WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich issued the following news release:
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced their Increasing Mental Health Options Act, legislation to expand access to mental healthcare in rural communities across New Mexico, Louisiana, and the country by eliminating an outdated Medicare requirement that delays mental healthcare treatment and limits patient access to psychologists.
Unlike other insurers, Medicare does not allow psychologists to practice independently in all treatment settings, creating unnecessary barriers that delay care. These restrictions hit rural communities especially hard, where Medicare beneficiaries have higher rates of depression and anxi...