So, You’re a Behavioral or Mental Health Specialist and You Want a Piece of the Stimulus Pie?

As many of you behavioral specialists and psychologists know, you are not currently listed as eligible professionals to participate in and receive ARRA “stimulus” funds. The subject has been brought up several times, but last month it did officially make it into the Washington DC books as S.539 “Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011”. S.539 was introduced by Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.



If the S.539 amendment passes, then “behavioral or mental health professional, a substance abuse professional, a psychiatric hospital, a community mental health center, a residential or outpatient mental health treatment facility, and a substance abuse treatment facility” would all be classified as eligible professionals for both Medicare and Medicaid stimulus participation and money.

If you would like to keep up with or track this amendment a great place to follow it is on OpenCongress.Org at http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s539/show

To date, S.539 is listed at OpenCongress.Org as having been read twice and it has been referred over to the Committee on Finance.