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Panel backs bill to let FQHCs bill Medicaid for additional counselors, including LADCs
Summary
SB300 would codify federal Medicaid rules allowing federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) to be reimbursed for services from additional master's‑level behavioral health providers; FirstMed and the Nevada Primary Care Association testified in support, saying it would expand capacity.
Sen. Marilyn Dondero Loop presented Senate Bill 300 to the committee as a measure to align Nevada law with federal Medicaid rules expanded in 2023. She said the bill would ensure Medicaid coverage for services performed at federally qualified health centers by a broader set of master’s‑level behavioral health professionals, including licensed alcohol and drug counselors (LADCs), licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselors (LADC), professional counselors and others added to the approved provider list.
"This bill aims to codify the existing federal requirement that Medicaid cover services performed by the listed professionals as it was amended in 2023," Dondero Loop told the committee.
Why it matters: Supporters said the change would help FQHCs — many of which already provide integrated behavioral health — expand the workforce they can hire and be paid for, easing waitlists and improving access, particularly for children in foster care and patients with substance use disorders.
Key testimony and details:
- Helen Foley, board chair of FirstMed Health and Wellness (an FQHC), described FirstMed’s high behavioral‑health demand: "Annually FirstMed has about 40,000 individual encounters... 60 percent of those require mental health services."
- Angela Quinn, CEO of FirstMed, said FirstMed serves about 10,000 patients annually, operates three clinics with a fourth opening on the Childhaven campus, and currently cannot obtain Medicaid reimbursement for certain counselor types the bill would add.
- Sarah Adler (representing Vitality Unlimited and the Nevada Opioid Treatment Association) told the committee the bill’s expansion to LADCs and LCADCs matters because those clinicians have advanced training in substance use disorder treatment and co‑occurring mental health care.
- Steve Messinger of the Nevada Primary Care Association supported the bill, noting that FQHC behavioral healthcare visits increased 58 percent from 2018 to 2023 and that the measure targets services for vulnerable communities.
Opposition/neutral: None recorded in committee testimony. The bill sponsor recommended a friendly technical amendment addressing a drafting issue in federal citations.
Outcome at hearing: The hearing closed following support testimony and the sponsor’s brief closing remarks; the measure moved on for committee consideration.
Ending note: Supporters emphasized workforce expansion and the ability of FQHCs to use Medicaid reimbursement to hire more master’s‑level counselors and reduce waitlists.
