NMCA Government Relations

To contact the New Mexico Counseling & Therapy Practice Board office call (505) 476-7102 in Santa Fe or go to www.rld.state.nm.us.

Guide to the Legislature

The Legislature has 112 members, 70 in the House and 42 in the Senate. They are elected from districts across the state, senators for four-year terms and representatives for two-year terms.

Contacting Legislators

Legislative Alerts: Health Care Reform!

Counselor coverage under Medicare is included in the House "Tri-Committee" draft bill, Senate Finance bill is still in development. Counselors should ask their Representative and Senators to support health care reform and Medicare coverage of counselors, and cosponsor H.R. 1693/S.691.

This week, the House committees tasked with health care reform (the House Ways & Means Committee and the House Energy & Commerce Committee) will vote on health care reform bill H.R.3200, known as "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009." H.R. 3200 makes health care coverage a right as opposed to a privilege. In addition to including provisions that ensure parity for mental health (as enacted in the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity Act), a stronger mental health care work force, and health insurance access for all Americans, H.R. 3200 specifically includes a provision expanding Medicare's pool of compensated mental health providers to include LMHCs/LPCs. LMHCs/LPCs who are constituents of members sitting on the House Ways & Means and/or House Energy & Commerce Committees should call their Representative and urge him or her to VOTE FOR H.R. 3200.

Action Needed

  1. Find out who your Representative is by visiting www.house.gov and entering your zip code information in the box provided.
  2. Check the list of members of Congress on committees with jurisdiction over Medicare by visiting the House Ways & Means and House Energy & Commerce Committee Web pages at www.house.gov
  3. If your Representative is on this list, call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121, and give the operator the name of the office to which you desire to be connected. Once connected, identify yourself as a constituent, provide your name and town, and tell the staff member that your Representative should VOTE "YES" for H.R. 3200, and in particular, for the provisions establishing Medicare coverage of LMHCs/LPCs.

Suggested Message

"I'm calling to ask Representative ____________ to vote in favor of H.R. 3200, the health care reform legislation, and specifically to support H.R. 3200's provision expanding Medicare beneficiaries' access to outpatient mental health care by establishing coverage of LMHCs/LPCs. Medicare must become a more efficient purchaser of health care. Medicare coverage of LMHCs/LPCs' outpatient mental health services will reduce both mental and physical health care costs and improve quality of health care by ensuring more seniors access to preventative health care."