FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – Following a recent email to mental healthcare providers, some are worried they could be put out of business.
Jessica Zimmerman with Willow Center for Healing says she received an email from Carelon Behavioral Health, the company now managing benefits under Anthem.
“There are a lot of Hoosiers who carry Anthem insurance, and so essentially you are looking at the potential of massively losing mental health providers for all of those clients in need of mental health support.”
Zimmerman says the email was received by the majority of licensed mental health clinicians in the state, stating that reimbursement rates would decrease.
She says currently, a 53-minute therapy session with a master’s level clinician is reimbursed at around $115.
Zimmerman says the updated rate structure presented in the email would drop rates to $65 regardless of session length.
“Most of us don’t accept Carelon, we’re not in-network providers because their rates are so low and they don’t provide us a livable wage.”
In response to concerns from providers, Anthem issued a statement Tuesday. Anthem says the situation is a misunderstanding – and that the email does not reflect any changes in how therapists are paid.
“We regret that a recent communication to a limited number of Indiana providers has caused confusion and concern among some behavioral health professionals in the state.
We want to clarify that the Carelon behavioral health fee schedule shared in that communication does not impact reimbursement rates or claims processing… For those Indiana care providers treating members with an Anthem health plan. There is no reduction in mental health reimbursement as a result of this contractual update. “
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