"Medicare Boosts Nursing Home Mental Health Care Starting New Year, AARP Approves"

The AARP is supporting the Improving Access to Mental Health Act of 2023, which aims to enhance mental health care in nursing homes by allowing clinical social workers to provide a broader range of services and bill Medicare Part B. This legislation seeks to address the lack of trained staff to meet the mental health needs of nursing home residents, including those with anxiety, depression, and dementia. The AARP's advocacy includes improving conditions in nursing homes, establishing minimum staffing rules, and preventing the misuse of psychotropic drugs.