Credentialing in South Carolina

None, "Behavioral health services" sits in the MCO medical-services benefit for Healthy Connections managed-care members; there is no separate statewide BHO/ASO.

SCDHHS, Managed Care Carve-in · checked Jul 2026

SC Medicaid is Healthy Connections, run by the SC Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS); providers enroll through SCDHHS provider enrollment (MMIS, provider.scdhhs.gov). State enrollment and MCO credentialing are two steps. Once a member's continuity window closes, "providers must be enrolled with the MCO in which the Healthy Connections Medicaid member is enrolled."

SCDHHS, Managed Care Carve-in · checked Jul 2026

The five Healthy Connections MCOs are Absolute Total Care, Healthy Blue by BlueChoice of SC, Molina Healthcare of South Carolina, First Choice by Select Health, and Humana Healthy Horizons of SC.

SCDHHS, Healthy Connections Medicaid Managed Care · checked Jul 2026

For SC Medicaid, associates bill under the supervisor: "Medicaid reimbursement may be sought for services rendered by a LPC Associate or LMFT Associate under the direct supervision of a [LPC/S or LMFT/S]… The LPC/S or LMFT/S is responsible for all services rendered, fees charged and reimbursement received… must co-sign all session notes… direct supervision means… same location… immediately accessible." The claim carries the supervising independent clinician's NPI/credentials, billing the associate's own NPI risks denial or recoupment.

SCDHHS LIP Rehabilitative Services Provider Manual (archived copy, 2025-12-12) · checked Jul 2026

LPCs, MFTs and addiction counselors share one SC LLR board, the Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists, which issues a two-year "Associate" tier (LPC-A, LMFT-A) that practices only under an approved clinical-supervision plan. Clinical social workers (LISW-CP) are under the separate SC Board of Social Work Examiners.

SC LLR, Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, MFTs, Addiction Counselors & Psycho-Educational Specialists · checked Jul 2026

South Carolina is a Counseling Compact member (enacted 2024; on the counselingcompact.gov jurisdictions list) but was not yet issuing privileges as of July 2026.

Counseling Compact, Compact Jurisdictions · checked Jul 2026

"Effective Jan. 1, 2026, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) added some Healthy Connections Medicaid members to the managed care service delivery model": adults 18+ dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid, enrollees of the HIV/AIDS, Mechanical Ventilator (Vent), and Community Choices waivers, and nursing-facility residents now enroll in an MCO for medical services. Waiver and nursing-facility services themselves remain FFS ("all waiver and nursing facility services will be authorized and paid through the fee-for-service (FFS) delivery model"). During a 180-day continuity-of-care period MCOs must honor prior authorizations and pay 100% of the Medicaid FFS rate in- or out-of-network; after it, the provider must be enrolled with the member's MCO.

SCDHHS, Managed Care Carve-in · checked Jul 2026

SC delivers Medicaid behavioral health through three provider tracks: Community Mental Health (CMH) Services via the SC Department of Mental Health community mental health centers, Licensed Independent Practitioners (LIP) Rehabilitative Services for independently-licensed clinicians (LPC, LMFT, LISW-CP, psychologists), and Rehabilitative Behavioral Health Services (RBHS) for agency/rehab-option providers. A solo BH clinician typically enrolls on the LIP track and then contracts with the MCOs.

SCDHHS, Licensed Independent Practitioners (LIP) Rehabilitative Services Provider Manual · checked Jul 2026