FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2024
Florida is currently confronted with a pressing mental health and substance abuse crisis, with an acute demand for qualified practitioners.
Current State
Florida is currently confronted with a pressing mental health and behavioral health workforce crisis,
with a high demand for qualified practitioners. At present, Chapter 65D-30.0046(3) and (4) of the
Florida Administrative Code permits individuals with a bachelor’s degree and certification from The
Florida Certification Board (FCB) in addiction (Certified Addiction Professional) or mental health
(Certified Mental Health Professional) to administer behavioral health treatment under the
supervision of a qualified professional.
Today certified bachelor’s degree-level providers can be reimbursed from their local Managing
Entity. However, they encounter limitations in receiving reimbursement from Medicaid, despite
often rendering services to Medicaid recipients. This leaves a segment of individuals untreated, as
these providers cannot receive payment for individual and family therapy services.
It is noteworthy that Medicaid does authorize bachelor’s level practitioners and Certified Addiction
Professionals to deliver Behavioral Health Group Therapy services, as stipulated in the Medicaid
Behavioral Health Therapy Services Coverage Policy.
Desired Outcome
To address the coverage gap, FCB proposes the inclusion of bachelor-level providers working at
Community Mental Health Centers or licensed addiction treatment centers and holding a Certified
Addiction Professional (CAP) or a Certified Mental Health Professional (CMHP) credential as eligible
providers of Behavioral Health Individual and Family Therapy services within the Medicaid
Behavioral Health Therapy Services Coverage Policy. This addition would expand access to crucial
mental health and substance use services and better align Medicaid reimbursement policies with the
current landscape of behavioral health care in Florida.
Impact
FCB advocates adding more workers to the behavioral health workforce to address the individual
and family therapy requirements of Medicaid recipients. This strategy leverages the existing
certified population, comprising 3,500 professionals certified by the FCB. Moreover, FCB proposes
Improving the Behavioral Health Workforce to increase the pool of bachelor-level providers eligible to attain the Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) or Certified Mental Health Professional (CMHP) credentials. This strategy broadens individual and family therapy services available to Medicaid recipients, including group therapy services, and enhances access to essential mental health care.
This initiative not only to bolster the quantity of available services and elevate the quality of care
provided to individuals grappling with behavioral health conditions, provided by certified
behavioral health professionals. Furthermore, this endeavor promises to establish a viable career
progression pathway for individuals aspiring to pursue counseling as a profession—an imperative in
addressing the increasing demand for mental health services in Florida
Key Points
- No impact on the current scope of practice; bachelor’s level providers already deliver individual, family, and group counseling.
- Bachelor’s level providers can offer cost-effective care, making treatment more accessible and affordable.
- Incorporating certified bachelor’s level professionals into the treatment workforce will immediately increase Florida’s provider pool by over 3,500 Certified Addiction Professionals and Certified Mental Health Professionals.
Recommendation
The FCB recommends that the Agency for Health Care Administration amend section 3.2 of the
November 2019 Behavioral Health Therapy Services Coverage Policy to add bachelor’s degree level
Certified Addiction Professionals (CAPs) and Certified Mental Health Professionals (CMHPs) as
eligible providers who can deliver individual (including family) and group therapy
Call to Action
To advocate for this critical change and provide support to Floridians grappling with mental health
challenges, FCB urges you to reach out to Governor DeSantis. Your communication can emphasize
the necessity of amending section 3.2 of the November 2019 Behavioral Health Therapy Services
Coverage Policy to incorporate bachelor’s degree level Certified Addiction Professionals (CAPs) and
Certified Mental Health Professionals (CMHPs) as eligible providers for individual, family, and group
therapy services.
This change not only enhances access to vital mental health care but also ensures financial
reimbursement for professionals delivering these essential services. Your engagement can play a
pivotal role in effecting positive change and better supporting individuals in need.
Dear Governor DeSantis,
I am writing to request your support in implementing a much-needed policy change.
Florida is currently facing a challenge in meeting the mental health needs of our community. Despite the dedicated efforts of many professionals, there remains a gap in access to therapy services, particularly for Medicaid recipients. This issue is exacerbated by the limited reimbursement options available for qualified providers who are essential in delivering these vital services.
I urge you to amend section 3.2 of the November 2019 Behavioral Health Therapy Services Coverage Policy. Specifically, I propose the inclusion of bachelor’s degree-level Certified Addiction Professionals (CAPs) and Certified Mental Health Professionals (CMHPs) as eligible providers for individual, family, and group therapy services. This amendment would not only enhance access to essential mental health care but also ensure financial reimbursement for professionals delivering these critical services.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
The above letter can be copied and pasted into the Governor DeSantis’ website form: