1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Medicare Mental Health Access Act”.
Medicare Mental Health Access Act
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of clinical psychologists as physicians for purposes of furnishing clinical psychologist services under the Medicare program.
2. Treatment of clinical psychologists as physicians for purposes of furnishing clinical psychologist services
In general— The first sentence of section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(r)) is amended—
by striking “or” before “(5)”; and
by inserting before the period the following: “, or (6) a clinical psychologist, but only with respect to the furnishing of qualified psychologist services described in subsection (ii) for which the psychologist is legally authorized to perform by the State and who is acting within the scope of the psychologist’s license (or other authorization under State law)”.
Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2018.