x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by sc.lmhostediq.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 10 Mar 2016 18:23:58 -0500 thread-index: AdF7I+wJhOfN2f4bQISq2F3kDfjrgA== Thread-Topic: Response via eform 100002 - Help with a State Agency From: To: Subject: Response via eform 100002 - Help with a State Agency Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 18:23:58 -0500 Message-ID: <3E39B889B1444E41999CBCB185DFD739@IQ12> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 10 Mar 2016 23:23:58.0599 (UTC) FILETIME=[EC1F2170:01D17B23] WORKFLOW 344 Dr. Hope Threadgill, PsyD Licensed Professional Counselor and Executive Director Anchor of Hope Counseling of Clemson, PA 110 Liberty Drive, Suite 107B Home 454 Old Seneca Rd, Six Mile, SC 29682 Clemson SC 29631 anchorhope@bellsouth.net 8646547858 8646547858 H.R. 2759 The Honorable Governor Nikki Haley House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Governor Haley: As a mental health counselor and one of your constituents, I write to urge your support for House bill HR. 2759, the Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2015. This critical legislation provides for Medicare payment of "medically necessary" outpatient psychotherapy services provided by mental health counselors. The Medicare mental health benefit is outdated and long overdue for improvement. This inaction has consequences. Expand Access in Rural Areas and Among Under-served Minority Populations: 20 percent of individuals aged 55 and older experience some type of mental health problem. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, there are approximately 4,000 Mental Health Professionals Shortage Areas in the United States, and half of all counties in the U.S. have no practicing psychiatrists, psychologists or clinical social workers. As a direct result of this lack of access, beneficiaries with chronic medical conditions and major depression (nearly 2 million senior citizens nationwide) have significantly higher rates of disability than those with either condition alone. Similarly, in a report entitled Mental Health: Culture, Race and Ethnicity, the United State Surgeon General found "striking disparities in access, quality and availability of mental health services exist for racial and ethnic minority Americans." Improve Medicare Purchasing of Mental Health Care: Inpatient psychiatric hospital utilization by Medicare beneficiaries is extraordinarily high - particularly when compared to psychiatric hospitalization rates for patients covered by Medicaid, VA, TRICARE and private insurance. Inpatient care is very expensive, and it is strikingly clear that additional community-based mental health services provided by clinical mental health counselors would reduce many unneeded hospitalizations. The lack of access to mental health care increases the burden of disability on beneficiaries and their communities as well as the financial burden on the program. Inclusion of clinical mental health counselors under Medicare is long overdue. Please encourage Federal Elected Officials and State Elected Officials to introduce companion measures into the house and senate, and attached to any future omnibus Medicare legislation. Similar provider status legislation has passed the House twice and the Senate twice, just never simultaneously. CBO estimates this bill would cost $100 million over five years. The well-being of beneficiaries depends on this action. Sincerely, Hope Threadgill, PsyD 24.31.12.30