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Newsletter Date Volume 1, Issue 1
Newsletter June 2016
Welcome to FMHCA! Thank you to our loyal and wonderful members! If you are not yet a member, I encourage you to join our organization and let your voice be heard! Our organization offers so many great resources for our members, including education (such as FREE WEBINARS), legislative oversight, networking, and FMHCA member discounts with partner organizations. There is so much we are doing, and so much more we can do! We will to continue advocate for mental health counselors in Florida by supporting legislation that promotes our profession. We need YOU to make that happen. If you are already a member of FMHCA, we thank you. If you are not, please consider joining. Your support makes it possible for FMHCA to continue to grow and promote our profession, to maintain a strong voice and to promote change. Have you ever wondered who promotes the legislation that recognizes and advances mental health counseling in Florida? YOU do, by supporting FMCHA! FMHCA wants to empower you to help make your professional dreams come true. You can read about what FMHCA is doing for mental health counselors in our bylaws. Do you want to take a more active role in FMHCA? Consider volunteering to serve on one of our committees!
Darlene Silvernail PhD, LMHC, CAP, DCMHS
Issue 165
INSIDE THIS ISSUE COME FOLLOW FMHCA TO CUBA! ........................ 2 President’s Report for 20152016 .................................. 3 Florida Waives Licensing Fees Waived for Veterans and Spouses in Mental Health Profession:............ 4 June Free Webinar .......................................... 7 Requirement for Florida Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors………………..9 The Political Beliefs of Mental Health Counselors……..10 Senate/Representative Medicare Meeting Script………..16 Medicare Happenings …… 19
Executive Director
CONTACT US Florida Mental Health Counselors Association 2101 Vista Parkway, Suite 265 West Palm Beach, FL 33411 Phone: 561-575-9519 Website: FLMHCA.ORG E-mail: office@flmhca.org
COME FOLLOW FMHCA TO CUBA!
Board of Directors 2015 - 2016
President Michael Holler, MA, NCC, CFMHE, CCCE, LMHC mholler@flmhcaorg President-Elect Leonel Mesa, PsyD, LMHC lmesa@flmhca.o.rg
Onl y Dep $500 .0 osit Sav 0 you r Se es at!
The Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA) is organizing a delegation to visit Cuba for the purpose of researching mental health services, October 17 - 22, 2016. As Executive Director of the FMHCA, Dr. Darlene Silvernail has been selected to lead this delegation, and invites you to join in this unique opportunity!!! Link
Treasurer Jim Messina, PhD, CCMHC, NCC, DCMHS jmessina@flmhca.org Secretary Kathie Erwin, Ed.D, LMHC, NCC, NCGC kerwin@flmhca.org
INSIDE STORY HEADLINE This story can fit 100-150 words.
Parliamentarian Frank Hannah, MS, LMHC fhannah@flmhca.org
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field. You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients. If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing. Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.
