ADAPT Act

This proposal aims to make it easier for people on Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP to get mental and behavioral health care. It would let these programs pay for certain services delivered by supervised psychology trainees, helping expand access to care for patients who need it.

Under the plan, Medicare could cover services done by “advanced psychology trainees” (doctoral interns or postdoctoral residents in accredited programs) when they work under a clinical psychologist’s general supervision. That means the supervising psychologist guides the care but doesn’t have to be in the room during the visit. The Medicare changes would start one year after the law takes effect, and Health and Human Services must create a billing “modifier” code to clearly mark these trainee-delivered services within a year as well. The bill also tells Health and Human Services to give states guidance within a year on how to cover these services in Medicaid and CHIP, including suggested billing codes and examples of state approaches that have worked.

Key points

• Who is affected: People on Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP; psychology trainees (doctoral interns and postdocs); supervising clinical psychologists; state Medicaid/CHIP agencies.
• What changes: Medicare can pay for trainee-delivered services under general supervision; a new billing modifier code will be created; states get guidance to help Medicaid/CHIP cover these services.
• When: Medicare coverage and the new code are due within one year after enactment; Medicaid/CHIP guidance is also due within one year.