Mental Health Provider Levels

General
Policy Number: GP-P-015

Last Updated: Oct. 6, 2022 

Categorization of mental health providers occurs based on their level of training/education. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) recognizes three levels of mental health providers: level I, level II and level III (auxiliary). See the below:

Provider Level Provider Type
Level I Psychiatrist  
Licensed Clinical Psychologist  
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse  
Physician Assistant
Level II Special Licensed Psychologist  
Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) 
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) 
Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner
Level III Auxiliary Providers  
Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioners  
Provisionally Licensed Drug and Alcoholism Counselors  
Certified Social Workers  
Certified Masters Social Workers (CMSW) (without an LMHP license)
Auxiliary Provider 

All auxiliary (provisional) providers must be supervised by an in-network, qualified physician or licensed clinical psychologist or as otherwise permitted by state law. The provisional provider’s network status is directly tied to the participating status of the supervising provider.   

Certified Master Social Workers or Certified Professional Counselors performing mental health services who are not LMHPs are included in this definition. Auxiliary providers need to provide BCBSNE with their professional information, so they can submit claims for services they are providing.  

Once the provisional provider receives their full/active LMHP, LADC, LCSW, CMSW, PhD or PsyD, their provisional license becomes void, and BCBSNE will terminate the provisional status. The provisional provider will then need to be credentialed as a new provider.  

Note: If a Provisionally Licensed Psychologist (PLP) is also an LMHP, we will continue to list the provider as an LMHP until they are fully licensed as a Licensed Psychologist. This is beneficial to the practitioner since the reimbursement for an LMHP is a Level II versus a Level III for a PLP. If a fully licensed provider wants to be listed as a provisional provider with BCBSNE, they must inactivate their current license with the state.  

Note: If there are two therapists present in either an individual session or a group session, only one therapist can bill for their services.  

As a provisional provider – if your supervisor terminates their agreement with BCBSNE you must provide us with your new supervisor’s information.