Barrasso, Coons Introduce Bipartisan Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act

U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, introduced the Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act. The bipartisan bill introduced Thursday would improve America’s Medicare beneficiaries access to licensed clinical social workers. By providing these mental health professionals the opportunity to participate in the Medicare program, this bill expands the number of mental health providers available to our nation’s seniors.

Barrasso said that as a doctor, he knows how vital it is for seniors to have access to mental health services and for those living in rural communities, finding a mental health provider is challenging. The National Association of Social Workers applauded Senators Barrasso and Coons for introducing the bipartisan legislation. The Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act ensures clinical social workers can provide psychosocial services to patients in nursing homes, and the full range of Health and Behavior Assessment and Intervention services within their scope of practice.