Member-at-Large Joe Skelly, MS, LMHC jskelly@flmhca.org Member-at-Large Louise Sutherland-Hoyt, LMHC lsutherland@flmhca.org Member-at-Large Hassiem Kambui, PhD, LMHC Member-at-Large Lorraine McCann, LMHC, CT lmccann@flmhca.org Executive Director Darlene Silvernail, PhD, LMHC, CAP, DCMHS dsilvernail@flmhca.org Administrative Coordinator Diana Huambachano (Proscia) office@flmhca.org
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This story can fit 100-150 words. The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field. You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients. If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing. Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT FOR 2015-2016 : THE FINAL STRETCH It's been a busy year, and we have accomplished a lot this year. We hired an Executive Director, and instituted the process of making that a successful operation. We began our series of webinars, “Emerging Issues in the Field of Mental Health Counseling.” We instituted an ethics consultation process. We held a very successful conference. With the help of Dr. James Messina, we have begun the process of looking forward towards increasing training in the area of integrated mental health care. We have continued collaboration efforts with the Florida Counseling Association and the Marriage and Family Therapists. With the help of our excellent lobbyists, the Mixon’s, we achieved the passage of legislation limiting Registered Mental Health Internship to five-years (before they have to get licensed). We have instituted and consolidated a very successful Government Relations Committee, (Thank you, and kudos to Lori McCann, Chairperson). And, we have decided to restructure the organization into a more centralized organization, with regions and regional directors, rather than focusing on chapters, (more to come on this as we develop it). And, coming into the final stretch of my presidency, I'm taking a moment to look back at the accomplishments we have made. Our President Elect, Dr. Leo Mesa, and I have been keeping in close touch, dialoguing about transitioning into his coming year, and the accomplishments we want to achieve and consolidate, as well as how to execute his theme of “Strength in Unity.” As we move forward, we are going to need to keep our eyes on the horizon, focusing on our goals of achieving inclusion in Medicaid and Medicare, on the national level, and making some structural changes on the state level. One of our goals is to become even more of an asset to our state board in order to increase the quality of our profession, as well as to have a voice in how that is carried forward. We also continue to look toward significantly increasing membership in the organization. Part of this is an initiative move towards reaching out to students to encourage them to include themselves in our organization, as we are exclusively representative of the profession into which they will be moving, including free membership for their first year! Part of this includes looking at the new landscape of integrated care, and beginning to reach out to Mental Health Counselors who are working in agencies, as well as including agencies as members in our organization. We also look forward to continuing the excellent training, webinars and CEU’s, including the huge variety, which has blossomed under the supervision of Aaron Norton. We also would like to challenge all of you, moving forward, to bring in at least 2 new members to FMHCA. There are currently about 10,000 Licensed Mental health Counselors in the state of Florida. We have about 700 members. What’s wrong with this picture? Since there is strength in numbers, we want to increase the power of our voice in the field.
NOTEWORTHY DATES SESSION 5: How to Create a SixFigure Private Practice Date: Friday, 6/10/16, 2:00-4:00 pm Presenter: Amanda Patterson, LMHC, CAP, NCC Click Here for Details
August Leadership Retreat Date:05 Aug 2016 - 06 Aug 2016 Click Here For Details
Annual Conference 2017 Date:02 Feb 2017 - 04 Feb 2017 Click Here For Details
The elections are now completed, and we would like to welcome our new Board of Directors: President - Leonel "Dr. Leo" Mesa, Jr., Psy.D., LMHC, CAP, CEAP President-Elect - Louise Sutherland-Hoyt, LMHC Secretary - Kathie Erwin Ed.D., LMHC Treasurer - James J. Messina, Ph.D., CCMHC, NCC, DCHHS Our newest, as well as re-elected, Members at Large are as follows: 1 Hassiem Kambui, Ph.D., LMHC, NCC (I)* 2 Judith L Roberts, Ph.D., LMHC 3 Joe P. Skelly, M.S., L.M.H.C. (I)* 4 Erica Whitfield, MACP, LMHC Our Parliamentarian remains Frank Hannah, MS, LMHC. Let’s move forward into a great new year and welcome Dr. Leo Mesa as our new President starting his tenure on July 1st. Welcome, My Brother!
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The mission of the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association is to advance the profession of clinical mental health counseling through intentional and strength-based advocacy, networking, professional development, legislative efforts, public education, and the promotion of positive mental health for our communities.
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CE Broker FMHCA is a CE Broker Gold Partner! FMHCA, Florida Mental Health Counselors Association, members will now receive a $5 discount to CE Broker, the official continuing education tracking system. Contact us for the Discount Code office@flmhca.org - then go to CEBroker.com & use the Association Code to apply your $5 discount. Subscribe or create a 7-Day Free Trial Account & apply the code when asked, "Have a Promotion Code or Association Discount?"
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Dr. Leo Mesa at one of our Student Membership Drives.
You Earned Your Designation as a Professional, You Deserve the Highest Quality Insurance Product MEMBERSHIP PERKS!
