Federal Policy Report in the Era of COVID-19 NCMHA Meeting May 7, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Federal Policy Report in the Era of COVID-19 NCMHA Meeting May 7, 2020 Joel E. Miller Executive Director and CEO American Mental Health Counselors Association The only organization working exclusively for the clinical mental health counseling profession. www.amhca.org American Mental Health Counselors Association 1

Summary ry of f Covid-19 Economic Stimulus Packages • On March 6, a total of $8.3 billion was first established when the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act 2020 became law. • A total of $3.4 billion was released when the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law on March 18. • The CARES Act — signed on March 27 — provides $2 trillion in funding emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. • Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act – signed on April 24 – provides $484 billion in additional small business loans and health care supplies. 2 www.amhca.org American Mental Health Counselors Association

The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, t, 2020 (P.L. 116-123 123) Appropriated $8.3 billion, largely for emergency health and medical supplies/equipment. • The majority ($6.2 billion) was for HHS including: • $3.4 billion for the Office of the Secretary – Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (PHSSEF) , which includes more than $2 billion for the research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. • $300 million in contingency funding for the purchase of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics to be used if deemed necessary by the Secretary of HHS. • $100 million for HRSA for grants under the Health Center Program, which aims to improve health care to people who are medically vulnerable. 3 www.amhca.org American Mental Health Counselors Association

The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act • $1.9 billion for CDC, which includes $950 million for state and local response efforts, of which $475 million must be allocated within 30 days of the enactment of the bill, and $300 million to support efforts to respond to an infectious disease emergency. • $836 million for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) , which conducts research on therapies, vaccines, diagnostics, and other health technologies, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). • $61 million for FDA for the development and review of vaccines, therapeutics, medical devices and countermeasures, address potential supply chain interruptions, and support enforcement of counterfeit products. • The bill also included a waiver removing restrictions on Medicare providers allowing them to offer telehealth services to beneficiaries regardless of whether the beneficiary is in a rural community, at an estimated cost of $500 million. 4 www.amhca.org American Mental Health Counselors Association

The H.R 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act • Provides all states a share of $1 billion in unemployment insurance (UI) administrative funding, payable based on each state’s taking actions to expand access to UI benefits. • Half of the $1 billion would be available within 30 days to states that expand access to UI in general by requiring employers to provide notice of the availability of UI to separated employees. • The other half of the $1 billion would be available only in states that experience at least a 10% spike in UI claims and that also express their “commitment to maintain and strengthen access” to UI in general and have eased UI eligibility requirements for those affected by coronavirus. • Promotes short-time compensation programs, revives 100% federal funding for the historically 50/50 federal-state extended benefits (EB) program, & provides for interest-free federal loans to states. 5 www.amhca.org American Mental Health Counselors Association

The H.R 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act • The legislation requires all health plans (including Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare) to provide for full coverage of testing for coronavirus. • The legislation increases the federal share of Medicaid costs (known as the FMAP rate) by eight percentage points, but only if states maintain or increase current eligibility and other program standards. • Funding in the bill was declared emergency spending. 6 www.amhca.org American Mental Health Counselors Association

The H.R 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act • Coverage for COVID-19 Testing: Requires health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to provide coverage & not impose any cost sharing for COVID-19 testing, as well as health care provider office visits, urgent care center visits, and emergency room visits. • Requires coverage of testing with no cost sharing under the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The bill provides laboratory reimbursements for diagnostic testing of COVID-19 for uninsured individuals, clarified TRICARE coverage rules. • Unemployment Insurance: Provides for the Sec. of Labor to make emergency administration grants to states in the Unemployment Trust Fund. States are directed to demonstrate steps toward easing eligibility requirements & expand access to unemployment compensation for claimants directly impacted by COVID. • The legislation also appropriates funds for states that aim to establish work-sharing programs that permit employers to reduce employee hours rather than laying them off. Under such programs, employees would receive partial unemployment benefits to offset the wage loss. 7 www.amhca.org American Mental Health Counselors Association

CARES Act Totaled over $2 Trillion Dollars The package included funding and various provisions focused on expanding mental health services: • SAMHSA - ($425 million): Funds are provided to address mental health and substance use disorders as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. • Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics: $250 million to increase access to mental health care services. Extension and 2-State Expansion of CCBHCs: The text includes an extension of current demonstration through Nov. 30, 2020. Expansion of demonstration to two additional states within 6 months. The two states shall be selected based on the applications previously submitted to SAMHSA. 8 www.amhca.org American Mental Health Counselors Association

The package in inclu luded fundin ing and vario ious provisions focused on exp xpanding mental healt lth services: • Suicide Prevention: $50 million to provide increased support for those most in need of intervention. • SAMHSA Emergency Response Grants : $100 million in flexible funding to address mental health, substance use disorders, and provide resources and support to youth and the homeless during the pandemic. • Confidentiality and Disclosure of SUD Records and Guidance on Protected Health Information: Modifications have been made to 42 CFR Part 2 protecting SUD records. • These records may now be shared with prior written consent; once consent is obtained, it is permissible for patient consent to be given once for all future uses for treatment, payment and health care operations. 9 www.amhca.org American Mental Health Counselors Association

CARES ACT, cont. • Provides for $1,200 for every taxpayer making $75,000 per year or less ($150,000 for couples filing jointly) : Taxpayers making between $75,000 and $99,000 per year (and couples over 150,000) will receive smaller direct payments, and those making more than $99,000 per year will not receive a payment. Families will also receive $500 per child. • The CARES Act provided for $377 billion in small business loans: Small businesses can apply for Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) loans and tax breaks. • $4.3 billion for the CDC: This will help prevent, prepare and respond to COVID-19 nationally and internationally. $1.5 billion is allocated for cooperative agreements between states, localities, territories, tribes and Indian health organizations for preparedness and response activities related to COVID-19. • $500 million included for public health data surveillance & analytics infrastructure modernization. 10 www.amhca.org American Mental Health Counselors Association

CARES ACT, cont. • $945 million for NIH: This will support research to expand on prior research plans, including developing a better understanding of the prevalence of COVID and its transmission. The funding will also support novel approaches to diagnosing the disease and help develop countermeasures for prevention & treatment of COVID-19 at various stages. • $15.5 billion for SNAP: This will ensure all Americans receive the food they need. • $8.8 billion for Child Nutrition Programs: Ensure children receive meals while school is not in session. • A $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund: This will help state and local governments cover expenditures related to COVID-19. Each state will receive at least $1.25 billion. A $45 billion Disaster Relief Fund will provide for the immediate needs of state, local, tribal a& territorial governments to protect citizens and help them recover from the overwhelming effects of COVID-19. • $100 billion for Public Health & Social Services Emergency fund: This will provide direct aid to health care institutions dealing with the front line of the crisis. 11 www.amhca.org American Mental Health Counselors Association