HR0067 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0067 LRB102 11970 ECR 17306 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Currently, the State of Illinois and the federal government do not allow licensed professional counselors (LPCs) and licensed social workers (LSWs) to bill Medicare/Medicaid; and

WHEREAS, LPCs and LSWs are not fully licensed clinicians but are working towards being fully licensed; and

WHEREAS, LPCs and LSWs are required to meet for supervision/consultation with a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) or a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) for a minimum of one hour per week; and

WHEREAS, After criteria for full licensure has been met, including meeting direct client/patient clinical hours, supervision, and the successful completion of the state and national exams, LPCs become LCPCs, LSWs become LCSWS, and billing for Medicaid/Medicare becomes a privilege; and

WHEREAS, The lengthy process to full licensure deters access to quality mental health services to many vulnerable and marginalized populations; and

WHEREAS, This process limits and complicates staffing for agencies already experiencing shortages of mental health professionals; and

WHEREAS, LPCs and LSWs are qualified to provide counseling services and should be allowed to bill Medicare/Medicaid for their work along with the consideration they are still being properly supervised by a fully licensed provider; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge our fellow Illinois lawmakers and the federal government to allow LPCs and LSWs to bill Medicare/Medicaid; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation, Governor JB Pritzker, and all members of the Illinois General Assembly.