Demand PA Legislators Support Equitable Medicaid Credentialing!
Early last week, I reached out to CBH once more to reiterate the importance of welcoming LAPCs into the provider network. I was informed by CBH representatives that LAPCs are not accepted into the CBH network at this time due to PA state regulations. CBH Director of Credentialing, Mark Miller, informed me that the state of PA does not recognize LAPCs as providers eligible to be contracted with Medicaid as independent or group practice clinicians. Per the Manager of Provider Credentialing, Lisa Sawyer, "the state does not allow LAPCs to bill independently under HealthChoices."
Armed with this information, I have incorporated state-level advocacy into this push for Medicaid access. Following the lead of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association, I sent the following communication to Sen. Michele Brooks, Sen. Art Haywood, the Chairs of the PA House Insurance Committee, and the PA House Professional Licensure Committee, as well as Gov. Josh Shapiro:
Good morning,
I am reaching out to emphasize the importance and urgency of recognizing Licensed Associate Professional Counselors (LAPCs) as contracted Medicaid providers. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor of graduate and post-graduate clinicians, career-long Medicaid provider, and private practice owner in Philadelphia County.
Under Act 4, the LAPC credential was established in 2024 to reflect the qualifications and scope of practice for clinicians holding Masters degrees in counseling and related fields who are working towards plenary professional counselor licensure under the supervision of an independently licensed supervisor. Act 4 added LAPCs to the existing list of qualified licenses identified in Act 39 of 1987. Per the PA Department of State, LAPCs are "able to provide mental health support and receive insurance reimbursement, while practicing under the supervision of a licensed supervisor."
Akin to Licensed Social Workers, who are already accepted Medicaid providers in group practice settings, LAPCs are qualified clinicians completing their required hours of supervised clinical experience, after which they will be eligible for the full license and, thus, independent practice. To obtain the LAPC credential, clinicians must demonstrate an equivalent level of education and receive the same manner of supervision as LSWs. As such, it is my strong opinion that LAPCs should be allowed to participate as Medicaid providers in group practice settings under the same conditions:
- Having completed a clinical practicum or internship as part of their Masters or Doctoral education.
- The group practice must include a clinically credentialed practitioner, i.e., Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
- An LPC, LCSW, or LMFT must supervise the LAPC, sign off on their documentation, and be responsible for the services provided to Medicaid participants by the LAPC.
- The LAPC’s HR file must include a supervision agreement with one of the clinically licensed practitioners in the group practice.
With the devastating and sudden closure of large mental healthcare systems within the city of Philadelphia over the past few years, such as the Wedge Medical Center, identifying a solution to the mental health provider shortage has taken on an even greater urgency. The loss of the large community mental health locations throughout has the city heralded the potential loss of hundreds of providers from the Medicaid network, especially pre-licensed and associate clinicians who were only able to serve Medicaid members only at these locations due to the current restrictions on LAPCs working in group practice settings. The establishment of the LAPC credential is a pivotal opportunity for the state of PA to update its policies and open the Medicaid network to LAPCs working under supervision in group practice settings.
I previously reached out to my local MCO, CBH, in 2024 and 2025 regarding CBH's plan to accept LAPCs into the network; I was informed that the matter was still under review due to a lack of clear state guidance. Since then, the issue of the behavioral health provider shortage has become even more urgent, and the call to address the matter has become even stronger. Over 1,000 stakeholders (and counting!), including members, providers, and concerned community members, in the Philadelphia community have voiced their support for the addition of LAPCs to the Medicaid network in group practice settings across two community-led petitions; here and here.
Welcoming LAPCs into the Medicaid provider network is an opportunity to create a robust pipeline of other career-long Medicaid providers who begin their careers serving Medicaid participants and maintain that service after achieving independent licensure, all the while helping to close the critical gap in care access.
I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you regarding creating a pipeline for LAPCs to support Medicaid participants as providers.
Regards,
Okichie Davis, LPC, LCPC, ACS, NCC
they/them
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Lend your voice to contacting our legislators to further this important issue! Let them know how important LAPCs are to maintaining a robust mental health infrastructure in PA!
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