Medicare AdvantageCoverageHigh impact
Important Changes to Board-Registered Associates Billing
PacificSource Health Plans·Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine·Claims & Billing
Effective date
Oct 1, 2026
We identified it
Jul 3, 2026
Summary
Effective October 1, 2026, Board-Registered Associates (BRAs) will no longer be eligible to bill for behavioral health services to PacificSource Commercial and Medicare members. Medicaid is not affected. Practices must transition all impacted members to licensed behavioral health providers by the deadline to maintain billable services.
Action Required
By September 30, 2026: Billing team must audit all active behavioral health cases to identify patients currently receiving services from BRAs. Create a transition plan for each affected member to establish care with a licensed provider. Update billing system to block BRA billing for behavioral health services on October 1, 2026. Providers must communicate transition requirements to members and support continuity of care during the changeover. Claims submitted after October 1, 2026 from BRAs for behavioral health services to Commercial or Medicare members will be denied.