12VAC30-50-130. Nursing facility services, EPSDT, including school health services and family planning.

A. Nursing facility services (other than services in an institution for mental diseases) for individuals 21 years of age or older. Service must be ordered or prescribed and directed or performed within the scope of a license of the practitioner of the healing arts.

B. General provisions for early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment (EPSDT) of individuals younger than 21 years of age, and treatment of conditions found.

1. Payment of medical assistance services shall be made on behalf of individuals younger than 21 years of age who are Medicaid eligible for medically necessary stays in acute care facilities and the accompanying attendant physician care in excess of 21 days per admission when such services are rendered for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of health conditions identified through a physical examination.

2. Reserved.

3. Orthoptics services shall only be reimbursed if medically necessary to correct a visual defect identified by an EPSDT examination or evaluation. DMAS shall place appropriate utilization controls upon this service.

4. Consistent with § 6403 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment services means the following services: screening services, vision services, dental services, hearing services, and such other necessary health care, diagnostic services, treatment, and other measures described in Social Security Act § 1905(a) to correct or ameliorate defects and physical and mental illnesses and conditions discovered by the screening services and that are medically necessary, whether or not such services are covered under the State Plan and notwithstanding the limitations, applicable to recipients 21 years of age and older, provided for by § 1905(a) of the Social Security Act.

C. Community mental health services provided through early and periodic screening diagnosis and treatment (EPSDT) for individuals younger than 21 years of age. These services in order to be covered (i) shall meet medical necessity criteria based upon diagnoses made by LMHPs, LMHP-Rs, LMHP-RPs, and LMHP-Ss who are practicing within the scope of their licenses and (ii) shall be reflected in provider records and on providers' claims for services by recognized diagnosis codes that support and are consistent with the requested professional services.

1. Definitions. The following words and terms when used in this section shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Care coordination" means the collaboration and sharing of information among health care providers involved with an individual's health care to improve the care.

"Caregiver" means the same as defined in 12VAC30-130-5160.

"Child" means an individual ages birth through 11 years.

"Comprehensive needs assessment" means the face-to-face interaction in which the provider obtains information from the youth and parent or other family member, as appropriate, about the youth's mental health status. Requirements for the comprehensive needs assessment are set out in 12VAC30-60-143.

"DBHDS" means the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

"Direct supervisor" means the person who provides direct supervision to the peer recovery specialist. The direct supervisor (i) shall have two consecutive years of documented practical experience rendering peer support services or family support services, have certification training as a PRS under a certifying body approved by DBHDS, and have documented completion of the DBHDS PRS supervisor training; (ii) shall be a qualified mental health professional (QMHP-A, QMHP-C, or QMHP-E) as defined in 12VAC35-105-20 with at least two consecutive years of documented experience as a QMHP, and who has documented completion of the DBHDS PRS supervisor training; or (iii) shall be an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S who has documented completion of the DBHDS PRS supervisor training who is acting within his scope of practice under state law.

"DMAS" means the Department of Medical Assistance Services and its contractors.

"EPSDT" means early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

"Family support partners" means the same as defined in 12VAC30-130-5170.

"Individual service plan" or "ISP" means the same as the term is defined in 12VAC30-50-226.

"Licensed mental health professional" or "LMHP" means the same as defined in 12VAC35-105-20.

"LMHP-resident" or "LMHP-R" means the same as "resident" as defined in (i) 18VAC115-20-10 for licensed professional counselors; (ii) 18VAC115-50-10 for licensed marriage and family therapists; or (iii) 18VAC115-60-10 for licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners. An LMHP-resident shall be in continuous compliance with the regulatory requirements of the applicable counseling profession for supervised practice and shall not perform the functions of the LMHP-R or be considered a "resident" until the supervision for specific clinical duties at a specific site has been preapproved in writing by the Virginia Board of Counseling.

"LMHP-resident in psychology" or "LMHP-RP" means the same as an individual in a residency, as that term is defined in 18VAC125-20-10, program for clinical psychologists. An LMHP-resident in psychology shall be in continuous compliance with the regulatory requirements for supervised experience as found in 18VAC125-20-65 and shall not perform the functions of the LMHP-RP or be considered a "resident" until the supervision for specific clinical duties at a specific site has been preapproved in writing by the Virginia Board of Psychology.

"LMHP-supervisee in social work," "LMHP-supervisee," or "LMHP-S" means the same as "supervisee" as defined in 18VAC140-20-10 for licensed clinical social workers. An LMHP-supervisee in social work shall be in continuous compliance with the regulatory requirements for supervised practice as found in 18VAC140-20-50 and shall not perform the functions of the LMHP-S or be considered a "supervisee" until the supervision for specific clinical duties at a specific site is preapproved in writing by the Virginia Board of Social Work.

