The American Counseling Association’s Public Policy team asked me to encourage all of you to reach out to Senator Stabenow to ask her for support for the Medicare bill this Congressional session. The bill is S. 828, and it allows for professional counselors to be able to independently panel with Medicare clients. The U.S Senate Finance Committee is currently preparing the Mental Health Package, so it is imperative that we reach out to her now. Senator Stabenow is a co-sponsor of this bill, which also makes it even more important that we reach out! Feel free to use these facts, amongst others, in your email to Senator Stabenow:

ACA Talking Points

The ACA also indicated that the following talking points will be important to include as well:

• Thanking her and demonstrating support for S. 2069, which is the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act.
• Asking her to seriously consider S. 828 to support access to Mental Health Care to Michigan’s most vulnerable seniors, and the disabled.
• Asking her to make S. 828 a priority.
• Thanking her for her continued advocacy and support with her Senate Colleagues on S. 828.

Hopefully this helps solidify the message that you all will hopefully convey to her! We made ALL of our voices heard with HB 4325, so let’s do the same with this. Feel free to use the below email link, or reach out to her in other ways that you may find:

Email: https://www.stabenow.senate.gov/contact

With Regards,

Michael Joy

Past President