Older Adults, Reimbursement, and Referrals: Implications for Psychologists After Medicare Reimbursement Changes and Before Health Care Reform

Psychologists' current provision of mental health services to older adults was investigated by a mail survey. One half of licensed psychologists in a metropolitan region in the Northeast were randomly sampled, with a return rate of 61% (n= 37). Seventy-five percent saw older adult clients (age 65 and over), and 72% accepted Medicare payments. Older adults composed 8% of their practice. Solo-practicing physicians were the chief referral link to and from the medical community. Barriers to providing mental health services included client's lack of social support network and low levels of reimbursement. The challenges of continuing psychologists' recent advances in serving the mental health needs of older adults in an era of health care reform and managed care are discussed.