Does Denver Health CHP+ Allow Supervised Therapy Billing?

Yes, conditionally: Denver Health Medical Plan’s March 2026 provider manual permits supervisory billing for services by unlicensed or provisionally licensed practitioners when applicable law, payer policy and credentialing requirements are met. Its suggested CMS-1500 instructions put the actual service performer’s individual NPI in Box 24J, even when supervised, and the credentialed supervising provider or group in Box 33. This is not a blanket instruction to replace an associate’s NPI with the supervisor’s.

This article applies that plan-level notice to the identified Elevate Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) product, not every plan with Denver Health in its name. The current 2026 CHP+ member handbook’s sample member card on page 9 identifies EDI payer 84135. The provider manual includes CHP+ among the plan’s products and states its general scope unless otherwise specified. Sources were retrieved October 30, 2026.

Does the notice specifically approve LPCCs, LSWs or MFT candidates?

The supervisory notice describes unlicensed and provisionally licensed practitioners as categories; it does not provide a license-by-license eligibility table for LPCCs, LSWs, marriage and family therapist candidates or students. Therefore, the supported answer is a conditional supervised-billing pathway, not an affirmative determination that every one of those categories may provide each CHP+ psychotherapy service. The individual must satisfy the applicable profession, service and credentialing requirements.

Whose NPI belongs on the claim?

On pages 7–8, the manual labels its CMS-1500 guidance as suggested billing: Box 24J identifies the individual who actually performed the service using that person’s individual NPI, including supervised practitioners. Box 33 identifies the credentialed supervising provider or group legally responsible for billing and payment. These are distinct roles. The notice does not supply a complete 837P implementation guide or authorize using an unqualified individual simply because that person has an NPI.

What supervision evidence must the record contain?

The manual lists the supervisor’s name and NPI, the type of supervision, the frequency of review or sign-off, and supervisor attestation or co-signature when required. It warns that unsupported supervision can lead to recoupment. It does not establish a universal amount of face-to-face supervision or a universal modifier; those questions remain subject to the applicable clinical, service and claims rules.

Is CHP+ behavioral health handled like Denver Health Medicaid?

No. DHMP’s provider authorization page lists CHP+ behavioral health among the lines managed by DHMP. It separately directs Medicaid behavioral health to Colorado Access and says DHMP cannot authorize or reimburse the capitated or wraparound fee-for-service behavioral health services described there. Do not carry the CHP+ answer or payer ID into that Medicaid route.

Can an unlicensed student’s therapy be billed through this notice?

The notice alone does not establish student-specific therapy eligibility. It requires compliance with law, payer policy and credentialing and accurate identification of the actual performer. It does not say that enrolling a group, obtaining an NPI or having a licensed supervisor makes every student’s therapy reimbursable. A student placement needs its own applicable program and service authority.

What must be resolved for an actual CHP+ visit?

Confirm the exact clinician designation and approved role for the covered service, the member’s CHP+ benefits, the practitioner and group’s participation, any authorization requirement, and the clinical supervision arrangement. Use current claim instructions to implement the manual’s actual-performer guidance. The manual also warns that supervised services may be reimbursed at a lower rate; it does not specify one universal reduction.

Primary sources

DHMP Provider Manual — March 2026, pages 3 and 7–8

Elevate CHP+ 2026 Member Handbook — sample card, page 9

DHMP provider prior authorization and behavioral health routing

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Denver Health notice say to bill every supervised session under the supervisor’s rendering NPI?

No. Its suggested CMS-1500 guidance identifies the actual performer in Box 24J, even when supervised. The credentialed supervisor or group is identified in Box 33.

Is an LPCC automatically approved for CHP+ psychotherapy?

The notice does not give an LPCC-specific eligibility decision. It permits supervised billing conditionally, subject to the exact role, service, law and credentialing requirements.

Does payer 84135 establish Denver Health Medicaid behavioral health permission?

No. The current official card ties 84135 to Elevate CHP+. Medicaid behavioral health routing is separately described by DHMP and cannot be inferred from the CHP+ card.