ICA EFFORTS TOWARDS RACIAL INJUSTICE, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

AMHCA webinar: Medicare Grassroots Advocacy (5/13/20)-- an update on the Medicare legislation and guidance on what needs to happen now to include our bill in the next COVID-19 stimulus package.

• Seek inclusion of S. 286 (The Mental Health Access Improvement Act) in any upcoming Senate COVID-19 Economic Stimulus bill

Senate Bill 142
Synopsis: Medicaid reimbursement for schools. Specifies services for which a school corporation may seek Medicaid reimbursement. Adds physical therapy to the list of services a school psychologist may refer a student. Allows school psychologists to make referrals to physical therapists for mandated school services. Effective: July 1, 2020. 

AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION RELEASES 2020 POST-ELECTION ANALYSIS - 11/11/20

2020 has been a historic year— and this November, many Americans are looking to those in Congress and those in the White House to lead the country, protect the courts and make progress on issues like climate change, health care, racial justice, and a post-COVID economy.

The 2020 election determines who those leaders are, and not just in Congress or in the White House. With 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, and 13 gubernatorial seats up for grabs, more is at stake than ever.

See full document here.

AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION ADVOCACY POWER HOURS

• • Rep. Mike Thompson, US Congressman -- Mental Health Access Improvement Act bill (HR945), Medicare coverage for licensed counselors 

  • Dr. Matthew Fullen- Due to his research, 70% of practicing counselors had been impacted by the Medicare mental health coverage gap

  • Medicare is the primary insurance provider for approx. 60 million Americans* and the number of beneficiaries are expected to surpass 80 million by 2030** (*Kaiser Family Foundation, 2019; **Medicare Payment Advisory Commission) 

  • Duane France, VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: LPMHC training programs, Mental Health Education Expansion Initative Phase VII 2020-2021 (https://www.va.gov/OAA/docs/RFP_MH_Education_Expansion_Phase_VII.pdf) 

  • ACA Advocacy Resources: https://www.counseling.org/government-affairs/advocacy-tips-tools; https://www.counseling.org/government-affairs/state-issues

• • HR945 & Senate286
  • ACA is compiling a list of racial injustice issues on a state and federal level 
  • Stakeholder engagement on the interstate compact (August)

• Extension to the COVID-19 national emergency declaration 
• On July 25, 2020, the provisions supporting Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) within the National Emergency Declaration are set to expire. These provisions allow LPCs to provide mental health services while waiving certain telebehavioral health restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Public health emergencies must be renewed by Health and Human Services every 90 days, The emergency was first issued in January, and was renewed previously in late April. The expected extension would last until late October.