Legislature(2007 - 2008)BELTZ 211
03/06/2007 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB84 | |
| SB93 | |
| SB84 | |
| SB68 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 93 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 84 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 68 | ||
SB 93-PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS
CHAIR ELLIS announced SB 93 to be up for consideration.
TOM OBERMEYER, staff to Senator Davis, sponsor of SB 93, said
that it is "An act relating to the licensed professional
counselors and to unlicensed use of the title 'professional
counselor.'" It amends two sections of the Alaska statutes
concerning professional licenses and insurance as regards
licensed professional counselors (LPC). Section 1 better
protects the public from unlicensed individuals misusing these
titles and misrepresenting themselves as having the same
qualifications of licensed professional counselors who must
complete formal educational requirements with a Master's degree
or higher, pass a licensed qualifying exam and complete lengthy
supervised practice for not less than two years.
Section 2 amends AS 21.36.090(d), the insurance provisions that
prohibit discrimination against licensed service providers under
a group insurance policy if that service is within the scope of
the provider's occupational license by adding 'licensed
professional counselors' to the long list of providers in this
category. It also increases access to needed services for some
who formerly were excluded because licensed professional
counselors were not included with other health care
professionals in the non-discrimination clause of this statute.
MR. OBERMEYER said that licensed professional counselors make up
one-third of all mental health professionals in the State of
Alaska and represent about the same proportion of all counselors
working in state-funded mental health and substance abuse
treatment facilities.
The last legislature approved a statutory change to allow
licensed professional counselors to practice psychotherapy and
make Title 47 civil commitment evaluations. SB 93 helps insure
third-party billing parity for licensed professional counselors
while also allowing them to be included with other health care
professionals in this area. Again, it better protects and serves
the public and has a zero fiscal note.
1:40:05 PM
KERRY TURNBOW, Co-chair, Board of Licensed Professional
Counselors, said he is a practicing clinician in Fairbanks and
supported the sponsor statement. Adding "licensed professional
counselor" helps protect the public from misrepresentation and
potentially adding to the number of poor or unethical practices.
It will also allow LPCs to do third-party billing to insurance
companies. It was probably an omission in the first place.
1:41:55 PM
ANNE HENRY, retired member of the Board of Licensed Professional
Counselors, explained that LPCs had always been doing
psychotherapy, but some insurance companies were refusing to
reimburse for it because that service was restricted to use by
psychologists. She pointed out that no one else was practicing
when their statute was passed years ago and that psychotherapy
is now a generic term that everyone across the country uses for
the kind of work they do.
1:43:30 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked what other mental health professionals are
currently covered by insurance.
MS. HENRY replied that several major companies in Alaska already
cover and reimburse for LPCs - Aetna, Premera Blue Cross/Blue
Shield, Signa, Tri-Care - and the federal government has just
recently approved all reimbursement for LPCs. Only a few small
companies don't reimburse for their services.
SENATOR STEVENS asked who is normally covered.
MS. HENRY replied that providers covered for reimbursement are:
psychiatrists, medical doctors, physician assistant, dentist,
osteopath, optometrist, chiropractor, nurse midwife.... The
mental health professionals would be psychologists,
psychological associates, clinical social workers and
professional counselors.
SENATOR STEVENS said this kind of closes a loop hole that
insurance companies have avoided payment for.
MS. HENRY responded that was correct.
SHAWNEE OLSON, Board of Professional Counselors, supported the
previous testimony and SB 93. She said she runs a small practice
in Homer and that when people see "professional" they expect
licensure and reimbursement.
1:47:45 PM
PAMELA WATTS, Administrator, Juneau Alliance for Mental Health
Inc., supported previous testimony. One of the benefits of
passing this bill is it would help employers of mental health
professionals with recruitment and retention, because insurance
will pay for the services. The fact that the Department of
Veterans Affairs recently started to recognize professional
counselors for reimbursement is also a huge step in the
recognition of the value of professional counselors.
1:49:29 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked if people pretending to be counselors has
been a problem in the past.
MS. WATTS replied people call themselves all kinds of counselors
- credit counselor and car sales counselor for instance. It is
difficult for some people to know who they are actually
receiving services from. They may assume a person is a mental
health professional when, in fact, they aren't.
CHAIR ELLIS thanked her for testifying and said the director of
the Division of Occupational Licensing would want to testify and
held SB 93 for a future hearing.
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