July 10th, 2026:

 

To our clients and our community:

 

We want to share some important information with you about an upcoming change from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan that may affect mental health coverage across the state. We believe you deserve to hear about it directly from us, clearly and early, so you have plenty of time to understand it and ask questions.

 

First, the most important thing: nothing is changing right now. This does not take effect until March 1, 2027. Your care with us continues exactly as it is today, and any services billed through Blue Cross will continue as normal through the end of February 2027. There is no immediate action you need to take, and no interruption to your care in the meantime.

 

Beginning March 1, 2027, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan plans to stop reimbursing for therapy provided by limited licensed clinicians in private and group practices like ours. A limited license is not a sign that a therapist is unqualified. Every one of these clinicians holds a master's degree and has completed years of education and supervised clinical training. It is simply the required stage that every therapist in Michigan passes through on the way to full licensure. Depending on who your provider is, this change could affect whether your care with us is covered by Blue Cross after that date.

 

Unfortunately, with this change, there is a chance some clients could lose insurance coverage for their care because of this. At the same time, we want you to know that we are going to work hard to minimize that impact as much as we possibly can. Our whole field is paying close attention to this, and we are committed to doing everything within our power to protect your access to care.

 

We have attached two local news stories so you can learn more. One covers the impact this change will have on access to therapy. The other covers its impact on access to psychiatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants for medication management. While we do not provide medication management at our practice, we felt this was important information to pass along, since it may affect your overall care or that of someone you love.

 

What this could mean for you and for our community: If your provider is affected and no coverage solution is reached, clients across the state could face having to switch providers, join community mental health waitlists, or pay out of pocket for continued care. Michigan already has a shortage of mental health providers, and this change stands to make access harder at a time when more people than ever are seeking support. We share this not to alarm you, but because being informed is what allows you to advocate for yourself.

 

Your voice matters! We are hopeful that this decision is not final, and the people most likely to influence it are the members and employers who pay for this coverage. If you feel moved to speak up, here is how you can help:

 

• Contact Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan directly as a member and let them know you do not want to lose access to your therapist.

• If you receive your Blue Cross insurance through your employer, contact your HR or benefits department and let them know this change concerns you. Employers who purchase these plans have a meaningful voice with Blue Cross.

• If you feel compelled, reach out to your state representative, state senator, and members of Congress and let them know this policy will affect your access to mental health care. You can find your state legislators at senate.michigan.gov and house.mi.gov, and your congressional representatives at congress.gov. Tell them you are a constituent and that this matters to you.

 

Please know that practitioners and professional associations across our field are advocating hard on your behalf. We are hopeful that this change can be stopped, or that a workable solution can be reached. Blue Cross is ultimately the decision maker here, but that is not stopping us from doing everything we can.

 

We will keep you informed as we learn more, and we will reach out with any updates or changes as they come. If you have questions about how this might affect you specifically, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here for you, and we are not going anywhere.

 

https://www.clickondetroit.com/video/news/2026/06/08/michigan-mental-health-care-workers-concerned-bcbsm-billing-change-could-cut-access-to-counselors-anoAs/

 

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2026/06/29/bcbsm-billing-change-could-limit-access-to-mental-health-care-psychiatric-offices-say/

 

Thank you for trusting us with your care.

 

Sincerely, 

 

Emily Wezner-Stepaniak, LPC, NCC

Practice Director & Owner 

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Resources for those insured by BCBSM, and for Providers

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Statewide Policy Impact Assessment (current as of July 30, 2026)

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