& The South Carolina School Counselor Association
Leadership. Advocacy. Education.
If you'd like to join our Advocacy Committee or would like to bring an
Advocacy or Legislative topic to our attention, please contact us.
Advocacy
Advocacy Alerts!
1. COUNSELING COMPACT - 34 states have now enacted the Compact. We are expecting a hearing on the Counseling Compact in the SC Legislature after the cross over date of April 10th. Keep reaching out to your State Legislatures! Check here to find yours today: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php
2. MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT - Counselors can begin their application to get paneled with Medicare NOW! Reimbursement begins January 01, 2024. All information needed here.
3. COUNSELOR STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT - Federal laws are moving on student loan repayment for certain counselors. Currently S.462 would provide student loan assistance to substance use counselors/addictions counselors. ACA and SCCA are advocating for expansion to all counseling professionals.
4. MEDICAID ADVOCACY - SCCA has secured a meeting with SCDHHS Director Kerr in January where we will discuss barriers to Medicaid coverage, the burden of auditing on clinicians and need for a more standardized procedure. Please continue to support this petition here.
SC Medicaid
We have joined the effort with BAKERS Counseling Service, LLC to help create change in South Carolina's Medicaid practices.
What can you do?
Sign the petition here
Submit your personal testimony by emailing us here
Resources, Events and Opportunities
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NIH has established a Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence to address the high rate of maternal deaths and mental health conditions.
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The Biden-Harris Administration awarded more than $64 million in grants to fund mental health services and training across the U.S.
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In the wake of recent natural disasters, ACA has disaster relief resources available to those in need. Also, please consider becoming a disaster mental health volunteer with the American Red Cross. The Disaster Distress Hotline provides counseling services to those experiencing emotional distress related to a natural disaster.
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The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will now expand to include American Sign Language. Read more about the expansion.
Counseling Compact
The Counseling Compact legislation will 'carry-over' into the 2024 session and the SCCA plans to continue to advocate for this to pass.
Thirty-four states have now enacted the Counseling Compact, with Connecticut becoming the most recent state to enact. These states include AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, OH, OK, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY.
Keep track of the bill here
Information on The Counseling Compact here
Federal Updates
Help Improve the Federal Parity Act: ACA is responding to the Biden Administration’s proposed rulemaking for the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.
We are requesting you and your organizations consider responding to the rule as well. The deadline to respond is 5 p.m. Eastern on October 2, 2023. Let’s increase access to care together. View sample markups and templates in this toolkit to help you craft your comments.
Advocacy Committee
The Advocacy Committee is responsible for monitoring, reviewing, and taking appropriate action in consultation with the President, regarding state legislation and regulations that affect counseling.
Federal legislation and regulation will also be monitored by the Advocacy Committee, with action as appropriate in concert with the American Counseling Association.
Resources