Our Behavior Health Purchasing Group insurance program is based on an occurrence trigger of coverage which has traditionally been the coverage of choice in the insurance marketplace. We also have the advantage of offering three separate silos of specific insurance limits for Commercial General Liability, Professional and Abuse or Molestation coverage. The Van Wagner Behavioral Health Program offers:  Broad Professional Liability coverage grant with Limits of $1,000,000 Each Act, Error or Omission/$3,000,000 Aggregate ď Ż Your policy includes a broad definition of professional services to include any service that involves specialized education, knowledge, labor, judgement and skill that is predominantly mental or intellectual. This coverage is not limited to professionals who have a degree or license. Students are eligible for same broad coverage and limits at a reduced rate of $32 annually. We are proud to offer this product to all our existing professionals and welcome all new professionals at a discounted premium. The Van Wagner service and stability you have counted and trusted on for over 25 years, backed by our insurance carrier's A+ Superior financial strength. For more information about the enhanced coverage, please view the informational brochure. If you have any questions, please contact 1-800-735-1588 or email insurance@vanwagnergroup.com. Visit vanwagnergroup.com for more information.
National Board of Forensic Evaluators NBFE is proud to be a professional partner with FMHCA. Because of our professional partnership, NBFE Offers discounts, benefits and free CEUs to our professional partners members. If you hold a current professional membership in any of the following associations, you will be eligible to receive a 15% discount towards the NBFE credential and homestudy programs. FREE 2 contact hour programs offered to all CFMHE and all of our Professional Partners. Offerings are posted during the year and only available to NBFE's Professional Partners. NBFE Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluators (CFMHE) American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA) Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia (LPCAGeorgia) Utah Mental Health Counselors Association (UMHCA) Washington Mental Health Counselors Association WMHCA) _________________________ Insurance Discounts for FMHCA Members Savings up to 25% with Van Wagner's Comprehensive Occurrence (Professional and General Liability) InsuranceProgram. http:// go.sterlingrisk.com/VW/FMHCA _________________________ CPH & Associates offers FMHCA members access to their monthly news bulletin, which can be found here: http://www.cphins.com/ legalresources/bulletin
Thank You to our Sponsor
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Thank You to our Sponsor
JUNE FREE WEBINAR SESSION 5: How to Create a Six-Figure Private Practice Date: Friday, 6/10/16, 2:00-4:00 pm Presenter: Amanda Patterson, LMHC, CAP, NCC Description: This presentation will teach participants strategies in order to create a 6 figures private practice. It will discuss ways to have multiple streams of income, how to leverage social media and how to connect using creative marketing and networking strategies. Link to Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/3040164314734061826 CE Broker Tracking #: 20-529894, Publishing #: 101752032 Learning Objectives: Participants will learn: How to utilize social media to build a practice How to use multiple streams of income in order to achieve income goals How to use your network and marketing skills to build a successful and thriving private practice About the Presenter: Amanda Patterson, LMHC, CAP, NCC is an expert in treating adults and adolescents with depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Amanda recently opened her second private practice: “Caring Therapists of Broward.”
Amanda helps her clients begin on the journey of symptom relief, self-discovery and healing. Her approach is to help you clean up your past, get focused in the present and move your goals forward for the future. Amanda utilizes a variety of techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, stress management, increasing self-worth, inner child work, incorporation of meditation, mind/body connection, 12 step work, assertiveness training, mood management, anxiety reduction, empowerment and work/life balance. Amanda is an LMHC Qualified Supervisor for licensure. During supervision with Amanda, you will address case consultation, ethics and laws and personal growth as a therapist. Amanda is a believer in holistic treatment and she practices veganism, meditation and yoga in her life. She is an avid reader, both related to personal development and for fun. Amanda actively participates in 5k’s and can be found working out at the local LA Fitness. Amanda serves as the chapter advisor of the Beta Tau chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon and the Cultivation team lead for the Broward Alumnae Association. Amanda is a therapist through Personal Development Community Organization, where they offer a variety of courses throughout the year teaching skills that empower students to live with integrity and new purpose.
