Volume 17, Issue 7
September
President’s Message The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightening and a lightening bug. – Mark Twain This month’s message is about Medicare, Mental Health, and Advocacy. For the past more than 20 years or so, efforts to gain status as independent mental health providers for Medicare have been undertaken by our central organization to little avail. Senators Barrasso of Wyoming and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan have championed the through their co-sponsorship of bills that would do just that. Senator Stabenow addressed the 2017 AMHCA conference in Washington, DC stating that getting the same bill before the senate this year was a priority. We await news that such a bill from her and Senator Barrasso’s office would be dropped soon. Currently, however, on the House side, we have House Bill 3032 which asks for an amendment to Medicare regulations to include CMHCs and MFTs as independent MH providers. There are two co-sponsors. If this bill is to gain any traction, there must be additional co-sponsors to demonstrate the importance and commitment to enhancing Mental Health services to all recipients of Medicare. As an organization, we have a job to do and we must pursue this work with diligence. Get ahold of your representative. Educate him or her on what’s going on here in Florida. Medicare recipients are facing a critical shortage of mental health providers, especially in the rural areas. We have the 13th highest suicide rate among seniors in the country. Medicare recipients in Florida have access to less than a third of all qualified mental health providers. Talking points will continue to be posted to our Facebook page. Food for thought: There are two bills in the Senate and House which we are following and reaching out for greater information so as to assist us to take a position. These are Senate Bill 448 and House Bill 1173, the Medicare Mental Health Access Act. These would provide for Clinical Psychologists to be recognized as independent medical providers for Medicare. I discussed these bills with the APA Government Relations Committee chairman and they are quite optimistic for success citing no current active opposition. In reviewing, the House version has 25 co-sponsors while the Senate version has 8. There are 16 different mental health/mental health interest associations backing this legislation. As a member of the AMHCA Legislation and Policy Committee, I will pursue discussion about these two bills and how we might benefit through our support. Considering all, that the APA has rounded up such a wealth of support is a perfect example of how FMHCA is working to inspire and energize the grass roots, gather support, and build coalitions within the state to speak with authority. Regional Directors and Chapter Leaders are discussing ways to organize and activate channels for outreach so that FMHCA is a force to be reckoned with. I’d like to give a shout out to President-Elect, Erica Williams who has been actively recruiting sponsors for the 2018 Conference. Her persistence in reaching out and following up is exemplary, and inspiring! Also, huge congratulations to FMHCA Secretary Kathie Erwin who announced the September opening of the Tampa Trauma Education Center at Troy University. What an amazing opportunity for practitioners wanting to become certified in several different areas of the trauma field. She and her colleagues have pioneered this unique concept which will soon be open to all of us. Bravo! Have you registered for the 2018 Conference yet? What about the pre-conference? Whom do you know who would delight at the opportunity to co-sponsor? In closing let us ask ourselves who's more adult- somebody who works like mad to avoid a problem or somebody who works like mad to solve it? ― Janet Kagan, Uhura's Song
Louise Sutherland-Hoyt, LMHC, CCMHC, NCC, MAC