Congress passes bill that will affect mental health services
Medicare cuts would include psychotherapy payment reduction
Medicare recipients currently receiving mental health outpatient services will be affected by the payroll tax legislation passed by Congress last week. As a result of the new law, which President Obama is expected to sign, payment for Medicare outpatient psychotherapy services will be cut by 5 percent beginning on March 1.
"Some of the most vulnerable in our country will be affected by this law," says Katherine C. Nordal, PhD, executive director for professional practice of the American Psychological Association Practice organization (APAPO). "These cuts will impact funding not only for psychotherapy outpatient services, but to community behavioral health centers, state hospitals and private hospitals with mental and behavioral health units."