Conversation 45 - Unity & Community: Interprofessional Collaboration

Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to lose a mental health workforce is to bury it in paperwork. We sit down with Michael Desposito from the Ohio Counseling Association and Matthew Tippett from NASW Ohio to talk about what’s happening right now in Ohio’s insurance and legislative landscape and why it directly affects whether counselors and social workers can afford to stay in the field. From reimbursement pressure to mounting administrative burden, we connect the day-to-day reality of clinical practice to the policies being shaped at the Statehouse.  We dig into the value of showing up together through the Ohio Behavioral Health Providers for Insurance Advocacy Coalition and why a united front changes the conversation with legislators. You’ll hear a clear look at “provider-friendly” bills and what they’re trying to fix, including clawback limits like Senate Bill 162, Medicaid overhaul concerns tied to Senate Bill 315, and the looming uncertainty of federal Medicaid changes. We also break down what “lame duck” means in Ohio’s two-year bill cycle and why timing can decide whether reforms move forward or die at the finish line.  We also get practical about mental health parity, what it is meant to protect, and how better documentation can turn a frustrating denial into a meaningful complaint or grievance. Looking ahead, we flag emerging risks like network adequacy gaps, payer contract changes, and the growing push toward AI “therapy” tools that can create harm and steer clients away from real care. If you’ve ever felt removed from advocacy, this conversation is your roadmap for plugging in through OCA, NASW Ohio, and allied partners and using your lived experience as data that policymakers cannot ignore.  Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more Ohio providers can find the tools and context they need to stay sustainable and keep care accessible. Other Resources: https://www.ohiocounseling.org/insurance-advocacy-committee https://www.naswoh.org/page/legislativecommittee Connect with Us on Any/All Socials at our Link Tree! OCA Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling If you’re a counselor in Ohio and would like to get involved as part of production or as a guest, or know someone who might be interested, please email us at [email protected]! **** Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee ·Hosted by Marisa Cargill ·Pre-Production & Coordination by Marisa Cargill ·Editing by Marisa Cargill ·Original music selections by Elijah Satoru Wood