Allow highly trained associate counselors to provide Medicaid-reimbursable services to children in need—especially those requiring bilingual, culturally competent care.

We, the undersigned, call on the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to permit Licensed Associate Professional Counselors (LAPCs) to serve as independent providers within Medicaid group practices across the state.

Currently, state policy restricts LAPCs from independently billing Medicaid for mental health services—even when operating under the supervision of fully licensed clinicians. This limitation directly affects access to care for Medicaid recipients, particularly children in early developmental stages, who urgently need timely, culturally competent, and often bilingual counseling services.

LAPCs are highly trained professionals, many of whom are M.Ed. School Psychologists with extensive education and supervised experience in child development, counseling, and therapeutic support. Preventing them from delivering reimbursable care creates unnecessary bottlenecks in the system and leaves many vulnerable families waiting far too long for services.

Allowing LAPCs to practice under Medicaid group supervision would:

 • Expand access to individual and group counseling for children in need

 • Support early intervention during critical developmental years

 • Help address the shortage of licensed providers available to serve Medicaid recipients

 • Increase bilingual and culturally responsive care options for families

We urge the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to revise its policies and recognize LAPCs as eligible providers under Medicaid group practice structures.