Up Coming 2016 WEBINARS OFFERED BY FMHCA Date: Friday, 7/8/16, 2:00-4:00 pm Presenter: Norman Hoffman, Ph.D., Ed.D., LMHC, LMFT, CCMHC Topic: Forensic Evaluation: Countering the Cataclysmic Collapse of the Licensed Professional Counselors Profession Date: Friday,8/12/16, 2:00-4:00 pm Presenter: Richard Chapman, LMHC Topic: Best Practices in Clinical Supervision
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REQUIREMENT FOR FLORIDA CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS:
The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling has made a change to the requirements for the CE course required to meet the qualifications for a qualified supervisor. Previously, the requirement was that the course must be 16 hours, but that has now been reduced to 12 hours.
64B4-6.0025 Approved Continuing Education Course for Supervisory Training. The continuing education course required to meet the qualifications for a qualified supervisor pursuant to Section 491.005, F.S., and subparagraphs 64B4-11.007(3)(b)2., paragraph 64B4-21.007(3)(b), and subparagraph 64B431.007(2)(b)2., F.A.C., must be offered by a Board approved provider of continuing education and consist of the following: (1) It must meet all the requirements of subparagraphs 64B4-6.004(2)(a)1.-5., F.A.C. (2) It must be 12 clock hours of in person didactic and interactional instruction (3) Must contain content that satisfies the following learning objectives. The participant will: (a) Become familiar with the major models of supervision for clinical social work, marriage and family therapy or mental health counseling; (b) Gain skills to develop a personal model of supervision, drawn from existing models of supervision and from preferred styles of therapy; (c) Understand the co-evolving dynamics of therapist-client and supervisor-therapist-client relationships; (d) Explore distinctive issues that arise in supervision; (e) Address the contextual variables in practice such as culture, gender, ethnicity, power and economics; (f) Become familiar with the ethical, legal and regulatory issues of supervision; (g) Review the Florida laws and the board rules governing interns and supervision; and, (h) Understand the role of evaluation in supervision.
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NHSC LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM Licensed health care providers may earn up to $50,000 toward student loans in exchange for a two-year commitment at an NHSC-approved site through the NHSC Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LRP). Accepted participants may serve as primary care medical, dental, or mental/ behavioral health clinicians and can choose to serve longer for additional loan
re-
payment support. Priority consideration is given to eligible applicants whose NHSC-approved site has a HPSA score of 26 to 14, in descending order. Eligible applicants may receive up to $50,000 in loan repayment for an initial service commitment until funding is exhausted. Students to Service Loan Repayment Program Medical students (MD or DO) may earn up to $120,000 in their final year of school through the Students to Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (S2S LRP). Students must commit to serving either 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time at an NHSC-approved site with a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) score of 14 or higher. State Loan Repayment Program Through the NHSC, states and territories may offer a State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) program for health professionals that provide primary care in Health Professional Shortage Areas within their state. Not all states offer an SLRP.