"Peer recovery specialist" or "PRS" means the same as defined in 12VAC30-130-5160.

"Peer recovery support services" means the same as defined in 12VAC35-250-10.

"Person centered" means the same as defined in 12VAC30-130-5160.

"Progress notes" means individual-specific documentation that contains the unique differences particular to the individual's circumstances, treatment, and progress that is also signed and contemporaneously dated by the provider's professional staff who have prepared the notes. Individualized and member-specific progress notes are part of the minimum documentation requirements and shall convey the individual's status, staff interventions, and, as appropriate, the individual's progress, or lack of progress, toward goals and objectives in the ISP.

"Psychoeducation" means (i) a specific form of education aimed at helping youth who have mental illness and their family members or caregivers to access clear and concise information about mental illness and (ii) a way of accessing and learning strategies to deal with mental illness and its effects in order to design effective treatment plans and strategies.

"Qualified mental health professional-child" or "QMHP-C" means the same as the term is defined in § 54.1-3500 of the Code of Virginia.

"Qualified mental health professional-eligible" or "QMHP-E" means the same as "qualified mental health professional – trainee" as defined in § 54.1-3500 of the Code of Virginia.

"Recovery-oriented services" means the same as defined in 12VAC30-130-5160.

"Recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan" means the same as defined in 12VAC30-130-5160.

"Resiliency" means the same as defined in 12VAC30-130-5160.

"Self-advocacy" means the same as defined in 12VAC30-130-5160.

"Strength-based" means the same as defined in 12VAC30-130-5160.

"Supervision" means the same as defined in 12VAC30-130-5160.

"Youth" means an individual younger than 21 years of age.

2. Intensive in-home services (IIH) to youth shall be time-limited interventions provided in the youth's residence and when clinically necessary in community settings. All interventions and the settings of the intervention shall be defined in the Individual Service Plan. All IIH services shall be designed to specifically improve family dynamics and provide modeling and the clinically necessary interventions that increase functional and therapeutic interpersonal relations between family members in the home. IIH services are designed to promote psychoeducational benefits in the home setting of a youth who is at risk of being moved into an out-of-home placement or who is being transitioned to home from an out-of-home placement due to a documented medical need of the youth. These services provide crisis treatment; individual and family counseling; communication skills (e.g., counseling to assist the youth and the youth's parents or guardians, as appropriate, to understand and practice appropriate problem solving, anger management, and interpersonal interaction, etc.); care coordination with other required services; and 24-hour emergency response.

a. Service authorization shall be required for Medicaid reimbursement prior to the onset of services. Services rendered before the date of authorization shall not be reimbursed.

b. Services must be recommended as part of a comprehensive needs assessment prior to the start of services. ISPs shall be required during the entire duration of services. Services based upon incomplete, missing, or outdated comprehensive needs assessments or ISPs shall be denied reimbursement. Requirements for comprehensive needs assessments and ISPs are set out in 12VAC30-60-61.

c. These services shall only be rendered by an LMHP, LMHP-supervisee, LMHP-resident, LMHP-RP, a QMHP-C, or a QMHP-E.

3. Therapeutic day treatment (TDT) shall be provided two or more hours per day in order to provide therapeutic interventions (a unit is defined in 12VAC30-60-61 D 11). Day treatment programs provide evaluation; medication education and management; opportunities to learn and use daily living skills and to enhance social and interpersonal skills (e.g., problem solving, anger management, community responsibility, increased impulse control, and appropriate peer relations, etc.); and individual, group, and family counseling.

a. Service authorization shall be required for Medicaid reimbursement.

c. These services shall be rendered only by an LMHP, LMHP-supervisee, LMHP-resident, LMHP-RP, a QMHP-C, or a QMHP-E.

D. Therapeutic group home services and psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) services for early and periodic screening diagnosis and treatment (EPSDT) of youth.

1. Definitions. The following words and terms when used in this subsection shall have the following meanings:

"Active treatment" means implementation of an initial plan of care (IPOC) and comprehensive individual plan of care (CIPOC).

"Activities of daily living" or "ADL" means personal care activities and includes bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, feeding, and eating.

"Activities of daily living restoration" or "ADL restoration" means a face-to-face interaction provided on an individual or group basis to assist youth in the restoration of lost ADL skills that are necessary to achieve the goals established in the youth's plan of care. Services address performance deficits related to a lack of physical, cognitive, or psychosocial skills which hinder the ability of the youth to complete ADLs. Services include (i) restoring acceptable habits, behaviors, and attitudes related to daily health activities and personal care or hygiene and (ii) assisting the youth restoring and regaining functional ADL skills and appropriate behavior related to health and safety.

