From the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association:
The three House committees with jurisdiction over health care—the House Ways & Means Committee, the House Energy & Commerce Committee, and the House Education & Labor Committee—have released draft health care reform legislation, including provisions to update the Medicare program. Importantly, the draft legislation (known as the “Tri-Committee” draft) would establish Medicare coverage of licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists (blog author's note: CRC's are not mentioned). The legislation makes significant changes to the way the current health insurance marketplace works in the U.S., with the goal of building on our current system to broaden coverage and constrain health care cost increases.
Information on the legislation, including the bill text and a summary, is on the House Education & Labor Committee’s website at http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/06/health-care-reform-house-dems.shtml
16 comments:
This angers me that CRC's are not included. When will socity open there eyes that ALL areas of councling are imporant. One is not better than the other! How long will counceling take the back burner? Counceling proffessions are bounced around everywhere while they shuld be it's own standing profession E.G.
I think it is awesome that Congress/the government has chosen to include LPC's under the revised plan. The truth is that this should have been done a long time ago and many people do suffer from mental illness! People on Medicaid need all the help they can get and this will also increase their chances at living a better quality of life if they are able to get the proper care they need by mental health professionals. Hopefully it will pass!
Amy G.
It is good that they are considering to include LPC's under this new plan, the only thing I do not agree is that they are not including CRC's, and as we all know counseling is counseling, and not only mental health patients need counseling but other disabilities too. People under medicaid need to received all the help available there is.My personal opinion is that the importance of the help provided by counselors is under estimated. I really hope that this Trent open up more doors in a near future.
Mary Carmen T.
Wow! That is great that LPC's are included in the revised plan. Maybe later on they will revise the plan again and include CRC's since there is not much difference between the two and one is not better than the other like E.G. mentioned. We have to look at it in the bright side, at least LPC made it in the list. Something is better than nothing.
This is a comment to Daisy's post. iNEVER menition that LPC is better than CRC I think one is AS necessary as the other it is even stated clearly that it says one is NOT better than another I was upset that CRC got overlooked! ALL are equaly inportant and whty should we wait for CRC to get noticed.E.G.
WHY SHOULD WE SETTLE!
Although it is wonderful to hear that the LPC’s are included in this new Medicare bill (draft), it’s unfortunate to hear that CRC’s are not included. They really seem to be thinking outside of the box and see the need people have for these services. People with mental health issues, as well as people requiring family counseling can now utilize the services they at one point could not.
But, I think about those people with disabilities who could also benefit for an alternative way to receive and pay for services. From my understanding (and I may be wrong) but in the Rehabilitation program one only needs a few more classes and hours for their internship, and to test for LPC to obtain one. In my opinion it is not that far off from the CRC. As I said before…I may be wrong.
I do agree with Anonymous comment “WHY SHOULD WE SETTLE!” Is there something we can do to possibly voice our request to include CRC’s?
Well I feel happy that LPC's are included under the revised plan. I guess I would have been happier if CRC's were included too, but it has to start somewhere... I agree with Daisy Hnz, Something is something...
Gabriela L.
I think this is still great news even though the draft doesn’t include CRCs. My hope would be that draft is just the start to better things to come. Maybe it will get people talking (like we are now) and that will influence Congress to make changes and include CRCs.
I like what Mary Carmen stated that while it's great that LPC'S are are part of the new medicare plan although disabled people need help too not only people with mental health issues. It would probabley be a streach but LCDC'S are very much needed as drug addiction gets bigger.E.G.
I want to comment on Grabiela's aloff comment, yes it is great and awesome that LPC'S are covered. Now they will help all the people with the mental issues but come on do not settle for chop liver just because it taste good at the moment. What about the CRC'S? Who if not us as going in the counceling sector need to stand up for a much needed right for peo[lewhith disabilities? It is STRONGLY needed! E.G.
I think that this new Medicare Draft is a great proposal and the fact that they have established coverage for licensed professional counselors can only bring more advancement in the field. The Government needs to start looking at rehabilitation as a priority when it comes to funding. Let me put it this way, what is more important? A severe mental disorder or a little tummy ache. Well Medicare will cover the tummy ache but not the person with profound schizophrenia. All in all, I think that Medicare’s distribution of funds needs to be re-thought and re-implemented.
Gary Garcia
REHS 6300
This is just a step in the right direction! I think that it is certainly about time that LPC services be included under medicaid services, but there is still a lot to be done. Hopefully this will open more doors for other professions to be included in future revisions.
Jeanette G.
I agree with Daisy. It's unfortunate that CRC's aren't mentioned; however, on the positive side, at least LPC's and MFT's would receive Medicare coverage. This can set a precedent for other counseling professions. At the very least, at least clients/consumers who visit an LPC or MFT will have the option to use their Medicare coverage to cover their counseling costs. Maybe, in time, the committees will recognize that people with disabilities deserve the same coverage.
Vanessa C. (6300)
The implementation of the TRI-Committees Draft released the draft to reform legislation and update the medicare programs. It is about time that they extend it to LPC's and MFT's. The positive perception is the increase of the service providers to be available in the state. This will definately creat more employment opportunities. At least there is some progress is the way I view things.
Tina Casares
REHS 6300
Well, althought CRC's are not included at least LPC's can assit people with emotional issues to better suit there needs. I hope one day that CRCs can be part of this medicare draft to better assist the needs of people with dissabilities under medicare.
Eddie Reyes
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