ACA News

HHS Summit Focuses on Greater Mental Health Access

On May 4, 2023, the HHS summit, "Support is Here to Strengthen Mental Health," was held. The summit centered around Mental Health Awareness Month and focused on the three mental health pillars of the Biden ...

The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Ends

The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) ended on Thursday, May 11, 2023. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued numerous PHE-related rules, waivers and guidance, many of which were tied ...

Florida SB 1580 Could Affect How Counselors Practice

This past Friday, May 12, 2023, Florida state legislators passed State Bill 1580, an overly broad bill that allows payors and providers—doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, mental health providers, medical transport services, clinical lab ...

The White House Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

For Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, the Biden-Harris Administration hosted a White House Forum at George Washington University. This event celebrated the many contributions AANHPI communities have made to ...

Transgender Bill of Rights H. Res. 269: ACA is named in the Resolution

On March 30th, House Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) led 100 House Democrats to re-introduce the Transgender Bill of Rights (H. Res. 269), a resolution recognizing that it is the duty of the federal government to develop and implement ...

ACA/HBCU C.A.R.E.S. Teams Up to Support to Diversity in Counseling

The American Counseling Association (ACA) is pleased to welcome the inaugural cohort of HBCU C.A.R.E.S. Ambassadors to the 2023 ACA Conference & Expo in Toronto, Canada, March 30–April 1. HBCU C.A.R.E.S.’ mission is to raise awareness ...

Informational Webinar - How to Navigate Medicare Reimbursement for Practitioners

Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2023  |  Time: 12 –1 p.m. EDT The inclusion of counseling as Medicare providers represents an exciting development for counseling professionals. In anticipation of the implementation of ...

ACA Awards Recognize Achievement and Excellence in Professional Counseling

Each year, the American Counseling Association (ACA) recognizes excellence in research, career and humanitarian achievement among counseling professionals and students with its awards and honors program. This year’s awards will be presented at ...

President Biden Announces Executive Order to Reduce Gun Violence and Expand Mental Health Access

  On Wednesday, March 14, 2023, President Biden issued an Executive Order aimed at reducing gun violence in America. Last year, with the number of mass shootings on the rise, President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, ...

Medicare Implementation Planning Underway

On March 9, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Division of Practitioner Services for Medicare and the American Counseling Association (ACA) met to discuss program implementation. ACA has identified four areas in which we have ...

President's Budget Proposes Additional Funds for Mental Health

On Thursday, March 9th, President Biden released the FY2024 Budget Proposal, amounting to $6.9 trillion. The budget is based on four key values: (1) lowering costs for families, (2) protecting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, (3) investing in ...

White House: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Among Young Black Men

On Tuesday, February 28th, the Biden-Harris Administration held a conversation titled Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Among Young Black Men. Led by Ambassador Susan Rice and Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, the discussion centered on addressing ...

American Counseling Association Elects Christine Suniti Bhat as 73rd President

Dr. Bhat Will Serve as President-Elect Beginning July 1 Alexandria, Va. (February 9, 2023) – Christine Suniti Bhat, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Counseling & Higher Education at Ohio University, will begin her term as ...

President Biden Delivers the State of the Union Address: What to Expect for Behavioral Health

  On Tuesday, President Biden delivered his annual State of the Union Address, in which the Administration called for partisan unity, emphasizing the need for Congress to work together on legislation to move America forward. Topics covered ...

2022 GAPP Year End Report

Due to many challenges facing our nation, 2022 began as a year of uncertainty within the halls of Government. But it was also one of collaboration and progress for the American Counseling Association, and the counseling profession. Read the 2022 Year ...

Federal Funding for Counseling

The $1.7 trillion fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill (also known as “spending legislation”), is the year-long federal government spending package that will keep the federal government operating through the end of the fiscal ...

American Counseling Association Names New Chief Communications and Marketing Officer

American Counseling Association Names New Chief Communications and Marketing OfficerStacy Brooks Whatley Joins ACAAlexandria, Va. (January 25, 2023) – The American Counseling Association (ACA) has named Stacy Brooks Whatley as chief ...

We Did It! Medicare Reimbursement Now Law

For over a decade, the American Counseling Association and its partner organizations have advocated for the successful passage of the Mental Health Access Improvement Act (S. 828/H.R. 432). Although this bill has previously passed the U.S. House ...

The Mental Health Access Improvement Act Included in FY 23 Year End Funding Package

Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee published the legislative text for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 omnibus package H.R.2617, titled the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.  Of note, we’re excited to share the following ...

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Strengthens Access to Behavioral Health Resources

In line with the 2022 CMS Behavioral Health Strategy, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is strengthening access to vital behavioral health services for Medicare beneficiaries by allowing behavioral health clinicians like ...