MARICOPA, AZ (AZFamily) — Arizona mental health therapists say they may have to cut ties with one of the state’s largest insurance providers or close their practices altogether.
All because Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is enforcing new supervision requirements and dozens of counselors say the new rules are impossible to follow while also providing quality care.
Counselors say this is already causing major ripple effects, including longer wait lists, fewer providers willing to accept Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, and fewer people in need reaching out for help because they can’t afford to pay out of pocket.
“We are in this to help and we are being terrified of losing our own livelihoods,” said Brianna Reinhold, founder of Northern Lights Therapy. “It hits my heart. I don’t want to cause all these people to lose the care that they desperately need.”
Parents of teenage patients like Nicole Perkins are also fearful.
“It’s gonna make me teary-eyed,” said Perkins.
At Northern Lights Therapy, Reinhold is a clinical supervisor who oversees more than 10 licensed associates who earned master’s degrees and passed licensing exams, qualifying them to treat patients.
But starting this month, AZ Blue began requiring supervisors to handle the patient intake process and set up a treatment plan before an associate can take over.
“I am back to essentially being an intake specialist with almost 15 years of experience clicking boxes because they’re saying that the licensed associates are not qualified,” said Reinhold. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve actually had my associates call me crying.”
Now, supervisors must also be readily available to step in virtually in real-time throughout all future appointments.
Reinhold doesn’t know how she can do that and balance her own case load.
“I’ve already had to cancel sessions of my own to just schedule the intakes that were already prescheduled because we didn’t want to cancel on those clients,” said Reinhold.
For Reinhold, this may mean canceling her contract with the major insurance company, which would force patients to find a new in-network therapist or pay out of pocket.
“I’d say 60-75% of our practice is through Blue Cross clients so to say that it would be a hit is an understatement,” said Reinhold.
“For us, out of pocket wouldn’t be an option. You know, we don’t have extra money to do that,” said Perkins.
Concern is growing. Reinhold and Perkins say Northern Lights Therapy is one of only a handful of options for mental health care in Pinal County.
“We’re like a resource island out here,” said Perkins. “The biggest fear is losing quality of care and losing care altogether.”
Reinhold and Perkins say having one therapist during the first appointment and another the next time creates unnecessary trauma for vulnerable people looking for someone to trust so they can heal.
“Over the last few years, AZ Blue has added access to more than 4,000 mental health providers. We are fully supportive of our members getting the care they need.
This process ensures that members first connect with a qualified provider (eligible to be credentialed with AZ Blue) before getting assigned to another care provider in the office. It is in sync with CMS. The goal is to balance timely access to behavioral health services with safeguards that support patient safety.
We have been talking with providers, and their feedback is always welcome and appreciated.”
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