The Political Beliefs of Mental Health Counselors Aaron Norton, LMHC, LMFT, MCAP, CRC, CFMHE Chair of Education, Training Standards, & Continuing Education Committee
On more than a few occasions, I've heard clients and prospective clients talk about avoiding counseling because they expected the counselor to impose a biased worldview. This has been particularly notable among politically or religiously conservative clients. Apparently, some of them have been exposed to the same stereotypes about counselors that those of us who work in the profession have been exposed to; the image of a liberal intellectual--perhaps formerly a hippie--who is vaguely spiritual but clearly opposed to organized religion, espousing a worldview of moral relativism. But is there any truth to these stereotypes? If so, is there any evidence that they impact the quality or nature of the therapeutic relationship between counselor and client? To find out, I started by looking for research published in peer-reviewed professional journals that might shed light on the political beliefs of mental health professionals. I discovered that in previous studies the majority of social workers, clinical and counseling psychologists, school counselors, and professional counselors and counselor educators identified as politically liberal, which wasn't very surprising. To continue reading this article, click here
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Thank You to our Sponsor
HOW TO GET INVOLVED WITH FMHCA & LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD The FMHCA Needs You!!! We are searching for volunteers for our 2017 Conference. Get Involved- Work with your peers and Have an Amazing Time!!! Contact me atdsilvernail@flmhca.org
Government Relations Committee: contact Lorrie McCann at lmccann@flmhca.org Research Committee: contact Hassiem Kambui at hkambui@flmhca.org Membership Committee: contact Elif Angel Raynor at membership@flmhca.org Bylaws Committee: contact Frank Hannah at fhannah@flmhca.org
The 2017 Call for Presentations to present at FMHCA's 2017 Annual Conference: Counseling in the Modern Age: What it was & Where we are headed!, being held in Lake Mary, FL at the Orlando Marriott from February 2-4, 2017. All proposals must be submitted online by August 31, 2016 in order to be considered. The online form allows you to upload all documents required for submission, as well as, complete the application. First round acceptance e-mails will be sent in the beginning of September.
Thanks Arron for all you do!!!
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Defining “Private Practice” and the Issue of Portability: The 491 Board Report for May, 2016 Why more licensed mental health professionals do not take advantage of attending one of the quarterly board meetings of the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling (the 491 Board) remains a mystery to me. I am even more surprised that registered intern and graduate students fail to take advantage of this educational experience. I always find the conversation about our professions fascinating and the information shared immeasurably valuable. Two topics of particular interest to me at the meeting this week in Clearwater centered on the working definition of the term “private practice” and the challenges of implementing a portability standard for Florida. Private Practice When the new law addressing time limitations for registered interns (CS/HB 373) was passed this year, a number of qualified supervisors and counselor educators took a second look at the term “private practice.” Some of these same individuals concluded that any registered intern that agreed to work for an agency that required the registered intern to show their compensation as Miscellaneous Income (signing an IRS form 1099) under the Internal Revenue Service rules was an independent contractor. Hence, as an independent contractor the registered intern was also a private practitioner. And, if the agency required that the register intern made a home visit without a licensed mental health professional with them in the home the registered intern was in violation of the 491 Laws and Rules. Specifically, “A licensed mental health professional must be on the premises when clinical services are provided by a registered intern in private practice.” In today’s meeting the 491 Licensure Board made it clear that whether a registered intern signs an IRS 1099 form (or an IRS W2 form) is not relevant. And, under both circumstances the registered intern is an employee and not operating as a private practitioner. Therefore, if a registered intern is providing in -home clinical services for an agency they are not in violation of the 491 Law regarding private practice. Portability Portability (a viable process for transferring a license from one state to another) has become a goal for our profession. And, as more states raise their licensure standards (CACREP accreditation, 60 hour degrees, a scope of practice that includes diagnosis and assessment, etc,) reasonable portability standards are starting to be seriously considered. Currently, two portability proposals have been circulated among state licensure boards. The first proposal, developed by the 32 states that are members of the American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB) and endorsed by the American Counseling Association is relatively simple. They propose that any counselor in good standing and licensed at the highest level in their state for five years should have a completely portable license and
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Continue from page 12: Defining “Private Practice be allowed to practice in any state that formally endorses their portability proposal. The challenge is obvious. Many states do not yet have the high standards found in states like Florida, Virginia, and Utah. In fact, many states have standards that require 48 hour degrees and a few states still allow practitioners with as little as 36 hour degrees to maintain their license. In turn, course work in diagnostics and assessment are not required in every state. To address this gap in academic requirements the American Mental Health Counselors Association, the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision, and the National Board of Certified Counselors developed a portability plan based on a CACREP accredited degree, passage of the NCMHCE and two years of licensure in good standing. Our 491 Licensure Board will be reviewing these two proposal and making a determination over the course of the next few years. Future Meetings The next two quarterly meetings of the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling are to be held in Jacksonville on August the 11th and in Orlando on November on the 3rd. I encourage your attendance. By Stephen A. Giunta, Ph.D., LMHC, NCC, CCMHC
WHAT DOES THIS “INTERN BILL” REALLY MEAN, ANYWAY? HB 373 – 101 In March of this year, just last month, HB 373 – more commonly referred to among us in the mental health field as “the Intern Bill”, was passed with unanimous support by the Florida House and Senate. It was approved by Governor Rick Scott on March 24, 2016. But what does this all mean? It means that when someone graduates from an accredited mental health counseling graduate program, they will have up to five years to complete the requirements to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida. Why is this important to us? Well, it means that there should be less disciplinary hearings heard before the 491 board. Currently, the 491 board conducts many disciplinary hearings of individuals who have held the status of “Registered Intern” for over five years. Current legislation (pre-Intern Bill legislation) includes a loophole (albeit unintended) that lets individuals continually register as interns when they aren’t or can’t get licensed. Currently there is no limit to the number of times an intern can renew their internship registration.
