Psychologists are currently ineligible for GME funding. While physicians, nurses, and at least 19 allied health care professionals, including dietetic interns, physical therapists, radiographers and clinical pastoral counselors, are eligible for GME funding, psychologists do not receive any funding.
Hospitals can no longer bear the costs of running psychology training programs . . .
Hospitals and other Medicare facilities pay for and run psychology educational training programs with no GME reimbursement. This lack of funding, coupled with loss of income due to changes in the health care delivery system, has forced many hospitals to reduce financial support to train psychologists. And cutbacks in psychology training programs mean less services for patients . . . Psychology students provide a range of key, often unique, therapeutic, primary care, and diagnostic services directly to Medicare beneficiaries. Their services are particularly important for hospitals and other Medicare facilities in rural and underserved areas, where physicians are not available to provide similar services.