'No Surprises Act' , May Discourage Patients, Therapists Say.
NPR reports mental health advocates say
a recently-enacted law meant to protect citizens from surprise medical bills may prevent some from seeking care.
Several therapists in the United States
are concerned the price transparency provision in
the No Surprises Act isn't suitable for mental health care.
The therapists say a mental health
diagnosis isn't one size fits all. Proper treatment is much more dynamic.
In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services on Jan. 25, several therapists sought exemption from the law's "good faith" estimates for their services.
According to NPR, 11 separate groups, including the American Psychiatric Association and the Psychotherapy Action Network, endorsed the letter.
We got thrown into this bill,
but the intention [of the law]
was not mental health but high-cost medical care. , Jared Skillings, chief of professional practice at the
American Psychological Association, via NPR.
...Set regional rates across the country... for independent practitioners, would be
a race to the bottom. , Jared Skillings, chief of professional practice at the
American Psychological Association, via NPR.
Experts say the cost of therapy in
the United States varies widely.
According to GoodTherapy, the
price of therapy in the United States
could be as low as $65 per hour, but
is often $250 per hour or more.
Therapists say they are already
adequately disclosing
per-visit costs to patients.
They believe requiring estimates in pricing before seeing a patient is unethical.
The opposed therapists also believe the total estimate of
what could be months of
treatment costs may scare
those away who need care. , Linda Michaels, co-chair of Psychotherapy Action Network, via NPR