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Committee hears testimony on credentialing delays for behavioral health clinicians; sponsors propose faster timelines
Summary
Providers and advocates told the committee licensed master’s‑level behavioral health clinicians face long private‑insurer credentialing delays that block care and create financial strain for non‑profits; sponsor said the bill would align private insurer timing with Medicaid.
Delegate Chris Grice, sponsor of House Bill 13-51, told the Health and Government Operations Committee that previous legislation had improved behavioral‑health credentialing but that a continuing problem persists: private insurers take months to credential masters‑level clinicians, while Medicaid completes credentialing in roughly 30 days.
Grice said the disparity leaves insured patients unable to access community behavioral‑health services even when qualified clinicians are available. He called the delay “a safety risk” and…
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