The AAMFT Blog

Statement from AAMFT’s CEO Chris Michaels Regarding Medicare’s Coverage of Marriage and Family Therapists: A Transformational Change for Clients and Therapists

January 2, 2024

On behalf of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and the 72,000 MFTs we represent, today we celebrate a historic milestone—licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) can now provide services to Medicare beneficiaries and receive reimbursement from Medicare. This is a major turning point for access to care, but coverage is only the beginning. We need more beneficiaries to know they have access to family therapy, and we need more LMFTs to support the needs of Medicare recipients.

Medicare beneficiaries need therapy support now more than ever—1 in 4 beneficiaries reported having a mental health condition in 2022, yet only half reported receiving treatment. And a recent report from the CDC found men aged 65+ are at the highest risk for suicide, signaling an even greater need for therapy intervention. While seniors make up the majority of Medicare beneficiaries and have unique complex needs, we also recognize beneficiaries include other populations, such as people with disabilities, people with substance use disorder, veterans, and people with low-incomes who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. LMFTs are extensively trained to provide therapy for every demographic covered by Medicare and are proven to help their clients manage the complexities of family dynamics to improve mental health.

AAMFT has been working closely with our members for many months to help make the Medicare enrollment process as smooth as possible for providers, and we will continue to host webinars to explain in detail how to register and the implications for our therapists and their clients. We are pleased to report that recent surveys indicate at least 60% of our eligible members plan to enroll. As a global leader for the marriage and family therapy profession, we are confident the expanded Medicare coverage will provide tremendous value to beneficiaries. We are also excited for LMFTs to gain additional experience, particularly those seeking to specialize, expand their patient network or diversify their clientele.

AAMFT remains committed to addressing biases surrounding mental health, particularly for older adults, and improving access to care so LMFTs can further reach Medicare beneficiaries in need of therapy. Today, we celebrate this historic moment, and we are prepared to navigate future challenges so that marriage and family therapy becomes accessible for everyone who seeks help.

AAMFT Statement: Regarding Change Healthcare Cyberattack

 

Last month, Change Healthcare was the target of a major cyberattack that has impacted many marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and other healthcare providers. Owned by UnitedHealth Group (UHG), Change Healthcare processes up to 15 billion healthcare transactions annually. Due to this cyberattack, MFTs, other individual healthcare providers, hospitals, and clinics are not receiving payments for services recently provided to clients. This disruption significantly impacts the finances of MFTs and other providers, especially smaller providers. 

AAMFT recognizes the impact of this cyberattack on MFTs who process payments through Change Healthcare and has reached out to share these concerns with Change and UHG. Change Healthcare shared that they will not resume electronic payments until March 15 at the earliest. 

AAMFT fully supports the statement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services encouraging insurers to make interim payments to impacted providers. We applaud the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for making accelerated payments available to Medicare Part B providers. We urge other payers to make advanced payments to MFTs impacted by this cyberattack.

Providers can learn more here: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/03/10/letter-to-health-care-leaders-on-cyberattack-on-change-healthcare.html

https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/changehealthcarecyberresponse

Medicare Providers can learn more here: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/change-healthcare/optum-payment-disruption-chopd-accelerated-payments-part-providers-and-advance

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Launches Landmark 2024 Systemic Ethics Textbook

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Launches Landmark 2024 Systemic Ethics Textbook

AAMFT's newest publication sets a global standard for ethical practice in marriage and family therapy, offering an unparalleled resource for clinicians, educators and students worldwide 

 

Alexandria, Va. (Feb. 28, 2024) — The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the leading professional association for marriage and family therapists, today unveiled its 2024 Systemic Ethics Textbook. This comprehensive, interactive textbook, edited by Kristina S. Brown, Ph.D., with contributions from a diverse group of chapter authors, offers an in-depth exploration of contemporary ethical issues facing marriage and family therapists around the globe.

The textbook’s release comes at a critical time when the profession is navigating the complexities of telehealth, legislative updates, and the imperative for culturally competent care. 

The 34-chapter volume addresses a wide array of topics, from the foundational aspects of ethical practice with couples and families to cutting-edge issues like using technology in clinical work, legal considerations and ethical practice with diverse populations. It features interactive components, including videos and clinical applications, as well as special chapters for educators, supervisors and researchers to manage ethics in all areas of their work.  

"As our profession continues to evolve, especially in these challenging times, it's paramount that our ethical practices do as well,” said AAMFT CEO Chris Michaels. “The 2024 Systemic Ethics Textbook is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that marriage and family therapists are equipped with the knowledge and tools to provide the highest standard of care. This textbook is not just a resource; it's a beacon for ethical practice in our profession, guiding clinicians, educators and students towards excellence in their work with clients."

Some of the chapters featured in the textbook include:

• "Navigating Client Generated Prejudice" by DeAnna Harris-McKoy, Ph.D., Racine R. Henry, Ph.D., and Taimyr Strachan-Louidor, Ph.D.
• “Family Therapy Ethics with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families” by Meghan Lacks, Ph.D. and Jessica Goodman, Ph.D.
• “The Solid Ground of Integrated Ethical Practice” by Toni Zimmerman, Ph.D., and Marj Castronova, Ph.D.

The complete textbook is now available for purchase on Amazon. 

 

About AAMFT

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) is the professional association for the field of marriage and family therapy. We represent the professional interests of more than 72,000 marriage and family therapists throughout the United States, Canada and abroad.

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