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This predicament can be dangerous, as it allows for an individual to practice under the license of their qualified supervisor for that amount of time, thus putting the supervisor at risk. Not only is the supervisor at risk (if the individual is truly keeping up with their supervision), but so too are the interns, who may not be receiving the quality supervision, education, or professional growth that they should have as practitioners. This can easily be dangerous to clients, as evidenced by the discipline hearings of the 491 board relevant to this topic. For more information about how to become licensed as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida, please visit http:// floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/licensing/ licensed-mental-health-counselor/
By Nicole Beauchamp, Registered Interns & Graduate Students Committee Chair
GOOD NEWS!! Did you hear the News??? Membership rates are changing to benefit Members! FMHCA has changed their rates!
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MEDICARE LEGISLATION ACTION ALERT New bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to extend Medicare provider status to mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists. On July 22, 2015 Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Debbie Stabenow (DMI) introduced the “Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act� (S. 1830) and on June 12, 2015 Representatives Chris Gibson (R-NY) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) introduced the House version as (HR. 2759). The identical bills would allow Medicare beneficiaries access to mental health counselor services and marriage and family therapists (MFTs) through Medicare. By providing these mental health professionals the opportunity to participate in the Medicare program, the bills expand the number of mental health providers available to beneficiaries. Describing the need for the legislation, AMHCA notes that in the United States 20 percent of individuals aged 55 and older experience some type of mental health problem. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, there are approximately 4,000 Mental Health Professionals Shortage Areas in the United States, and half of all counties in the U.S. have no practicing psy-
chiatrists, psychologists or clinical social workers. Seniors in rural communities are the most adversely affected by these shortage areas. The time to promote Medicare recognition of mental health counselors and MFTs is now. Urge your two Senators and Representative to co-sponsor this vital legislation that would authorize MHCs and MFTs to be paid by Medicare for outpatient mental health services to beneficiaries.
Lorraine McCann - Member-AtLarge
SENATE/REPRESENTATIVE MEDICARE MEETING SCRIPT Arranging a Meeting (Be sure to speak to three offices, two Senators Counselor: Hello, my name is ___________, and I'd like to speak with the Senator's/Representative's Medicare staffer. Counselor to Medicare Staffer: Thanks for speaking with me. I am a mental health counselor from _______. I am interested in meeting with you to discuss identical House and Senate bills numbered S.1830/HR.2759 and known as "The Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2015." This legislation, if enacted, would make mental health counselors Medicare eligible to deliver "medically necessary" outpatient psychotherapy services to Medicare beneficiaries. Do you think I could have about 15 minutes of your time to discuss this issue with you? When is a good time for me to discuss this matter? Attending a Meeting with a Medicare Staffer Counselor: Thank you so much for agreeing to meet with me. Here's my business card. I am a mental health counselor from ______________. S.1830/HR.2759, "The Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2015," introduced by Senators Barrasso and Stabenow in the Senate and Representatives Gibson and Thompson in the House, would be of benefit to Medicare beneficiaries in my area because_________________________. As a mental health counselor, I have amassed thousands of hours of graduate education and clinical training. My training and experience makes me particularly skilled to serve Medicare beneficiaries. For example, my training and experience in ________ is very needed by Medicare beneficiaries in my community. This bipartisan legislation has previously passed the Senate twice and the House twice, just not simultaneously. Passage of this legislation cannot come soon enough. Why? 1) Mental health counselors disproportionately practice in communities that lack adequate Medicare-eligible mental health providers. 2) Coverage of more minimum Master's mental health professionals is economically efficient. Medicare currently spends way more on higher cost inpatient mental health than it does on early intervention outpatient mental health care, which I'm educated and trained to provide. 3) The Medicare population is growing rapidly and there is a dearth of mental health professionals eligible to serve them. 4) This legislation does not expand the scope of covered Medicare services; it simply enlarges the eligible provider pool. 16 Counselor to Staffer: I'd like to ask for Senator/Representative's support of this bill. Would he or she be able to sign on as a cosponsor?
