Article archive / January 2022
Originally published: . Volume 13, No. 1. Source pages: 5.
The American Psychological Association (APA) applauded passage of federal legislation to prevent substantial Medicare reimbursement cuts from taking effect next year, and to promote mental health programs aimed at supporting health care workers.
Psychologists and other health care providers had faced millions of dollars in Medicare payment losses starting next year due to the combined effects of three separate, coinciding budget cuts to the program.
“We are grateful Congress acted against these proposed cuts that would have put Medicare beneficiaries in peril, people who are older, more isolated and experiencing significant levels of stress due to the COVID-19 health emergency,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been taking a heavy toll on the nation’s mental health, with psychologists reporting large increases in demand for treatment of anxiety and depression compared with last year, and increased workloads and longer waitlists than before the pandemic.”
"We anticipate psychologists will see payments in 2022 that are just slightly lower than 2021. Exact payments will vary from this amount as other adjustments, such as changes in practice expense, apply to some services but not others.," APA officials said.
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