Provision of Mental Health Counseling Services Under TRICARE (2010)

7–6. Behavioral health practitioner

….

c. Scope of practice. Individuals will practice within the guidelines of their respective State licensing boards as LPCs [Licensed Professional Counselors] (or equivalent) or, if offered by their State, a license for master’s-level psychology graduates such as psychological associate or licensed mental health provider. Behavioral health practitioners adhere to the State LPC or psychology licensing board’s code of ethics and conduct. Specific clinical privileges are granted based upon training, experience, and competency. In general, behavioral health practitioners will—

1. Conduct screening evaluations, utilizing information from clinical interviews, nonpsychometric tests, and collateral sources, as appropriate.

2. Determine a provisional diagnosis according to the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

3. Provide individual and group behavioral health treatment within the scope of practice/privileges granted.

4. Manage the behavioral health care of patients and refer those having needs beyond their scope of practice.

5. Serve as collaborator in human behavioral issues with, and consultant to, community agencies, health care providers, and organizational leaders.

d. Supervision.

1. Master’s level graduates who have recently (within the past year) obtained a master’s level license such as an LPC or psychological associate license, will be fully supervised during their first year of employment as a behavioral health practitioner.

2. LPCs or psychological associates with 2 or more years’ experience (after attaining licensure), will receive general supervision, according to the individual’s level of competence, as assessed by his/her supervisor.

3. LPCs or psychological associates with more than 2 years’ experience and with post-master’s work leading to a specialty degree, will require supervision in their specialty with difficult, high-risk cases, or for cases in which one or more of the patient’s problems fall outside the scope of the counselor’s specialty.

US Army. 2009. Army Regulation 40–68. Medical Services. Clinical Quality Management. Rapid Action Revision (RAR) Issue Date May 22, 2009. http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r40_68.pdf. (Accessed October 3, 2009).