Comment on CMS-2026-2377-0002

As the owner of a behavioral health practice serving individuals and families across Iowa, I strongly oppose the proposed reduction in Medicare reimbursement for 2027. Behavioral health providers continue to face rising operating costs, workforce shortages, increasing administrative burdens, and unprecedented demand for mental health services. At the same time, reimbursement has failed to keep pace with the true cost of delivering high-quality care. Although the proposed reduction may appear modest, its impact extends far beyond Medicare beneficiaries. Many commercial insurers use Medicare as a benchmark when establishing their own reimbursement rates. As Medicare reimbursement declines, commercial reimbursement often follows, placing additional financial strain on behavioral health practices and making it more difficult to recruit and retain qualified clinicians, expand services, and improve access to care. Our nation has repeatedly emphasized the importance of addressing the mental health crisis. Continued reductions in reimbursement send the opposite message. If we want timely access to evidence-based behavioral health services, payment policies must support, not undermine the providers delivering that care. I urge CMS to reject the proposed reimbursement reduction and instead adopt payment policies that recognize the essential role behavioral health professionals play in improving the health and well-being of Medicare beneficiaries and communities across the country.