Virginia Association of Clinical Counselors

A Letter to
Government Employees Hospital Association, Inc.
Rick Miles, CEO

June 10, 2006

I am writing to you on behalf of the Virginia Association of Clinical counselors because we believe that your company does not reimburse the services of licensed professional counselors (or licensed mental health counselors as we are sometimes called).  I am hopeful that your company would be willing to consider revising its policies to include members of our profession.  Doing so may have some economic advantages to your business, while improving your policyholders' access to skilled mental health professionals.

Virginia has a proud reputation as the first state to license professional counselors, who are now licensed in 48 states.  Virginia law (see Appendices) recognizes licensed professional counselors as independent mental health professionals who are to be reimbursed as would be psychologists, clinical social workers, or psychiatrists.  In fact, our credentials are sometimes superior to some of the professions you currently reimburse.  Yet, our rates are typically lower than those of our colleagues in the psychiatry or psychology professions and our members typically employ a short-term treatment perspective.

By recognizing members of my profession, your company can obtain access to quality mental health care at affordable rates.  I am forwarding a copy of my letter to American Mental Health Counselors Association and also to the American Counseling Association, and expect that they will be contacting you as well.  I thank you for considering my proposal and look forward to your response.