Nurse practitioners worry BCBSM billing change could impact access to psychiatric help

Psychiatric offices say a recent billing change announced by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will impact access to mental health care across the state. The insurance provider says the change is in line with up-to-date guidance.  Local 4 is following the announcement after first covering how a change in “incident-to” billing could specifically impact social workers who provide outpatient mental health counseling in Michigan.  After publishing the first story, several viewers reached out, saying this would also impact nurse practitioners who work in psychiatric offices.  “With incident-to billing, clinics are going to be forced to transfer care from nurse practitioners to psychiatrists,” Emily Williams, the chief operating officer at Serenity Bay Health said.