February 25, 2025

We know many of you are worried about continued coverage of telemental health by Medicare which, if discontinued, will likely lead to changes in coverage by commercial insurers. It is a difficult situation as many LCSWs have gone to fully telehealth practices. Here is what we know about what may happen in the next month.

Medicare and Me

Several members have told Laura Groshong, CSWA Director of Policy and Practice, about the statement in the Medicare and Me manual which says that mental health and substance use will continue to have telemental health coverage in 2025. That does not appear to be the case at the moment, as discussions of telehealth coverage include mental health treatment. Congress needs to pass a law that will make all telehealth coverage continue.

Possible Congressional Actions

All of the options below have been proposed by different members of Congress.

- Congress could extend telemental health through a stand-alone bill. This seems very unlikely.

- Congress could attach telemental health to other bills that are moving. The most likely one would be the Congressional Resolution, which will be needed to pass a budget to keep the government running as of March 14. This is a possibility.

- Congress will address continuing coverage of telemental health after the March 31 deadline but there will be a delay of a few weeks, which may cover the time when there was no coverage. This is a possibility.

- Congress will do nothing and there be no Medicare coverage of telemental health. This is unlikely.

LEGISLATIVE ALERT

Now is a good time to let your members of Congress know that you want a prompt continuation of telemental health in Medicare. Here is a template you can use to send them: “I am a licensed clinical social worker, a member of the Clinical Social Work Association, and a constituent. It will be very harmful to vulnerable patients with serious mental health and substance use problems if they cannot continue to work with me using telemental health. Many patients who were unable to get help in person have done very well using this delivery system. I urge you to extend Medicare telemental health coverage permanently as soon as possible.” Send your messages to your senators and representative at https://www.congress.gov/contact-us.

As always, please let Laura know when you have sent your messages and/or if you have any questions by emailing her at lwgroshong@clinicalsocialworkassociation.org.