LINCOLN- Behavioral health providers across Nebraska say a change intended to expand federal health insurance coverage of mental health care has instead put vulnerable patients at risk of losing services. In expanding Medicare’s coverage to some behavioral health services like licensed independent mental health practitioners (LIMHP), providers say the reimbursements they were receiving through Nebraska’s Medicaid program have been slashed dramatically.

That has produced a 50% loss in payments for individuals who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid — so-called “dual eligible” individuals — resulting in losses of thousands of dollars to providers across the state. In turn, those providers have been forced to reduce the number of times they see dual-eligible patients, put those individuals on waiting lists, or cut off services to them altogether.

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