"ADL supervisor" means a child care supervisor with a baccalaureate degree in social work or psychology and two years of professional experience working with children one year of which must have been in a residential facility for children; or a high school diploma or General Education Development Certificate (GED) and a minimum of five years professional experience working with children with at least two years in a residential facility for children.

"ADL technician" means a child care worker at least 21 years of age who has a baccalaureate degree in human services (as defined by the Department of Health Professions); has an associate's degree and three months experience working with children; or is a high school graduate or has a GED and has six months of experience working with children. A trainee with a high school diploma or a GED may count experience working directly alongside a staff member who is, at a minimum, an ADL technician with at least one year of professional experience with children if the trainee is within sight and sound of the supervising staff member and does not work alone. An individual can only be classified as an ADL technician if they are supervised by an ADL supervisor, QMHP-C, LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S.

"Assessment" means the face-to-face interaction by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S to obtain information from the youth and parent, guardian, or other family member, as appropriate, utilizing a tool or series of tools to provide a comprehensive evaluation and review of the youth's mental health status. The assessment shall include a documented history of the severity, intensity, and duration of mental health problems and behavioral and emotional issues.

"Certificate of need" or "CON" means a written statement by an independent certification team that services in a therapeutic group home or PRTF are or were needed.

"Comprehensive individual plan of care" or "CIPOC" means a person centered plan of care that meets all of the requirements of this subsection and is specific to the youth's unique treatment needs and acuity levels as identified in the clinical assessment and information gathered during the referral process.

"Crisis" means a deteriorating or unstable situation that produces an acute, heightened emotional, mental, physical, medical, or behavioral event.

"Crisis management" means immediately provided activities and interventions designed to rapidly manage a crisis. The activities and interventions include behavioral health care to provide immediate assistance to youth experiencing acute behavioral health problems that require immediate intervention to stabilize and prevent harm and higher level of acuity. Activities shall include assessment and short-term counseling designed to stabilize the youth. Youth are referred to long-term services once the crisis has been stabilized.

"Daily supervision" means the supervision provided in a PRTF through a resident-to-staff ratio approved by the Office of Licensure at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services with documented supervision checks every 15 minutes throughout a 24-hour period.

"Discharge planning" means family and locality-based care coordination that begins upon admission to a PRTF or therapeutic group home with the goal of transitioning the youth out of the PRTF or therapeutic group home to a less restrictive care setting with continued, clinically-appropriate services as soon as possible upon discharge. Discharge plans shall be recommended by the treating physician, psychiatrist, or treating LMHP responsible for the overall supervision of the plan of care and shall be approved by the DMAS contractor.

"Emergency admissions" means admissions that are made when, pending a review for the certificate of need, it appears that the youth is in need of an immediate admission to a therapeutic group home or PRTF and likely does not meet the medical necessity criteria to receive crisis intervention, crisis stabilization, or acute psychiatric inpatient services.

"Family engagement" means a family-centered and strengths-based approach to partnering with families in making decisions, setting goals, achieving desired outcomes, and promoting safety, permanency, and well-being for youth and families. Family engagement requires ongoing opportunities for a youth to build and maintain meaningful relationships with family members, for example, frequent, unscheduled, and noncontingent telephone calls and visits between the youth and family members. Family engagement may also include enhancing or facilitating the development of the youth's relationship with other family members and supportive adults responsible for the youth's care and well-being upon discharge.

"Family engagement activity" means an intervention consisting of family psychoeducational training or coaching, transition planning with the family, family and independent living skills, and training on accessing community supports as identified in the plan of care. Family engagement activity does not include and is not the same as family therapy.

"Family therapy" means counseling services involving the youth's family and significant others to advance the treatment goals when (i) the counseling with the family member and significant others is for the direct benefit of the youth, (ii) the counseling is not aimed at addressing treatment needs of the youth's family or significant others, and (iii) the youth is present except when it is clinically appropriate for the youth to be absent in order to advance the youth's treatment goals. Family therapy shall be aligned with the goals of the youth's plan of care. All family therapy services furnished are for the direct benefit of the youth, in accordance with the youth's needs and treatment goals identified in the youth's plan of care, and for the purpose of assisting in the youth's recovery.

"FAPT" means the family assessment and planning team.

"ICD-10" means International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, published by the World Health Organization.

"Independent certification team" means a team that has competence in diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, preferably in child and adolescent psychiatry; has knowledge of the youth's situation; and is composed of at least one physician and one LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S. The independent certification team shall be a DMAS-authorized contractor with contractual or employment relationships with the required team members.

"Initial plan of care" or "IPOC" means a person centered plan of care established at admission that meets all of the requirements of this subsection and is specific to the youth's unique treatment needs and acuity levels as identified in the clinical assessment and information gathered during the referral process.

