HHO Reverses Decision To Reduce Reimbursement Rate to Nurse Practitioners and Other APRNs Providing Mental Health Care in Delaware

On Thursday, April 27, 2023, Delaware State Representative Melissa Minor-Brown announced that Highmark Health Options (HHO) reversed their earlier decision to reduce reimbursement rates to PMHNPs and APRNs providing mental health services. Early in 2023, HHO reduced reimbursement rates to these providers to 85% of the physician rate. Prior to 2023, HHO reimbursed PMHNPs and mental health APRNs at 100% of the physician rate. After intensive lobbying during the days prior to April 27, 2023, by the advance practice registered nurse community in Delaware including Susan Conaty-Buck DNP, FNP-C, FAANP, Past President of the Delaware Coalition of Nurse Practitioners (DCNP), Christopher Otto, Executive Director of the Delaware Nurses Association (DNA) and Bradley Why, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, HHO decided to re-establish the reimbursement rate at 100% going forward and to retroactively reimburse APRNs including nurse practitioners for mental health care provided earlier in 2023.

DCNP wishes to thank and congratulate Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall Long, Representative Melissa Minor-Brown, Dr. Conaty-Buck, Christopher Otto, Dr. Bradley Why and all the APRNs who were instrumental in obtaining this gratifying outcome.