ACA News

Congressional Report Reveals Americans? Mental Health is Worsening

More than 90 million Americans are reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression due to fears surrounding the coronavirus. ACA has been advocating for greater access to behavioral health services, particularly in rural communities.

President Trump Signs Law Designating 9-8-8 as Universal Number for National Suicide Hotline

President Trump signed a bipartisan bill into law that will make ?9-8-8? the universal telephone number to reach the national suicide prevention hotline, beginning in 2022.

Medicare Coverage for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

The SUPPORT Act was signed into law on October 2018. This landmark legislation includes critical provisions to increase and strengthen our workforce; standardize the delivery of addiction medicine; cover addiction medicine; and expand access to ...

Counselors Named Essential During National Emergencies

Counselors are among professionals on an essential services list to ensure communities continue to function during disasters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, that affect health and safety as well as economic and national security.

ACA is Hard at Work on the Policy Front for You and for the Clients You Serve

Your ACA Government Affairs and Public Policy team is hard at work for you and for your clients.

ACA Endorses COVID-19 Telehealth State Coverage Letter

ACA requested states to lift restrictions on telebehavioral health and ensure payment parity until the conclusion of the national COVID-19 emergency.

Rural LPC?s Provide Telebehavioral Health Services Under Medicare During Pandemic

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law, authorizing Rural and Federally Qualified Health Clinics to provide telebehavioral health services to Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 health emergency.

Expiration of COVID-19 National Emergency Declaration

On July 25th, 2020, the provisions supporting Licensed Professional Counselors within the National Emergency Declaration are set to expire. ACA is aware of our members? concerns, and has supported actions to request an extension to the national emergency.

House Energy & Commerce Committee Markup Information

The House Energy & Commerce Committee held a markup of 30 health-related bills. The Committee stated there will not be another markup until September.

Senate Democrats Introduce the Economic Justice Act

The proposed Economic Justice Act seeks to deliver ten financial investments over a period of five years to communities of color to support various initiatives such as child care, mental health, and job development.

Senate Republicans Unveil HEALS Act

Senate Republicans released a package of bills that represents their first negotiation position with House and Senate Democrats for the next COVID-19 relief package.

Congressional Task Force Examines the Benefits of Telebehavioral Health

The House Ways & Means Committee?s Rural and Underserved Communities Health Task Force held its first roundtable discussion. The Task Force did not indicate when it would meet next. We will continue to monitor and update.

Veteran Affairs Rural Health Advisory Committee to Host Public Meeting

Join one of three meetings hosted by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs ? Rural Health Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary on rural health care issues affecting Veterans.

HHS Announces $20 Billion in New Phase 3 Provider Relief Funding for Behavioral Health Providers

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Phase 3 of the General Distribution of the Provider Relief Fund, which will allocate another portion of provider relief funding.

Trump Administration Extends the National Health Emergency

The Trump administration is renewing the public health emergency declaration for the COVID?19 pandemic.

California Enacts Historic Parity Law (SB 855)

SB 855 was enacted, which updated California health code in accordance with best practices and nationally recognized standards of care for mental health treatment across the full spectrum of care, including early interventions.

MedPAC Meeting

On November 9, 2020, MedPAC held a public meeting on the expansion of telehealth in Medicare.

ACA Seeks to Improve Mental Health for Medicare Beneficiaries in a Sign-On Letter to U.S. House

ACA is advocating to have the Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2019 included in a House floor vote or end of the year package.

State Affairs: Interstate Compact Updates

The Interstate Compact for Licensure (?Counseling Compact?) is nearing completion. The process has been largely successful, and we are looking to 2021 for introduction to state legislatures.

Bipartisan, Bicameral COVID-19 Relief Package in the Works

The package, intended to provide emergency relief from December 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021, includes $908 billion in relief funding, $560 billion of which are funds already appropriated via the CARES Act.