Our community fosters and supports a significant Medicaid population from areas around the world. Harrisonburg continues to be a relocation site for refugees from Middle Eastern countries, as well as home to over 60 different dialects. The individual need of each of these low-income families continues to be a need for wrap-around therapeutic services, including Outpatient services. In our area, there is a wait period of about eight (8) weeks before gaining access to a Medicaid Outpatient provider. Eliminating the option for LMHP-e or Residents in Counseling/Social Work to provide Outpatient services will directly impact families, children, and individuals from receiving the care they need.

Services currently being rendered by a Resident in Counseling/Social Work will need to be discharged if this change is approved without adequate transition of services to an alternate provider due to the lack of available clinicians mentioned above. The ACA Code of Ethics, 2014, states "Counselors do not abandon or neglect clients in counseling. Counselors assist in making appropriate arragements for the continuation of treatment..." (A.12.) Forceful discharge of clients receiving services from Residents in Counseling/Social Work will result in harm to the clients, a lapse in treatment for clients with clinical need, and abandonment of treatment. 

Thank you for your consideration of the needs of our community and their right to receive and continue receiving quality, supervised care from our Residents/LMHP-e staff.