MEMBERSHIP PERKS! Legal Shield
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WHEN POLITICS MEET MONEY AND POLARIZATION, THE RESULTS CAN BE HARROWING, LIKE FLORIDA’S “DOCS VS. GLOCKS” LAW Over the past several years, the issue of gun control has become polarized, capitalized, mythologized, and politicized to a degree unprecedented in American history. Yet, we lose over 30,000 people a year from gun violence in America – about 18,000 of whom are suicides. This has become a toxic gumbo of cultural, legal and emotional issues that inserts itself every day into the offices of Mental Health Counselors around the nation. Nevertheless, the matter has often been studiously avoided by many of those same practitioners – both publicly and within the context of their practices. At the recent FMHCA Conference in Orlando, this subject was, ironically, “squarely in the crosshairs,” in an attempt to change the very fundamental dialogue of the debate from gun control to Gun MANAGEMENT. The polarization associated with gun regulation is reflected in the very editorial pages of our population centers, typified after such a tragic event as a two year old’s killing of his own mother by accidentally discharging the concealed weapon she had in her purse. Immediately, the extremists of both sides saturated the newspapers with vitriolic indictments of the other pole and the essence of the human tragedy was lost. This national schism is further fueled by special interest organizations being subsidized by the gun industry and its corporate allies, with “donations” literally surpassing the hundred million dollar mark. Myths abound, as well, contributing to the private ownership of over 300,000,00+ guns in this country – outnumbering the number in the possession of law enforcement and military by about 79 to 1. When politics meet money and polarization, the results can be harrowing, like Florida’s “Docs vs. Glocks” law - actually passed in 2011 - which made it a 3rd degree felony to record whether patients kept guns in their homes. Fortunately, a federal court issued an injunction that prevented all clinicians from facing a loss-of-licensure dilemma over appropriate inquiry into lethal means. Even now, there are renewed attempts to allow concealed weapons on university campuses, with some states already permitting the “privilege.” So, is there actually a role for Mental Health in this divisive discourse? Of course there is, because our moral and vocational responsibility has always been to be front and center in the service of our patients. We must lead organized efforts to address suicides, violence and guns, simply in order to shape laws based on common sense. We need to clarify issues regarding guns and mental illness; we have to collaborate in developing reasonable assessment measures for risk of gun violence.
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Joe P. Skelly, M.S., L.M.H.C.
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But, our first significant step in initiating the process has to be to use our formidable skills to reframe the very dialogue about the problem itself. The issue can no longer be about the very pejorative term, “Gun Control”; we must speak about Gun MANAGEMENT. Gun Management is what we’re after – and it’s the way to bring everyone to the table as we address a situation that is killing our people, regardless of their politics. Mental Health Counselors cannot shirk the imperatives of our calling; we will “take our best shot.”
