Behavioral Health Supervisory Protocol for Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Postdoctoral Clinicians, Mental Health Counselor Associates, and Marriage and Family Therapist Associates
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Governs supervisory protocol requirements for LCSWs, Postdoctoral clinicians, Mental Health Counselor Associates (MHC-As), and Marriage and Family Therapist Associates (MFT-As) delivering outpatient services under supervision of a BCBSRI-credentialed independent behavioral health clinician in Rhode Island.
No material clinical or coverage changes in this revision.
Supervisory Protocol Coverage Requirements
Supervisory protocol coverage requirements
Requirements for supervisee services to be eligible for reimbursement under BCBSRI:
ALL of the following
- Documentation of the supervising clinician being credentialed with BCBSRI.
- A written policy addressing the supervisory protocol utilized at the clinic.
- The process by which documentation of the patient’s overall treatment (assessment, treatment plan, and any changes to the diagnosis) is reviewed by the supervising BCBSRI‑credentialed provider(s).
- A clear process for informing the patient that a clinician who is not credentialed with BCBSRI is providing the service and documentation of the patient’s awareness of same.
- A process that supports the supervisor(s) and the supervisee meeting on a regular basis, in accordance with Rhode Island Department of Health guidelines.
- The supervising clinician’s Tax ID and National Provider Identifier (NPI).
Claim Modifiers and Coding for Supervisee Services
| HO | Modifier to indicate services rendered by an LCSW, MHC-A, or MFT-A |
| HP | Modifier to indicate services rendered by a Post Doctorate Clinician |
Submission, Approval, and Notification Requirements
Submit supervisory protocol and obtain BCBSRI approval before supervisee provides reimbursable services
Credentialed outpatient providers must submit a supervisory protocol and receive BCBSRI approval before an LCSW, Postdoctoral clinician, MHC-A, or MFT-A may render reimbursable services. Send the supervisory protocol to Behavioralhealth@bcbsri.org and include the required documentation elements listed by BCBSRI.
- Documentation that the supervising clinician is credentialed with BCBSRI
- A written clinic supervisory policy describing the supervisory protocol
- Process for supervisory review of patient treatment documentation (assessment, treatment plan, and diagnosis changes)
- Process for informing the patient that a non‑credentialed clinician is providing services and documentation of the patient’s awareness
- Process supporting regular supervisor–supervisee meetings consistent with Rhode Island Department of Health guidelines
- Supervising clinician Tax ID and NPI
Notify Behavioral Health Utilization Management of admissions when required
Notification of admission is required for some behavioral health outpatient professional services; providers must contact BCBSRI's Behavioral Health Utilization Management to notify admissions.
- Contact Behavioral Health Utilization Management at 800-274-2958 for required admission notifications
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