Medicare Mental health care (outpatient)

How often is it covered?

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers mental health services and visits with these types of health professionals:

• Psychiatrist or other doctor
• Clinical psychologist
• Clinical social worker
• Clinical nurse specialist
• Nurse practitioner
• Physician assistant

Medicare only covers these visits, often called counseling or therapy, when they’re provided by a health care provider who accepts assignment.  Search provider list.

Part B covers outpatient mental health services, including services that are usually provided outside a hospital, like in these settings:

• A doctor’s or other health care provider’s office
• A hospital outpatient department
• A community mental health center

Part B also covers outpatient mental health services for treatment of inappropriate alcohol and drug use.

Part B helps pay for these covered outpatient services:

• One depression screening per year. The screening must be done in a primary care doctor’s office or primary care clinic that can provide follow-up treatment and referrals.
• Individual and group psychotherapy with doctors or certain other licensed professionals allowed by the state where you get the services.
• Family counseling, if the main purpose is to help with your treatment.
• Testing to find out if you’re getting the services you need and if your current treatment is helping you.
• Psychiatric evaluation.
• Medication management.
• Certain prescription drugs that aren’t usually “self administered”(drugs you would normally take on your own), like some injections.
• Diagnostic tests.
• Partial hospitalization.
• A one-time “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit. This visit includes a review of your potential risk factors for depression.
• A yearly “Wellness” visit. This is a good time to talk to your doctor or other health care provider about changes in your mental health so they can evaluate your changes year to year.

Who’s eligible?

Your costs in Original Medicare