DoD Considering Comments on TRICARE Independent Practice Proposal Prior To Implementation
1.13.2012
The Department of Defense issued regulations at the end of 2011 which would let licensed professional counselors practice independently within TRICARE, the health care program providing services for an estimated 9.6 million active duty service members, retirees, and their families.
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ACA Advocacy Efforts Pay Off: DoD Issues LPC Regulations Relating to TRICARE
1.9.2012
ACA's lengthy and intensive advocacy efforts on behalf of licensed professional counselors resulted in a victory at the end of 2011 with the issuance by the Department of Defense (DoD) of regulations allowing LPCs to practice independently within the TRICARE program.
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Congress Steps Up Scrutiny of Department of Veterans Affairs
12.12.2011
On Wednesday, November 30, 2011, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing that examined the wait times for veterans seeking mental health treatment.
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New Army Directive Authorizes Counselor Independent Practice/Army Hiring More Counselors
8.19.2011
The American Counseling Association, the National Board for Certified Counselors, and the American Mental Health Counselors Association are pleased to announce that on July 26, 2011, Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh signed Army Directive 2011-09, Employment of Licensed Professional Counselors as Fully Functioning Army Substance Abuse Program Practitioners.
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Dept. of Defense Misses Congressional Deadline for Letting TRICARE Counselors Practice Independently
8.11.2011
The Department of Defense has missed a June 20th deadline set by Congress for establishing independent practice authority for licensed professional counselors seeing TRICARE beneficiaries.
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ACA ALERT: New Medicare Counselor Coverage Bill in Senate!
3.17.2011
Legislation to establish Medicare coverage of state-licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists has been introduced in the Senate. The legislation--S. 604, the "Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2011"--would cover medically necessary outpatient psychotherapy provided by both counselors and marriage and family therapists, under the same terms, conditions, and reimbursement rates as currently apply to services provided by clinical social workers.
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Practicing School Counselors!
3.17.2011
The ACA School Counseling Task Force launches its first online survey. Plus, ACA and the National Office for School Counselor Advocacy (NOSCA) announce their collaboration to elevate school counseling for all students.
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ACA Alert: Pressure to Cut Federal School Counseling and Other Programs Continues
3.16.2011
This week Congress is expected to pass, and President Obama is expected to sign into law, another stopgap funding measure for fiscal year (FY) 2011, which began October 1, 2010. The newest funding bill, H.J. Res 48, would last three weeks, during which time lawmakers will try to agree on funding levels for the rest of the fiscal year, ending September 30th. The existing stopgap measure keeps the government funded until March 18th, made $4 billion in cuts to federal agencies, and eliminated funding for more than a dozen education programs.
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