The Behavioral Medicine Report

Healthcare and insurance coverage appears to be a very busy topic these days. The American Psychological Association (APA) issued an APA Practice Organization Information Alert today that states that the Senate Committee will include psychology’s top Medicare priority – a two-year extension of the 5% psychology payment restoration. Check the end of this report to review the full unedited APA announcement.

Date: September 16, 2009

To: SPTA and Division Federal Advocacy Coordinators
APAGS Coordinators

From: Marilyn Richmond, J.D., Assistant Executive Director for Government Relations
American Psychological Association Practice Organization

Cc: Katherine Nordal, Ph.D., Executive Director for Professional Practice
SPTA Executive Directors
SPTA Directors of Professional Affairs
CAPP

Re: Senate Committee Includes Psychology’s Top Medicare Priority

Today Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) released an outline of his long-awaited health care reform bill, which includes Medicare provisions. I am pleased to inform you that the America’s Healthy Future Act is set to include psychology’s top Medicare priority – a two-year extension of the 5% psychology payment restoration previously passed as part of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) in 2008. This important victory follows action in the House earlier this summer, where the three committees of jurisdiction passed bills that also included the provision. The extension would ensure that approximately $60 million will continue to support Medicare psychotherapy services that would otherwise have been cut as a result of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) five-year review rule.

Our government relations team is currently reviewing the bill, and we will keep you informed as additional information is available. Thanks for your hard work over many months that led to the restoration making it into the committee measures in both houses of Congress!

Jeff Cook
Director, Field and State Operations
APA Practice Organization

Reprinted with Permission: APA Practice Organization

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