WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) applauds Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Chris Coons (D-DE) for introducing the Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act (S. 1797), a bipartisan bill that would make mental health services provided by clinical social workers more available to Medicare beneficiaries.
“NASW thanks Senators John Barrasso and Chris Coons for introducing the bipartisan Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act. Passage of this legislation is critical to the health and well-being of Medicare beneficiaries, for our nation, and the social work profession,” NASW CEO Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C said. “It will help Medicare beneficiaries get access to desperately needed, high-quality mental health services that clinical social workers are authorized to perform under state law. It will also remove a significant barrier to mental health care provided by independent clinical social workers to older adults and people with disabilities in skilled nursing facilities.”
“As a doctor, I know how vital it is for seniors to have access to mental health services,” said Sen. Barrasso. “In particular, for those living in rural communities, finding a mental health provider is challenging. This is why I am proud to support bipartisan solutions that help more patients get the care they need.”
"On behalf of the NASW Wyoming Chapter, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Sen. Barrasso for his leadership on the bipartisan Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act,” said Nathan Stahley, MSW, SWLC, executive director of the NASW Wyoming Chapter. “Modernizing outdated Medicare regulations is essential to expanding access to mental health services for individuals in Wyoming and across the country. This vital legislation cuts through unnecessary red tape, elevates the role of clinical social workers, and ensures that older adults and people with disabilities can receive the timely, evidence-based care they need and deserve.”
“Increasing access to clinical social workers improves seniors’ mental health and gives them hope no matter where they live,” Sen. Coons said. “Unfortunately, outdated Medicare rules prevent too many older Americans from receiving support from social workers in skilled nursing facilities. The bipartisan Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act fixes these rules and expands Medicare coverage to allow social workers to provide the best care to seniors when they need it most.”
“On behalf of the NASW Delaware Chapter, we thank Sen. Coons for championing the bipartisan Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act,” said Molly Arbogast, MSW, LSW, CSWM, executive director of the NASW Delaware Chapter. “Delaware’s social workers are eager to meet our neighbors where they are, whether that is in a skilled‑nursing facility, a community clinic, or their own living rooms, but outdated Medicare rules keep too many people waiting. This bill cuts red tape, recognizes the full value of clinical social work, and gives older adults and people with disabilities quicker access to the evidence‑based care they deserve.”
The Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act would increase access to mental health services for residents of skilled nursing facilities and provide access to the complete set of clinical services that help Medicare beneficiaries cope with medical conditions.
NASW is glad to see this legislation introduced in May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month.
More than 300,000 social workers are employed in the fields of health care, mental health care and substance use disorders. In fact, social workers provide more than half of mental health services in the United States.
“Passage of the Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act is critical for our nation and the social work profession,” Estreet said. “It will help Medicare beneficiaries access high-quality mental health services, and it will ensure clinical social workers can provide services within their scope of practice.”