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WE'RE LOOKING FOR TALENTED WRITERS! FMHCA is seeking Graduate Students and Registered Interns to contribute monthly articles for our newsletter. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your point of view and your journey to licensure with others while getting professional exposure. We're looking specifically for articles that will you're your peers navigate the journey to graduation and licensure - study tips, resources, how-tos... there are so many relevant topics worthy of investigation and discussion. These articles will also help you train yourself on best practices - it's a win-win! Please email office@flmhca.org if you're interested in this opportunity. Be Active in FMHCA - Join A Committee! Interested in becoming more active with FMHCA but not sure how to get started? Consider joining a committee! Participating in a FMHCA committee allows you to interact with professionals who share your passions while providing a valuable service to FMHCA. Let's face it - change doesn't happen by itself. We need YOU to help us make a difference! There are several opportunities for you to get involved - consider any of the following committees: Ethics Committee Membership Committee Graduate Students & Registered Interns Committee Chapter Relations Committee Finance Committee Nominations & Elections Committee Governmental Relations Committee Conference Planning Committee Education, Training, Standards, & Continuing Education Training Committee Military Service Committee Research Committee Feeling especially interested in any of those topics? Consider being a committee chair - you'll be surprised how rewarding it can be to help make things happen! Email office@flmhca.org to express your interest. Thank you!
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MEDICARE HAPPENINGS Hot off the press! There is renewed action on the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 (S.2680). The intent of this bill is to improve the coordination of mental health care between federal programs improving accountability and evaluation. This bill has been dormant since it was approved by the Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor and Pension) committee. The reason for the delay is disagreements over mental funding and gun control. Senator John Cronyn (R-Texas) plans to offers his version of S.2680 as an amendment with contain language on control that could threaten the entire bill. All this matters because the clock is ticking!! If the bill doesn’t get to the President’s desk before the summer recess it will have to wait until after the election.
This really matters because AMHCA and its coalition partners are working for a floor amendment to S.2680 that gives licensed mental health counselors Medicare Provider Status. More good news!! The list of sponsors to our Senior Mental Health Access Improvement Act bills S.1830 and HR. 2759 is growing. In Florida our sponsors as follows:
Carlos Curbelo R –FL
Mario Diaz-Balart R-FL
David Jolly R-FL
Tom Rooney R-FL
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R-FL
Reach out to your legislators and ask them to get on board. Go to www. AMHCA.org to the Advocacy tab for the letter templates. The clock it ticking!
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Thank You to our Sponsor
Thank You to our Sponsor
BECOME A FMHCA MEMBER FMHCA invites all mental health professionals to become a part of our organization so your voice can be heard and you can enjoy a strong network of professionals in our state. Join by Clicking Here! by downloading a membership form and mailing it with your payment, or you may make a payment directly through our website. Keep in mind we have a few membership options: $65.00 Clinical - All LMHC's or CCMHC's $55.00 Regular - All registered interns or non-licensed professionals $25.00 Retired Clinicians - License Retired $Free Student (Free for the first year and there after $20.00) - Full time graduate, post-graduate, or undergraduate student Membership Renewal If your FMHCA membership has expired, we encourage you to and hope you will you to renew today by visiting our FLMHCA.ORG
Thank You to our Amazing Sponsors! Advertise On Our Website & In Our Newsletter! Increase your professional exposure by becoming a FMHCA sponsor! FMHCA's website gets hundreds of hits a day from members, nonmembers, and prospective members. Becoming a sponsor with FMHCA lets other professionals know that you're out there - it's a terrific way to network and grow as a professional. Florida Mental Health Counselors Association 2101 Vista Parkway, Suite 265 West Palm Beach, FL 33411 Phone: 561-575-9519 Website: FLMHCA.ORG
There are two ways to becoming a sponsor - you can purchase a flashing banner across the top of our pages or one of the sponsor blocks at the bottom of our website pages. Best of all, you get a full year of sponsorship for one low price! Artwork must be submitted in one of the following formats: png, jpg, tif, tiff, or psd. After you have completed payment, submit your artwork to us at office@flmhca.org Sponsorship Type
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