2.1 Provider
Certification. A pastoral counselor may provide covered mental health
services upon the referral and under the supervision of a physician.
The pastoral counselor must have the following:
2.1.1 A recognized
graduate professional education with the minimum of an earned master’s
degree from a regionally accredited educational institution in an
appropriate behavioral science field, mental health discipline;
2.1.2 Experience which consists of
either:
2.1.2.1 A combination of:
2.1.2.1.1 Two hundred (200) hours of
approved supervision in the practice of pastoral counseling, ordinarily to
be completed in a two- to three-year period, of which at least 100
hours must be in individual supervision. This supervision will occur
preferably with more than one supervisor and should include a continuous
process of supervision with at least three cases; 1,000 hours of
clinical experience in the practice of pastoral counseling under approved
supervision, involving at least 50 different cases; or
2.1.2.2 A combination of:
2.1.2.2.1 One hundred and fifty (150)
hours of approved supervision in the practice of psychotherapy, ordinarily
to be completed in a two- to three-year period, of which at least
50 hours must be individual supervision; plus at least 50 hours
of approved individual supervision in the practice of pastoral counseling,
ordinarily to be completed within a period of not less than one
nor more than two years; and
2.1.2.2.2 Seven hundred and fifty (750)
hours of clinical experience in the practice of psychotherapy under approved
supervision involving at least 30 cases; plus at least 250 hours
of clinical practice in pastoral counseling under approved supervision,
involving at least 20 cases;
2.1.3 Licensure or certification
as a pastoral counselor:
2.1.3.1 If licensure/certification
is offered by the jurisdiction in which the pastoral counselor is
practicing, it is required in all cases, even if the jurisdiction
offers it on an optional basis.
2.1.3.2 Prior to March 1, 2019, in
jurisdictions that do not offer licensure or certification, a pastoral
counselor must be (or must meet all the requirements to become)
a fellow or diplomate member in the American Association of Pastoral
Counselors (AAPC) as determined by the AAPC. Fellow or diplomate
level pastoral counselors are listed in the AAPC Registry which
can be obtained by writing to the AAPC at 9504-A Lee Highway, Fairfax,
Virginia 22031. Updated membership information may be obtained by
calling the AAPC at (703) 385-6967.
2.1.3.3 Beginning March 1, 2019, in
jurisdictions that do not offer licensure or certification, a pastoral counselor
must be (or meet all the requirements to become) an Association
for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) Psychotherapist, as determined
by the ACPE. ACPE Psychotherapists are listed on the ACPE website
at
https://www.acpe.edu.
2.2 Because of the similarity of
the requirements for licensure, certification, experience and education
a pastoral counselor may elect to be authorized as a certified marriage
and family therapist, and as such, would be subject to all previously
defined criteria for the certified marriage and family therapist
category, to include acceptance of the determined allowable charge
as payment in full, except for applicable deductibles and cost-shares
(i.e., balance billing of a beneficiary above the allowable charge
is prohibited; may not bill beneficiary for noncovered care). The
pastoral counselor must also agree to enter into the same participation
agreement with the Defense Health Agency (DHA) within which the
pastoral counselor agrees to all provisions, including conditions upon
termination, as specified in the
32
CFR 199.6 and outlined in this chapter.
Note: No dual status will be recognized.
Pastoral counselors must elect one category of extramedical providers as
specified above. Once authorized as either a pastoral counselor,
or a certified marriage and family therapist, claims review and
reimbursement will be in accordance with the criteria established
for the elected provider category.
2.3 The services
of an authorized pastoral counselor are covered when:
2.3.1 A physician refers the beneficiary
for therapy;
2.3.2 A physician provides ongoing
oversight and supervision of the therapy; and
2.3.3 On each claim, the pastoral
counselor certifies that a written communication has been (or will
be) made to the referring physician of the results of the treatment.
Such communication will be made at the end of the treatment or more
frequently, as required by the referring physician (see
32
CFR 199.7.