A new Pennsylvania law grants licensure for two new types of associate mental health practitioners: Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapists (LAMFTs) and Licensed Associate Professional Counselors (LAPCs).
Effective June 1, 2024, Highmark will recognize LAMFTs and LAPCs as advanced practice providers who can deliver appropriate behavioral health services to members in Pennsylvania and Delaware after being enumerated by Highmark.
Once providers have been licensed from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, they can apply for enumeration with Highmark by completing the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Enumeration Form, which is available on the Provider Resource Center (PRC). Effective June 1, 2024, providers who have an LAMFT or LAPC license from the state of Delaware may also apply for enumeration with Highmark by completing the APP Enumeration Form.
Reimbursement Policy (RP)-068 Mid-Level Practitioners and Advanced Practice Providers is being updated to include LAMFTs and LAMFTs and a new version will be published by June 1, 2024.
Resources on the PRC
- APP Enumeration Form – To access this form, select FORMS from the left menu, and then click Provider Information Management Forms. Once on the page, select Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Enumeration Form.
- Credentialing Policy – This can be found in the Highmark Provider Manual, which can be accessed via the top taskbar on the PRC. Once there, go to: Chapter 3, Unit 2: 3.2 Highmark Network Credentialing Policy > Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Enumeration.
- RP-068 – To locate the policy, select CLAIMS, PAYMENT & REIMBURSEMENT from the left menu and then click Reimbursement Policy. Once on the page, type “RP-068” into the search bar.
Provider News, Issue 5, May 2024 | © 2024 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield