Psychologists Need to Join the Medical Provider Network
All Washington psychologists must join the Medical Provider Network (MPN) to continue treating injured workers and be paid for services. Psychologists who do not join the MPN will not be able to treat workers beyond the initial visit after June 30, 2025.
As the result of a new law, psychologists can be attending providers (AP) for workers compensation cases with solely mental health conditions. This change will be effective July 1, 2025.
Changes going into effect include:
- Psychologists currently providing care must join the MPN in order to continue treating workers as they do today.
- Psychologists treating workers with physical injuries must also join the MPN to continue delivering care after June 30, 2025.
- Psychologists who do not join the L&I MPN will be limited to performing initial visits on solely mental health cases. Psychologists will not be able to conduct an initial visit if any physical conditions are contended.
- Psychologists can be an Attending Provider (AP) on solely mental health workers compensation cases.
Application processing for psychologists is now open. To allow time for credentialing and avoid payment denials, please submit your application as soon as possible.
Psychologists fall into three categories for the application process. Choose the scenario that applies to you and follow the instructions provided:
Psychologists who have an active L&I provider account
Complete these required forms and attachments:
- Complete the following forms:
Washington Practitioner - Attestation (F245-479-000)Authorization and Release of Information (F245-480-000)Provider Agreement (F245-397-000)
- Include proof of:
- Training and Education (CV, copy of transcripts, or copy of diploma)
- Malpractice Insurance
- Include your NPI number on forms and in email message.
- Email the forms and documents to: PsychologistAP@Lni.wa.gov
Psychologists who are new to L&I or no longer have an active account
Complete these required forms and attachments:
- Apply electronically through ProviderOne
- Complete the following forms:
Washington Practitioner - Attestation (F245-479-000)Authorization and Release of Information (F245-480-000)Provider Agreement (F245-397-000)
- Include proof of:
- Training and Education (CV, copy of transcripts, or copy of diploma)
- Malpractice Insurance
- Include your NPI number on forms and in email message.
- Email the forms and documents to: PsychologistAP@Lni.wa.gov
Psychologists who belong to delegate organizations
If you work for one of these organizations, no actions are needed.
- Confluence Health (Wenatchee Valley Medical & Central Health Association)
- Evergreen Health
- Franciscan Health
- Kaiser WA & Kaiser NW
- MultiCare
- Optum Care (The Everett Clinic and Polyclinic)
- Pacific Medical Clinics
- PeaceHealth
- Proliance Surgeons
- Providence Health & Services
- Skagit Regional Health
- Swedish Medical Group
- UW Med UW Physicians
- UW Med University of Washington
- UW Medicine Harborview
- UW Med Valley Medical Center
- Virginia Mason
- Western Washington Medical Group
- Yakima Valley Farm Workers
Questions?
Email: PsychologistAP@Lni.wa.gov
Attending Provider Role Definition
Psychologists will be able to serve as attending providers (APs) on cases solely for mental health beginning July 1, 2025. On worker compensation claims for solely mental health conditions, psychologist attending providers can:
- File Report of Accident
- Certify time-loss and set work restrictions
- Perform consultations
- Facilitate return to work
- Refer for other treatment
- Determine maximum medical improvement (MMI)
- Review and comment on job analyses
- File reopening applications
- Perform initial mental health evaluations
- Respond to independent medical examinations (IMEs) concurrence letters
Psychologist APs cannot do impairment ratings.
| Agency or Topic | Tools and Information |
| Authorization and Reporting Requirements | Review Reporting and Authorization for Mental Health Providers to find the following information:
|
| File a Report of Accident | Learn how: Filling Out a Report of Accident (ROA) Also includes information about filing the ROA online or using paper forms and provides links to ROA forms in other languages |
| Forms | Forms for applying to the Medical Provider Network: Washington Practitioner Application – Authorization and Release of Information (F245-480-000) Washington Practitioner Application - Attestation (F245-479-000) Provider Agreement (F245-397-000) |
| MARFS | Fee Schedules and Payment Policies (MARFS) |
| Mental Health Services | The Mental Health Services webpage offers the following information: |
| Related rules (WACs) |
|
Psychologists can soon be Attending Providers!
A new law will allow psychologists to serve as attending providers (AP) on workers’ compensation cases with solely mental health conditions. In this role, you will direct and coordinate patient care and actively participate in helping workers return to work. Like our medical peers, this new role requires us to join L&I’s Medical Provider Network (MPN) to provide ongoing or concurrent care. For those of you who are currently treating workers, even if you do not plan to serve as APs, you will need to join the MPN to continue providing the care you currently deliver.
The enrollment tab on this webpage describes what you need to do to join the MPN. I urge you to get your MPN application materials in as soon as you can as missing the deadline will stop payments and authorizations. We want to ensure continuity of care for your patients. Please apply timely and remember, we are here to help you.
As L&I’s first Associate Medical Director for Psychology, I’m excited to represent our profession in policy discussions and decisions. A major part of my job is to improve mental healthcare delivery to Washington workers and support providers.
Throughout my career as a rehabilitation psychologist, I’ve focused on improving health, quality of life, and outcomes after injury, illness, and chronic health conditions. I’ve worked in public health, academic medicine, and independent practice settings. Having been an L&I provider, I understand the challenges our mental healthcare providers experience balancing patient care and workers’ compensation requirements.
Please, do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Jutte, PhD, ABPP, MPH
Board Certified in Rehabilitation Psychology
Associate Medical Director for Psychology
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
All providers who can serve as attending providers are required to be credentialed into the L&I Medical Provider Network. The credentialing process ensures high quality providers are delivering care to workers.
An attending provider is the primary coordinator of the care and treatment for the workers industrial injury or occupational disease. They coordinate referrals for additional care, and certify the need for additional benefits such as wage replacement. Workers have the right to choose as well as change their attending provider.
The L&I payment policy is found at: Medical Aid Rules & Fee Schedules (MARFS)
Chapter 2 - Information for All Providers
Chapter 17 - Mental Health Services
The fee schedule is updated annually and effective July 1 of each year.
Payment for treatment beyond an initial visit cannot be issued if you have not applied to be part of the MPN after June 30, 2025. If a psychologist does not join the MPN, effective July 1, 2025, they will only be allowed to provide the initial visit only on cases solely for mental health (where no physical condition is or has been present) until their application is received and processed.
You can still join the MPN to treat workers and be an AP after June 30, 2025. Applications to the MPN July 1, 2025, and beyond will need to be started through ProviderOne.
No. You may not treat a worker. However, you can provide an initial visit on solely mental health claims which allows you to file the Report of Accident (ROA - for State Fund claims) or the Self-Insurance Accident Report (SIF-2). The worker must seek care from an MPN provider for treatment. If the worker needs treatment or ongoing care, they must transfer to an MPN psychologist.
Billing information can be found on the public website at Billing L&I.
General billing workshops are taught monthly. Register to attend at: Billing Workshops.
Referrals and authorizations are not required for the initial visit. Treatment after the initial visit requires 90-day pre-authorizations. This means that every 90 days the mental health provider must substantiate the need for continued treatment and request authorization.
WAC 296-20-01002 defines “initial visit” in Washington workers’ compensation as:
“The first visit to a health care provider during which the Report of Industrial Injury or Occupational Disease (ROA) is completed and the worker files a claim for workers’ compensation.”
The associated code for ROA/PIR is 1040M. Providers should also bill the code that most accurately represents the service performed (typically 90791 for evaluation). There is only one initial visit per claim.
When a worker already has an established claim with an attending provider and is seeing a psychologist for the first time, the psychologist will not bill for an initial visit or fill out an ROA. However, a mental health evaluation is required before initiating treatment. Prior authorization would be required for this type of visit. The psychologist should bill the code most accurately reflecting the service performed (typically 90791 for evaluation). Psychologists may perform initial visits on solely mental health claims without prior authorization. All other mental health services require prior-authorization.
Yes, a prior authorization must be obtained for all mental health visits unless it is the initial visit to establish a solely mental health claim.
No. Serving as the attending provider is optional. However, all psychologists must join the MPN to provide treatment beyond the initial visit.
No. Psychologists can only be the attending provider on claims solely with mental health conditions – no physical condition(s) allowed at any point during the life of the claim.
Industrial insurance is a medical-legal system funded by premiums paid by employers and workers. Workers’ compensation benefits are awarded and paid by the insurer according to the laws of Washington State. Documentation from providers proves the legal need for continued benefits including medical care and wage replacement. All providers, regardless of service rendered, are required to document all services and only render services related to the claim that are billable under the claim. Documentation is required across provider types for every billed service.