I am currently a Resident in Counseling serving my hometown community in Virginia.  Not only do these proposed Medicaid changes affect the range of experiences that I can have as a Resident, but the changes greatly limit the amount of people that will be receiving services that are, at times, underpaid and tightly resourced (but absolutely necessary and important).  Not only are Residents more often able to take on lower-funded jobs in pursuit of licensure, but we are also ready to learn and experience this part of the counseling world, which involves insurance processes specifically.  

In graduating from a CACREP-accredited Masters Program, I feel well-prepared and competent in entering the world of outpatient counseling.  Learning about the processes of Medicaid-funded services has been a wonderful part of my Residency and has been a vital part in the preparation for my future as an LPC.  Without the opportunity for Residents in Counseling to participate in Medicaid-funded outpatient counseling, I wonder where Residents will be able to find experiential learning opportunities in this realm.  Therefore, LPC's that then enter their practices with no experience with Medicaid-funded outpatient counseling will be "starting from scratch" in learning the in's and out's of the Medicaid processes, which may make our LPC's less competent in dealing with Medicaid requirements, paperwork, treatment planning, etc.  Furthermore, what better time is there to learn about these processes than when one is in Residency, with constant supervision, support, and knowledge provided from supervisors and colleagues?

It would be an unfortunate change to the field if Residents were not permitted to participate in outpatient counseling with persons that have Medicaid.  The simple fact that one is on Medicaid benefits, points to the great need of intervention in many forms... outpatient counseling being a very important intervention that could affect many areas of life and well-being.  If Residents in Counseling are not permitted to participate in this, then how many people will lack adequate counseling services?  Enough people on Medicaid lack these services as-is because of a shortage of practitioners that take Medicaid.  These changes will keep many qualified persons from providing much-need and incredibly important care to our community, as well as many other communities in Virginia.

Please reconsider these changes by deeply listening to those who are actively serving in the field and building the future of Virginia's counseling force.