The DNP Dispatch
Practice News You Need To Know

If you accept credit or debit card payments — whether for therapy sessions, copays, or supervision fees — you’re part of the Payment Card Industry (PCI) ecosystem. PCI compliance means following the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) — a set of security requirements designed to protect cardholder data and reduce fraud. These standards apply to everyone who stores, processes, or transmits card information, including small healthcare practices.

The mental health tech boom has promised clinicians simpler credentialing, faster payments, and access to large insurance networks. Companies like Headway, Alma, and Rula (formerly Path) have marketed themselves as friendly practice-building partners. But behind the branding is a reality every provider should understand: these companies are heavily funded by—and increasingly intertwined with—the very insurance giants that control how (and how much) clinicians get paid.

On August 21, 2025, Missouri nurse practitioner Marcy Markes filed a landmark lawsuit against the state, challenging the requirement that nurse practitioners (NPs) enter into Collaborative Practice Agreements (CPAs) with physicians.

Cigna has announced a controversial new reimbursement rule that could dramatically impact physicians and advanced practice providers across the country. Beginning October 1, 2025, Cigna will implement a policy called “Evaluation & Management Coding Accuracy (R49).”

Starting and running a mental health practice today means embracing technology. Virtual practice tools are no longer optional - they are...

As a mental health practice, you may rely on independent contractors like nurse practitioners (NPs) and therapists to provide essential...