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Committee hears testimony to restore LLPC title for limited counselors in Michigan
Summary
Witnesses told the House Health Policy Committee that a 2019 change to counselor licensing terminology created confusion with the business acronym "LLC" and urged the panel to support House Bill 4981 to restore the limited licensed professional counselor (LLPC) designation.
The House Health Policy Committee heard testimony supporting House Bill 4981, which would amend the Michigan Public Health Code to redesignate "limited licensed counselors" (LLC) as "limited licensed professional counselors" (LLPC).
Representative Fairbairn, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the change aims to "provide greater clarity of meaning, professional identity, and alignment of Michigan's public health terminology with that of many other states." He said the redesignation would reduce confusion for clients and providers.
Carol Berger, secretary of the Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association, described the change as an inadvertent result of 2019 Public Act 96 and said the LLC abbreviation has caused practical problems: "When our counselors use LLC after their names, it creates confusion among clients seeking mental health services, insurance companies processing claims, other healthcare providers making referrals, professional credentialing bodies, and the general public." Berger asked the committee to "support House Bill 4981, which would restore the limited licensed professional counselor or LLPC designation."
Berger and Fairbairn noted that Michigan now differs from most other states on this point and that about 34 states are part of the counseling compact referenced in testimony. The chair said there were no committee questions and indicated support for moving the bill forward. The clerk also noted a written card from Gabe Massell of Blue Cross Blue Shield registered in support but not wishing to speak.
No formal motion to report HB 4981 was recorded in the committee transcript; the committee took testimony and signaled willingness to proceed to committee actions later in the process. The committee adjourned after voting on other items on the agenda.
