Page 7 - Senior Times South Central Michigan June 2023 - 30-06

Senior Times - June 2023 Page 7
MEDICARE MENTAL HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
By: Sherii Sherban, Publisher
Mental health is an essential part of overall health and well-being. However, as people age, they may experience certain life changes that impact their mental health, such as coping with a serious illness or losing a loved one.
• Clinical nurse specialists • Nurse practitioners
• Physician assistants
doctor is recommending certain services and if, or how much, Medicare will pay for them.
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps pay for these outpatient mental health services:
• One depression screening per year. The screening must be done in a primary care doc- tor’s office or primary care clinic that can pro- vide follow-up treatment and referrals.
• Individual and group psychotherapy with doc- tors (or with certain other licensed professionals, as the state where you get the services allows).
• Family counseling, if the main purpose is to help with your treatment.
• Testing to find out if you’re getting the ser- vices you need and if your current treatment is helping you.
• Psychiatric evaluation.
• Medication management.
• Certain prescription drugs that aren’t usually “self administered” (drugs you would normally take on your own), like some injections.
• Diagnostic tests.
• Partial hospitalization.
• A one-time “Welcome to Medicare” preven- tive visit. This visit includes a review of your possible risk factors for depression.
• A yearly “Wellness” visit. Talk to your doctor or other health care provider about changes in your mental health since your last visit.
• Outpatient mental health services for treat- ment of substance abuse.
To find out more reach out to Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. To use the chat feature visit the website and click on the “Chat” button on the upper right of the screen.
Although many people will adjust to these life changes, some may experience feelings of grief, social isolation, or loneliness. When these feelings persist, they can lead to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Learning the signs of depression in older adults can be just the support they may need next. Some key signs that could signal depression include:
• Being more confused or forgetful.
• Eating less – refrigerator may be empty or con-
Medicare only covers the visits if you get them from a health care provider who accepts assignment.
tain spoiled food.
• Changes in personal appearance – not bathing
• You pay nothing for your yearly depression screening if your doctor or health care provider accepts assignment.
or shaving as often; clothes may be dirty and
• After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for visits to your doctor or other health care provider to diagnose or treat your condition.
wrinkled or smell of urine or stool.
• Not cleaning or taking care of the home.
• If you get your services in a hospital outpatient clinic or hospital outpatient department, you may have to pay an additional co-payment
or co-insurance amount to the hospital.
If you have reached the age of Medicare it is important to know that mental health care is a covered service, but it may not cover everything. The following may help you to determine steps you should take for proper outpatient coverage.
To find out how much your test, item, or ser- vice will cost, talk to your doctor or health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things like:
• Other insurance you may have
• How much your doctor charges
• If your doctor accepts assignment
• The type of facility
• Where you get your test, item, or service
Your doctor or other health care provider
may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your
Part B covers outpatient mental health ser- vices, including services that are usually provid- ed outside a hospital, in these types of settings:
• A doctor’s or other health care provider's office • A hospital outpatient department
• A community mental health center
Your costs in Original Medicare
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Call 911 if you're in immediate medical crisis.
Mental health services help diagnose and treat people with mental health disorders, like depres- sion and anxiety. These visits are often called counseling or psychotherapy. Medicare Part B covers mental health services and visits with these types of health professionals:
• Psychiatrists or other doctors • Clinical psychologists
• Clinical social workers