JULIE CLEMENTS

Mental health counselor eligibility under Medicare, mental health counselor independent practice under TRICARE, mental health counselor practice in the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Lobbying for Medicare eligibility of mental health counselors, mental health counselor participation in the Veterans' Health Administration, independent mental health counselor practice under TRICARE, and mental health counselor participation in the Department of Transportation's Substance Abuse Professionals program.

Medicare eligibility of Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs), ability of LMHCs to practice in Veterans Health Administration, inclusion of LMHCs in Department of Transportation Substance Abuse Professionals program, and elimination of Department of Defense's TRICARE "supervision and referral requirement" for LMHCs.

The American Mental Health Counselors Association lobbied in the third quarter for recognition of mental health counselors under the Medicare program. Additionally, the American Mental Health Counselors Association lobbied for the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a provider law, that would add mental health counselors to the VHA provider pool, in December 2006. Also, AMHCA has lobbied DOT for inclusion of mental health counselors in the Substance Abuse Professional program.

This report is being filed to report lobbying activities for S.671 and H.R. 1693, two bills that if enacted into law would permit licensed mental health counselors to seek reimbursement under Medicare for their delivery of outpatient mental health services.

AMHCA is lobbying legislators for support of legislation that will permit licensed mental health counselors to be reimbursed by Medicare for the outpatient mental health services they provide to Medicare eligible clients. Additionally, AMHCA is lobbying the VA and Congress for implementation of a law that passed in December 2006, allowing licensed mental health counselors to serve as mental health providers within the VA health system affording them similar status to social workers.

AMHCA is lobbying legislators for support of legislation that will permit licensed mental health counselors to be reimbursed by Medicare for the outpatient mental health services they provide to Medicare eligible clients. Additionally, AMHCA is lobbying the VA and Congress for implementation of a law that passed in December 2006, allowing licensed mental health counselors to serve as mental health providers within the VA health system affording them similar status to social workers.

Medicare eligibility, Participation in Veterans' Affairs mental health provider pool, inclusion in Department of Transportation Substance Abuse Professionals Program, and indpendent practice under Department of Defense TRICARE program.