Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Increase Access to Behavioral and Mental Health Services in Rural Areas

The Accelerating the Development of Advanced Psychology Trainees (ADAPT) Act, a bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), aims to increase access and coverage to behavioral, psychological, and mental health services in rural areas. The legislation will establish Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage for advanced psychology trainees, allowing nearly 4,000 trainees to bill for services provided under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. This legislation will help rural areas across the country expand access to mental health services, improve recruitment of mental and behavioral health providers, and reduce burnout among the current mental health care workforce.

Key Takeaways:

• The ADAPT Act will provide Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP coverage for advanced psychology trainees, allowing nearly 4,000 trainees to bill for services provided under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• The legislation will help rural areas across the country expand access to mental health services, improve recruitment of mental and behavioral health providers, and reduce burnout among the current mental health care workforce.
• Senators Barrasso and Bennet have cited the need to increase access to mental health services in rural areas, where long distances and bad weather can make it hard for patients to receive quality care.
• The bill is supported by the Wyoming Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association.
• The legislation will help strengthen the nation's behavioral health infrastructure by increasing opportunities for psychology trainees across the nation, particularly in rural areas.

Statistics:

• Nearly 4,000 advanced psychology trainees will be able to bill for services provided under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• The ADAPT Act will help expand access to mental health services in rural areas, where quality care is often hard to come by due to long distances and poor weather conditions.
• According to the American Psychological Association, there is a nationwide shortage of mental health providers, which this legislation aims to address.

Sources:

• [Senator John Barrasso's Office Press Release]
• [Senator Michael Bennet's Office Press Release]
• American Psychological Association (APA) - exactly as mentioned in the original text
• Wyoming Psychological Association (WPA) - exactly as mentioned in the original text