Affect Public Policy

Keep public policy supporting you, your profession and your clients with AMHCA's powerful advocacy initiatives in Congress and state legislatures.

The Office of Public Policy and Legislation (PP&L) works with Federal and State legislatures to protect AMHCA members' interests and their right to practice throughout the United States. The PP&L Office works with AMHCA state chapters, for example, to help enact counselor licensure laws and other legislation to ensure that members maintain their right to practice. At the Federal level, the PP&L Office works with Congress and the Executive Branch to ensure that counselors are recognized in applicable federal laws; to educate policymakers about the role of mental health counselors; and to increase lawmakers' awareness about mental illness and its effects on people's lives.

AMHCA's legislative advocacy program provides grassroots support for the association's lobbying in Washington, and is necessary for the success of AMHCA's legislative agenda. To join, contact Beth Powell, AMHCA's Director of Public Policy and Professional Issues by e-mail at bpowell@amhca.org or at 1-800-326-2642, ext. 105. We need your name, address, phone numbers and e-mail address. Get involved. Join Now!

Public Policy and Legislation Committee Dan Holdinghaus, LPC, Chair Legislative Agenda 110th Congress, Second Session Federal Legislative Issues Enact legislation to allow mental health counselors to be reimbursed by Medicare; Eliminate discriminatory physician referral and supervision requirements under TRICARE; Ensure through legislation or regulation that mental health counselors are recognized by a full range of federal programs, including the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program; Enact legislation to list mental health counselors as core mental health providers. Monitor federal medical records confidentiality regulations; State Legislative Issues Enact counselor licensure legislation in California; licensure law in California; protect the rights of mental health counselors to utilize testing instruments; Enact legislation, where needed, to name mental health counselors as providers for state employee health benefits plans; Update certification and title laws to practice acts in applicable states; Ensure that mental health counselors are named as providers for Medicaid; and Enact mandatory reimbursement laws for mental health counselors.