Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act

This bill expands Medicare coverage for mental health care provided by clinical social workers. It lets Medicare pay for the full set of services clinical social workers offer, including health and behavior assessments and interventions, not just traditional mental health treatment. It also allows these services to be billed separately in skilled nursing facilities, which can make it easier for residents to get help from a clinical social worker. These changes aim to improve access to care for older adults and people with disabilities on Medicare.

Key points:

• Who is affected: People with Medicare, residents of skilled nursing facilities, and clinical social workers.
• What changes: Medicare covers a broader range of clinical social worker services (including health and behavior services), and pays for these services separately in skilled nursing facilities rather than bundling them into facility payments.
• When it starts: For services provided on or after January 1, 2026.