Monitor on Psychology - May 2012 - (Page 68)

Expanding Medicaid M edicaid’s expansion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act represents a huge opportunity for health-care providers. But will psychologists be able to take full advantage of that opportunity? Not until certain barriers are removed, said speakers at the 2012 State Leadership Conference. Health-care reform is expected to bring 16 million more Americans into the Medicaid system, said Carrie Valiant, JD, a partner at Epstein Becker Green in Washington, D.C. Medicaid is already the country’s single biggest payer for mental health services. “But just because mental health services will expand doesn’t necessarily mean that psychologist services will be covered,” warned Valiant, whose research on behalf of APA’s Practice Directorate has uncovered several impediments to psychologists’ participation. One barrier is the fact that most states don’t cover health and behavior codes, which focus on behavioral aspects of medical conditions. Of the five states Valiant reviewed, only Maryland covers such codes. In addition, states don’t uniformly reimburse psychologists for psychotherapy services. States also aren’t required to cover telehealth, which could help fill the gap between already-overloaded programs and an expanded Medicaid population. And while reimbursement rates in some states aren’t as low as some believe, low rates can keep psychologists from participating in Medicaid. Despite these barriers, Medicaid’s expansion also brings plenty of opportunities. Fifteen states have received funding New research focuses on removing barriers to psychological services in health-care reform. to create demonstration projects designed to improve coordination of care for so-called “dual-eligibles” who have both Medicare and Medicaid coverage. “There’s a big opportunity for psychologists to shape what the future of that may look like,” said Valiant. Another opportunity lies in a demonstration project designed to provide health homes for people with heart disease, diabetes, mental health conditions, obesity and other chronic disorders, some of which will be based in mental health rather than primary care. Health-care reform also includes provisions aimed at increasing the supply of mental health professionals. Maryland already has such generous Medicaid coverage for psychological services that the state could serve as a template for others, suggested Paul Berman, PhD, professional affairs officer of the Maryland Psychological Association. And thanks to health-care reform, he said, the number of people in the state’s medical assistance program and state insurance exchange will more than double. The exchange will cover individuals who make up to 400 percent of the poverty level. For a family of three, that means coverage for those making up to $76,000; the median income in Maryland is $70,000. M O N I T O R O N P S Y C H O L O G Y • M AY 2 0 1 2 68

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - May 2012

Monitor on Psychology - May 2012
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Math + science + motherhood = a tough combination
The rights of indigenous people take center stage at AAAS meeting
Interdisciplinary programs that are leading the way
Good Governance Project moves into its next phase
APA publishes third edition of seminal ADHD book for kids
Government Relations Update
In Brief
Random Sample
Judicial Notebook
Psychology’s first forays into film
Time Capsule
Questionnaire
Presidential programming
Obesity researchers receive lifetime achievement awards
Top speakers for psychology’s top meeting
Science Watch
Homing in on sickle cell disease
Psychologist Profile
Alone in the ‘hole’
Public Interest
State Leadership Conference ‘12
Perspective on Practice
Education tops council’s agenda
Meet the candidates for APA’s 2014 president
Presidential election guidelines
Division Spotlight
American Psychological Foundation
Support for sexual miniorities
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - May 2012

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