'No Surprises Act' , May Discourage Patients, Therapists Say.<br />NPR reports mental health advocates say <br />a recently-enacted law meant to protect citizens from surprise medical bills may prevent some from seeking care.<br />Several therapists in the United States <br />are concerned the price transparency provision in <br />the No Surprises Act isn't suitable for mental health care.<br />The therapists say a mental health <br />diagnosis isn't one size fits all. Proper treatment is much more dynamic.<br />In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services on Jan. 25, several therapists sought exemption from the law's "good faith" estimates for their services.<br />According to NPR, 11 separate groups, including the American Psychiatric Association and the Psychotherapy Action Network, endorsed the letter.<br />We got thrown into this bill, <br />but the intention [of the law] <br />was not mental health but high-cost medical care. , Jared Skillings, chief of professional practice at the <br />American Psychological Association, via NPR.<br />...Set regional rates across the country... for independent practitioners, would be <br />a race to the bottom. , Jared Skillings, chief of professional practice at the<br />American Psychological Association, via NPR.<br />Experts say the cost of therapy in <br />the United States varies widely.<br />According to GoodTherapy, the <br />price of therapy in the United States <br />could be as low as $65 per hour, but <br />is often $250 per hour or more.<br />Therapists say they are already <br />adequately disclosing <br />per-visit costs to patients.<br />They believe requiring estimates in pricing before seeing a patient is unethical.<br />The opposed therapists also believe the total estimate of <br />what could be months of <br />treatment costs may scare <br />those away who need care. , Linda Michaels, co-chair of Psychotherapy Action Network, via NPR
