Provider types · Behavioral health
LPC Credentialing Services
Licensed professional counselors enroll in Medicare as mental health counselors. Marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors can bill Medicare directly since 1/1/2024.
Medicare
CMS requires a master's or doctor's degree that qualifies for licensure or certification as a mental health counselor, clinical professional counselor or professional counselor; at least 2 years or 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised clinical experience; and a state license or certification.
Addiction counselors and alcohol and drug counselors who meet all of the mental health counselor requirements may enroll in Medicare as mental health counselors.
Texas Medicaid
An LPC must be licensed and must be enrolled in Medicare or obtain a pediatric practice exemption. Providers who hold a temporary license are not eligible to enroll.
Enrollment in Texas Medicaid comes before any Medicaid managed care plan can enroll you; each plan then contracts and credentials separately.
Licensure
Professional counselors in Texas are licensed through the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC).
Sources
- CMS: Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors
- TMHP Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual
- Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council
Payers and agencies set their own review pace, so we do not promise outcomes or dates. What we control is a complete, accurate file and steady follow-up.
Talk it through with a specialist.
Ask about your payers, your providers and your scope.