The Counselor's Guide to Complying with the No Surprises Act
At the end of 2020, Congress passed an omnibus bill called the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which included the No Surprises Act, legislation designed to provide federal protection against surprise medical bills. On 9/30/21, a rule implementing the new law was passed that substantially impacted counselors, especially those providing therapy for private pay, uninsured, and out-of-network clients. That rule became effective 1/1/22, yet few counselors are knowledgeable about the new law’s requirements, let alone how to implement them.
Among other requirements, the act obligates clinical mental health counselors (CMHCs) to:
• Ask clients whether they have insurance and, if so, whether they want to use their insurance to fund their therapy.
• Inform all private pay and uninsured clients (regardless of whether they were already working with the CMHC prior to 1/1/22 or not) that a “good faith estimate” is available (in the client’s spoken language) and is “prominently displayed.”
• Provide to all private pay and uninsured clients a “good faith estimate” including all anticipated services and costs and several other components outlined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) within one business day (if the service is scheduled at least three business in advance) or within three business days (if the service is scheduled at least 10 business days in advance or a client requests an estimate but has not yet scheduled the appointment).
Confused about these new requirements and how to implement them? As a service to our membership, the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA) provided a complimentary 1-hour webinar providing an overview of the new rules and resources for complying with the new law.
The handouts referenced in this webinar can be accessed at nortonconsulting.box.com/v/No....
Disclaimer: This video was posted for educational purposes. The presenter's perspective is not a substitute for sound legal advice from an attorney. The presenter recommends that any practitioner seeking legal guidance for implementation of the act consult with an attorney.
Пікірлер: 5
Glad you posted this video. Although I also believe that this law favors big insurance. Although partly is beneficial from balance billing. The problem with it and is not too helpful is for a person going into the hospital for an emergency procedure. Essential the consumer is still blind to oon fees anyways. As for counselors in private practice it’s just making our jobs more taxing.
I feel like I already did this informally. Patients would ask how long or how many sessions will this take with some diagnoses I have a good idea that the course of treatment is usually a certain length but sometimes the person is looking for an ongoing long term. Supportive therapists so the length of treatment is dependent on the client. I am really just putting into a document what is verbally agreed upon and what I already included in my new patient welcome email regarding fees and what to expect. So now they have one more form to sign. I feel like as often happens we are all punished because a few people didn’t do what should have done in the first place. I’m not talking about mental health but ED, ONN hospital staff. My mom had to be flight lifted 2 years ago and the helicopter was OON with Medicare so my parents received a $40k bill for the helicopter which Medicare would not pay for. Those hidden fees are just wrong and I’m glad this law is correcting this. I’m trying to not get over stressed about the FFA, just going to do my best to do the steps required of us.
@miche11emarie
2 жыл бұрын
www.change.org/p/us-congress-and-president-biden-amend-the-no-surprises-act-of-2022-regarding-private-practice-therapists?redirect=false
Handouts from webinar have been removed…??
@AaronNorton
Жыл бұрын
Hi, MILY D. Try this link: nortonconsulting.box.com/v/No-Surprises-Act