Experts and advocates say Medicare is not adequately covering substance abuse treatment for older adults, Roll Call reported Nov. 30.
The program generally does not pay for treatment from licensed alcohol and drug counselors, peer support specialists and marriage and family therapists unless they are associated with a physician, the outlet reported.
The program also does not cover intensive outpatient treatment or residential inpatient rehab for drug and alcohol treatment, unless at a psychiatric hospital. These restrictions mean only 42 percent of substance abuse treatment facilities in the country accept Medicare patients, Roll Call reported.
"It's damn hard to find good treatment for Medicare recipients," Shawn Ryan, MD, chair of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, told Roll Call.
There is some momentum to address coverage caps in Congress, the outlet reported, including adding Medicare coverage for licensed marriage and family therapists and licensed professional counselors, who make up around 40 percent of the behavioral health workforce.
Read the full reporthere.