Medicaid Reimbursement Reduction: Regions 6 and 7
Mental health professionals – not worthy of support along Colorado’s front range
The Colorado Community Health Alliance, or CCHA, is Colorado’s Medicaid organization for regions 6 and 7. In this role, CCHA reimburses mental health professionals in the counties of Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson, Park and Teller. Over 300,000 Coloradans are on Medicaid in these counties.
Many individuals, families, and groups in regions 6 and 7 have benefited from the mental health services made possible through Medicaid. As a result, mental health professionals have directly supported communities along the front range through individual therapy, case management services, marriage and family therapy, drug and alcohol services, and client advocacy.
To provide such services, mental health professionals undergo extensive graduate level training and clinical supervision. This journey to serve the Colorado community is a costly one, resulting in considerable student loan debt and consistent expenses for clinical supervision and continuing education, ensuring the Colorado front range continues to receive ethical and competent clinical mental health services.
CCHA recently announced that as of January 1, 2020, reimbursement rates for thousands of licensed professional counselors, licensed addiction counselors, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed marriage and family therapists will be cut by 20%. Such a reduction in reimbursement will impact mental health professionals' ability to accept clients insured through Medicaid.
The Colorado Counseling Association is significantly concerned the mental health viability of the front range cannot withstand the inherent value of mental health professionals being called into question through such blatant actions of financial disregard.
In recent years, mental health in Colorado has made significant progress, largely due to the efforts of legislative partners and the mental health professional community. Now is not the time to jeopardize these gains by putting the financial sustainability of mental practice at risk.
The Colorado Counseling Association strongly supports licensed professional counselors and the mental health profession in regions 6 and 7, calling on those serving the mental health needs in these counties to immediately engage CCHA's decision.
The Colorado Counseling Association will continue to stand in support of mental health in Medicaid regions 6 and 7 through collaborative efforts, mental health legislation, and awareness. The mission of the Colorado Counseling Association is to support the 10,000 licensed professional counselors, counselors-in-training, counselor educators, clinical supervisors, and licensed professional counselor candidates in Colorado through education, professional advocacy, and outreach to future leaders in our field.
What You Can Do
- Stand in support of mental health in Colorado's front range by signing the CCA, CAAP, CAMFT, and NASW-CO petition as a mental health professional, student, or member of the community.
- Are you a mental health professional currently accepting Medicaid clients in region 6 or 7? Tell CCA how this decision will impact you and your practice.
- Attend a CCHA Program Improvement Advisory Committee Meeting:
- Region 6 - Program Improvement Advisory Committee
December 10, 2019 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 - Region 7 - Program Improvement Advisory Committee
December 3, 2019 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Penrose Hospital, 2222 N Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, CO, Cancer Center Conference Rooms A, B & C
- Region 6 - Program Improvement Advisory Committee