Clinicians Working Toward Licensure and Practicing under Supervision of Licensed Professional; Issued January 4, 2023

[LOGO] COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation DIVISION OF INSURANCE 1000 Washington Street, Suite 810 • Boston, MA 02118-6200 (617) 521-7794 • Toll-free (877) 563-4467 http://www.mass.gov/doi CHARLES D. BAKER GOVERNOR KARYN E. POLITO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MIKE KENNEALY SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EDWARD A. PALLESCHI UNDERSECRETARY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND BUSINESS REGULATION GARY D. ANDERSON COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE ## BULLETIN 2023-03 To: All Commercial Health Insurers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc., and Health Maintenance Organizations From: Gary D. Anderson, Commissioner of Insurance Date: January 4, 2023 Gary Anderson Re: Clinicians Working Toward Licensure and Practicing under Supervision of Licensed Professional The Division of Insurance (“Division”) issues this Bulletin 2023-03 to Commercial Health Insurers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc., and Health Maintenance Organizations (“Carriers”) to identify the Division’s expectations regarding Carriers’ requirements to provide health care coverage for certain clinicians who are working toward licensure while practicing under the supervision of a licensed professional. The Division issues this Bulletin pursuant to Sections 50, 54, 56, and 59 of Chapter 177 of the Acts of 2022, which amend M.G.L. c. 175, §47B; M.G.L. c. 176A, §8A; M.G.L. c. 176B, §4A; and M.G.L. c. 176G, §4M (“Statutes”). These amendments to the above Statutes are effective as of November 8, 2022. The existing law defines a “licensed mental health professional” to include “a licensed physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed certified social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed supervised mental health counselor, a licensed psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialist, a licensed psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, a licensed physician assistant who practices in the area of psychiatry, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor I, as defined in section 1 of chapter 111J, or a licensed marriage and family therapist within the lawful scope of practice for such therapist.” The Statutes modify the definition to add “a clinician practicing under the supervision of a licensed professional and working towards licensure in a clinic licensed under chapter 111.” Carriers will perform, as necessary, any and all needed updates and modifications, especially those to reimbursement systems, to enable payment for covered behavioral health services when delivered Bulletin 2023-03 January 4, 2023 Page 2 of 2 by those clinicians who are practicing under the supervision of a licensed professional and working toward licensure in a clinic licensed under chapter 111. Carriers are also directed to take all appropriate steps to update websites and coverage materials to notify covered persons of behavioral health coverage for services provided by these individuals. ## Carriers Acting As Administrators When Carriers are acting as administrators for employment-sponsored non-insured health benefit plans, the Division expects Carriers to encourage plan sponsors to take steps that are consistent with the provisions of this Bulletin 2023-03. If you have any questions about this Bulletin, please contact Kevin Beagan, Deputy Commissioner for the Health Care Access Bureau, at (617) 521-7323.