Perspective
Bill to Improve Medicare Mental Health Benefits
Americans aged 65 years and older have the highest suicide rate of any population in America. And yet, Medicare only pays half of the cost of a visit to a mental health specialist, compared to 80 percent of the cost to a doctor who treats physical ailments. If the new legislation introduced in the House and Senate becomes law, Medicare will cover mental illnesses in the same way it covers physical health problems and will expand access to community-based mental health services.
Democrats Pete Stark and Paul Wellstone recently introduced the "Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2001." The bill would eliminate Medicare's current 190 day "lifetime cap" on inpatient psychiatric services and reduce the current 50 percent copayment for outpatient mental health services to the same 20 percent charged for other outpatient care. The bill would also enlarge the pool of mental health care providers available to people with Medicare by allowing Medicare to cover services provided by marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors.
According to Congressman Pete Stark of California, "Policymakers on both sides of the aisle agree that Medicare's mental health benefits are woefully inadequate and out-of-date, yet none of the current Medicare reform proposals specifically address mental health. It is time to stop stigmatizing mental illness and restricting access to mental health services that can improve the health and well-being of our nation's elderly and disabled."
Let your Senators and Congressperson know what you think about Medicare coverage of mental health benefits. You can find out how to contact them by going to www.visi.com/juan/congress. To learn more about current Medicare coverage of mental health, call 1-800-MEDICARE and request the free publication called "Medicare and Your Mental Health Benefits." The booklet is also available for downloading on Medicare's Web site at www.medicare.gov.
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