The National Council has submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on several proposed regulations issued this summer:

 

Proposed Payment Reduction for Mental Health Services in Medicare: CMS has proposed a revising of the Medicare Economic Index (MEI), linking it to updated practice data. Unfortunately, as it currently stands, the regulation’s payment reductions fall most heavily on mental health providers, who are subject to the greatest reduction in payment of all Medicare Part B providers. Licensed clinical social workers and psychologists would see a 5% reduction in payment, while psychiatrists would see a 3% reduction. The National Council’s comments reflect our concern that this change would harm mental health providers and their clients; we urge CMS to reconsider its methods and assumptions underlying the revision of the MEI. Click here to read our comments.

 

Proposed Payment Reduction for Partial Hospitalization Programs:  CMS has proposed to remove hospital costs from its calculation of rates for partial hospitalization services furnished by community mental health centers. This proposed change would result in a 42% payment reduction for partial hospitalization providers in a single year. In our comments, the National Council urges CMS to restore hospital costs to the calculation of the rate, or, if no change is possible, to phase in the reduction over the course of several years so as to reduce the burden on providers.

 

Medicare Wellness Visits: The National Council has signed on to comments by the Partnership for Chronic Disease (PFCD) in support of proposed regulations by CMS regarding Medicare coverage of an annual wellness visit for beneficiaries. Medicare wellness visits are a new benefit required under healthcare reform; the regulation outlines in detail what services these visits must include. The PFCD comments express support for the inclusion of health risk appraisals and recommend that depression screening and a cognitive screening test also be included.

 

 

 

The National Council invites you to participate in a new Advancing Standards of Care Pilot Program. Through participation in this year-long initiative, your organization will be provided with the tools necessary to:

The National Council’s Advancing Standards of Care Pilot Program is a year-long learning collaborative involving ten community behavioral health organizations to be chosen through a competitive application process. Involvement in this project includes both on-site and virtual (web and phone-based) technical assistance from national experts, data management through a web portal, and participation in a day-long Learning Congress. 

 

The project is sponsored by Sepracor, Inc. and all project costs, including conference calls, travel, and consultation time, are free to participants.  Additionally, the National Council will provide participating sites with $3,000 to cover incidental expenses. Participation is limited.  To be considered, please submit this application via email to RebeccaF@thenationalcouncil.org by close of business (5:00 pm, eastern time) on September 10, 2010.  Questions? Contact Rebecca Farley at 202.684.7457, ext. 235, or RebeccaF@thenationalcouncil.org.

 

 

 

There is a lot of talk right now about national healthcare reform, and how it will affect providers and consumers. Do you have questions about the provisions that will impact behavioral health services? Wonder when your organization will start to see the benefits of reform?

 

Find reliable answers to your questions at MentalHealthcareReform.org! The National Council’s healthcare reform blog includes a section to help users Understand the New Law. On this page, you’ll find a summary of the major behavioral health provisions of health reform and other elements of reform that will impact community behavioral health organizations. You’ll also find a comprehensive timeline showing when each of these provisions will go into effect, along with periodic implementation updates. And, we’ve included links to useful resources from other national organizations that will help you grasp the implications of the new law. 

 

While you’re there, don’t forget to check out our newest updates to the blog. New this week on MentalHealthcareReform.org: Grant Opportunities Available Under Healthcare Reform, Addressing Racial/Ethnic Disparities, Health Reform and Homelessness, and much more!