WHAT HB1085 WOULD DO:
-
Permit supervised therapists-in-training to be billed towards insurance, billed under the supervisor—so training clinics can bill commercial insurance.
-
Set a statewide reimbursement floor for in-network mental health & SUD services, helping stabilize rates across commercial plans. (Some bill summaries currently describe this as ~141% of Medicare for common psychotherapy codes like 90837.)
-
Reduce administrative burdens by limiting extra documentation/audits singled out for common psychotherapy codes (e.g., 90837).
-
Allow same-day coverage for multiple clinically necessary mental-health services.
-
Require insurers to complete contracting within 60 days for new in-network clinicians (and pay contracted rates from completed application until the contract’s effective date).
Why this matters for students and their future clients:
-
More training sites can bill insurance, which expands in-network access for clients and helps students meet program hour requirements in a timely way.
-
LPCs gain a clearer path to paneling, improving early-career employment and helping them reach the 1,680 direct client contact hours required for independent licensure without pushing clients to out-of-network care.
-
Earlier, fairer reimbursement helps graduates shoulder supervision rates, student loans, and basic living costs in the two-year supervised period after graduation – and all the years after.
Timing: The bill is expected to be considered during the October veto sessions (currently scheduled for Oct 14–16 and Oct 28–30).
HOW STUDENTS, ALUMNI, FACULTY, AND SUPERVISORS CAN GET INVOLVED:
If you are interested, you can write a letter to your State Representative and State Senator. A short, self-authored email during this window can genuinely help. (See the attached student letter as an example). Or you can also contact your State Representative and State Senator and ask them to support HB1085 in the upcoming veto sessions. You can find their contact information HERE.
