Is it true that starting January 1, 2016, that only social workers who are counselors/therapists will be reimbursed by Tricare? So all those who are seeing therapists with degrees in counseling will have to switch to a new counselor with a social work degree who accepts Tricare (for mental health services)?
NWIP
And we are suppose to know this how exactly? You CALL TRICARE, if it means staying on hold then you do it, 10 minutes is nothing. Mondays are often busy so try another day.
Part of this is because of federal regulations that were passed in 2011.
"As of December 27, 2011, a federal regulation was issued that specifies independent practice requirements for mental health counselors operating under the TRICARE program. While this change is currently in effect, TRICARE recently extended the deadline for TRICARE certified mental health counselors (TCMHCs) to meet updated independent practice requirements from January 1, 2015 to January 1, 2017. Therefore, the old and new requirement standards will run parallel until January 1, 2017."
The counselors MUST have a Master's Degree or higher from a mental health program.
?
haven't heard that one. all i know is someone who is counseling only needs to be qualified and licensed to do so, and that was the criteria for getting paid. i don't know WHY they would ALSO have to be a 'social worker'. call tricare. that is news to me.
Houd1n1
Why don't you contact Tricare?