ACA News

White House Announces New Mental Health and Substance Use Parity Rule

The White House released a new rule about mental healthcare parity. The rule requires health insurance plans to provide the same level of mental healthcare coverage as they do with physical healthcare coverage. 

New Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Funding Opportunities

SAMHSA has announced new funding opportunities for supporting women’s behavioral health. The Community-Based Maternal Behavioral Health Services Program allocates $15 million for improving access to maternal mental health and substance use treatment.

Final Behavioral Health Parity Rule Submitted to the White House

The U.S. Department of Labor submitted its final rule on behavioral health parity regulations. The proposed rule would strengthen the Mental Health Parity and Addiction

White House Administration Commits $27.5 Million to Women’s Behavioral Health

The American Counseling Association applauds the Biden Administration for creating new funding opportunities to enhance Women’s Behavioral Health.

ACA Applauds the White House Agenda on Suicide Prevention

The American Counseling Association applauds the Biden Harris Administration for a historic move in mental health advocacy and public policy -- the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and the Federal Action Plan.

Biden Administration Proposes Increased Funding for Mental Health Services

The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans by providing for effective health and human services

Health Resources and Services Administration FY2025 Proposed Budget

This week, the White House released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 proposed annual budget. On Wednesday, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) held a briefing that outlines the agency’s plan to tackle the mental health crisis ...  

Department of Education FY2025 Proposed Budget

On March 11, 2024, the Department of Education (DOE) held a briefing detailing the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget. The DOE requests $82.4 billion in discretionary budget authority for FY2025,

President Biden Highlights Mental Health Care in the State of the Union

During the 2024 State of the Union address, President Biden made mention of mental health care. In his comments, the President unveiled elements of his administration’s strategy to address a mental health crisis of isolation and loneliness.

The White House Convening on Equity

The White House held a forum on the Biden-Harris Administration’s dedication toward advancing equity. One year after President Biden signed the Executive Order, the Advancing Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.

Administration Announces New Program: the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model

On Thursday January 18, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) held a behavioral health stakeholder meeting...

The House and Senate Vote to Pass Temporary Extensions on Government Funding

On Thursday January 18, 2024, the Senate and House passed the continuing resolution (CR), the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act of 2024, that provides short term government funding through March 1, 2024.

Passage of the Physician Fee Schedule Update and Improvements Act Could Benefit Licensed Professional Counselors

The Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) are rates set by statute and formula. Physicians and some practitioners are paid the full fee schedule amount ... while other non-physician practitioners are paid a percentage of the fee schedule amount.

Government Affairs December 2023 Updates

Medicare UpdateThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are currently accepting applications for any counselors interested in becoming a Medicare provider.

DC Mayor Signs Bill Offering Financial Assistance for Counseling Students

The American Counseling Association (ACA) is pleased to announce ... a unique funding program offering tuition and further funding to graduate students attending the HBCU University of the District of Columbia (UDC).

ACA Attends the Inaugural HHS 'Music is Medicine' Event

This week, the ACA Government Affairs and Public Policy team attended the inaugural Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 'Music is Medicine' event. 

Labor HHS Releases Report Which Includes Billions in Mental Health Provisions

Recently, the House Appropriations Committee released the report for the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2024 (L-HHS), which includes $2.7 billion for SAMHSA mental health activities and programs.

Senate Finance Legislation May Expand Mental Health Care

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID), released a set of policies aimed at expanding mental health care under Medicaid and Medicare, in addition to lowering prescription drug cost for seniors.

The Debt Ceiling Bill Passage May Impact Mental Health Care

On June 3, 2023, President Biden signed H.R. 3476, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Most people know this act as the debt ceiling bill. The American Counseling Association previously reported the impact that this compromise bill between ...

Debt Ceiling Negotiations May Impact Counselors and their Clients

Currently in Congress negotiations continue around the nation's debt ceiling. As a professional counselor you may wonder how and if the negotiations in Congress may affect you, as well as what exactly the debt ceiling is. The debt ceiling is a limit ...