Bill > S683

This bill aims to expand the Medicare Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) bonus program to provide additional financial incentives for practitioners delivering mental health and substance use disorder services. Specifically, the bill would increase payments by 10% for physicians' services and 15% for specified health services in designated mental health professional shortage areas. The bill defines "specified health services" as services provided for mental health diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, or substance use disorder treatment. It broadens the definition of eligible practitioners to include not just physicians, but also physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors. These practitioners would receive the bonus payment when providing services in areas officially designated as having a shortage of mental health professionals, with payments made monthly or quarterly from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund. The goal is to incentivize healthcare professionals to work in underserved areas and improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/683/all-info