LPC and Medicare in NJ (insurance, homes, employment)

[le7k]

I am choosing between getting a MSW of a Masters in Mental Heath Counseling (leading to an LPC). My understanding is that Medicare in NJ does not cover LPC's. Does anyone know if this is something that is likely to change in the near future?
Do any other major insurances provide coverage for LPC's?
Are there any LPC's who are currently working in NJ who can tell me if this is affecting their employment opportunites, etc?

Thank you very much!

[jerseyj]

I don't know if LCP's can bill Medicare in NJ, LCSW's (with graduate degrees) can as well as ACSW's. You might want to check this association-http://www.naswnj.org/

[jerseyj]

It might also help to contact UMDJ, Carlos Pratt Ph.D-http://shrp.umdnj.edu/programs/psyc/index.html

He might be able to help you with some of your questions.
Good Luck!

[NJNJNJ]

I will be getting my LPC in several years and choose to do the counseling route vs. the social work route due to the different theoritical and training approaches of the two degrees.

I have been told by some that LPC's do not get reimbursed, but most of my friends in private practice do not that have that problem. I know the ACA is working on getting medicare to reimburse LPC's and I think in the near future it will happen (like how LPC are now reimbursement by most insurance companies and 10 years ago they were not...the government also recongizes us as experts in the Mental Health Profession).

Some things to consider with going forward:

If you do get a counseling degree, make sure you go to a CACREP program. It has been suggested that eventually only graduetes from CACREP programs can get liscened in NJ and also CACREP graduates may eventually ( a big IF) have national transfereable liscensure.

Many of my friends do not take insurance and offer a cheaper rate instead due to: 1) the paperwork with insurance companies is so time consuming, it isn't worth the money 2) many times insurance companies have an extremely limited number of sessions, which can help some clients but can not help all clients - sometimes they dictate as well the type of treatment for a certain diagnosis -

Many clients actually do not use their insurance due to 1) confidentiality 2) many people do not want to be diagnosed just so they can use their insurance

Sometimes people will tell you LPC's are not qualified to deliver mental health services vs. social workers. I have worked in many different health settings (hospitals, schools, group homes, etc) and have not found this to be the case. It is so much more based on the individual and the educational program they came from. Some mental health professionals (psychologists, social workers, etc) will say LPC's do not have the proper training when LPC's do have it. LPC's are newer to the field and sometimes mental health professionals see this is a threat of more competition and losing reimbursement from insurance. It is more important for all types of mental health providers to ban together to deliver great services for our clients. My friends who are social workers and psychologists do not hold this view negative view of LPC's - but I have met some that do.

If healthcare is nationallized in this country - that potentially may have huge implications on insurance reimburesments for therapy.