Older adults increasingly experience social isolation, anxiety, and depression due to the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Marriage and family therapists as well as mental health counselors are essential for meeting the behavioral health needs of older adults, but their services are not covered by Medicare.

This article describes current Medicare legislation when it comes to behavioral health and makes the case that classifying marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors as Medicare-eligible providers is essential for ensuring that an aging population has access to the behavioral health care they need.