Funding Bill Improves Access to Mental Health Care
In December of 2022, Congress passed a funding bill that improves access to mental health care for Medicare recipients. The bill expands the mental health workforce by allowing these personnel to bill Medicare for covered mental health services.
The funding bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct studies that compare mental healthcare benefits in different Medicare plans.
This bill is critical as back in 2019, almost 25% of adults 50 years and older who had depression reported not being treated for depression. Those receiving Medicare benefits and diagnosed with depression are three times as likely to report putting off medical care due to expenses or having trouble getting the proper medical care.
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Source
Carter, B., Noel-Miller, C., & Dean, O. (2023). New funding package will improve care for older adults with depression.