Mental Health Provider Levels

Categorization of mental health providers is based on their level of training/education. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) recognizes three levels of mental health providers: level I, level II and level III.

Provisional Providers

All provisional providers must be supervised by an in-network, qualified physician or licensed clinical psychologist or as otherwise permitted by state law. The provisional provider’s network status is directly tied to the participating status of the supervising provider and is subject to change if the provisional provider has a change in supervisor or billing Tax ID.

CMSW or Certified Professional Counselors performing mental health services who are not LMHPs are included in this definition.   

Once the provisional provider receives their full/active LMHP, LADC, LCSW, CMSW, PhD or PsyD, their provisional license becomes void, and BCBSNE will terminate the provisional status. The provisional provider will then need to be credentialed as a new provider.   

Note: If there are two therapists present in either an individual session or a group session, only one therapist can bill for their services.  
  
In the event that a supervising provider terminates their agreement with BCBSNE, the provisional provider must use another supervising provider that is in-network for claims to process as in-network.