and other than services furnished to an inpatient of a skilled nursing facility which the facility is required to provide as a requirement for participation.(c)

Access to the complete set of clinical social worker services

Section 1861(hh)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(hh)(2)) is further amended by striking for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses (other than services and inserting (including services for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses or services for health and behavior assessment and intervention (identified as of January 1, 2021, by HCPCS codes 96150 through 96161 (and any succeeding codes)), but not including services.(d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2022.