"Intervention" means scheduled therapeutic treatment included in the individualized plan of care to help the youth achieve the youth's plan of care goals and objectives. Interventions may include individual or group psychoeducation; skills restoration; ADL restoration; individual, group, and family therapy; structured behavior support and training activities; recreation, art, and music therapies; community integration activities that promote or assist in the youth's ability to acquire coping and functional or self-regulating behavior skills; therapeutic passes; and family engagement activities. Interventions shall not include medical or dental appointments, physician services, medication evaluation, or management provided by a licensed clinician or physician and shall not include school attendance. Interventions are provided in the therapeutic group home or PRTF and, when clinically necessary, may occur in a community setting or as part of a therapeutic pass if the setting is documented in the plan of care.

"Plan of care" means the initial plan of care (IPOC) and the comprehensive individual plan of care (CIPOC).

"Physician" means an individual licensed to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine in Virginia, as defined in § 54.1-2900 of the Code of Virginia.

"Psychiatric residential treatment facility" or "PRTF" means the same as defined in 42 CFR 483.352 and is a 24-hour, supervised, clinically and medically necessary, out-of-home active treatment program designed to provide necessary support and address mental health, behavioral, substance abuse, cognitive, and training needs of a youth in order to prevent or minimize the need for more intensive treatment.

"Psychotherapy" or "therapy" means the use of psychological methods in a professional relationship to assist a person to acquire great human effectiveness or to modify feelings, conditions, attitudes, and behaviors that are emotionally, intellectually, or socially ineffectual or maladaptive.

"Recertification" means a certification for each applicant or recipient for whom therapeutic group home or PRTF services are needed.

"Room and board" means a component of the total daily cost for placement in a licensed PRTF. Residential room and board costs are maintenance costs associated with placement in a licensed PRTF and include a semi-private room, three meals and two snacks per day, and personal care items. Room and board costs are reimbursed only for PRTF settings.

"Skills restoration" means a face-to-face service to assist youth in the restoration of lost skills that are necessary to achieve the goals established in the youth's plan of care. Services include assisting the youth in restoring self-management, interpersonal, communication, and problem solving skills through modeling, coaching, and cueing.

"Therapeutic group home" means a congregate residential service providing 24-hour supervision in a community-based home having eight or fewer residents.

"Therapeutic pass" means time at home or time with family consisting of partial or entire days of time away from the therapeutic group home or psychiatric residential treatment facility as clinically indicated in the plan of care and as paired with facility-based and community-based interventions to promote discharge planning, community integration, and family engagement activities. Therapeutic passes are not recreational but are a therapeutic component of the plan of care and are designed for the direct benefit of the youth.

"Therapeutic services" means the structured therapeutic program designed to restore appropriate skills necessary to promote prosocial behavior and healthy living to include: the restoration of coping skills; family living and health awareness; interpersonal skills; communication skills; and stress management skills. Therapeutic services also engage families and reflect family-driven practices that correlate to sustained positive outcomes post-discharge for youth and their family members. Therapeutic services include assessment, individualized treatment planning, and interventions.

"Treatment planning" means development, implementing, monitoring, and updating of a person centered plan of care that is specific to the individual's unique treatment needs and acuity levels.

"Youth" means an individual younger than 21 years of age.

2. Therapeutic group home services pursuant to 42 CFR 440.130(d).

a. Therapeutic group home services for youth shall provide therapeutic services to restore or maintain appropriate skills necessary to promote prosocial behavior and healthy living, including skills restoration, family living and health awareness, interpersonal skills, communication skills, community integration skills, coping skills, and stress management skills. Therapeutic services shall also engage families and reflect family-driven practices that correlate to sustained positive outcomes post-discharge for youth and their family members. Therapeutic services may occur in group settings, in one-on-one interactions, or in the home setting during a therapeutic pass. Each component of therapeutic group home services is provided for the direct benefit of the youth, in accordance with the youth's needs and treatment goals identified in the youth's plan of care, and for the purpose of assisting in the youth's recovery. These services are provided under 42 CFR 440.130(d) in accordance with the rehabilitative services benefit.

b. Therapeutic group home services providers shall be licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services under the Regulations for Children's Residential Facilities (12VAC35-36). Therapeutic group home services may only be rendered by and within the scope of practice of an LMHP, LMHP-supervisee, LMHP-resident, LMHP-RP, a QMHP-C, a QMHP-E, or a QPPMH as defined in 12VAC35-105-20, an ADL supervisor, or an ADL technician.

c. Medical necessity criteria for admission to a therapeutic group home. The following requirements for severity of need and intensity and quality of service shall be met to satisfy the medical necessity criteria for admission.

(1) Severity of need required for admission. All of the following criteria shall be met to satisfy the criteria for severity of need:

(a) The youth's behavioral health condition can only be safely and effectively treated in a 24-hour therapeutic milieu with onsite behavioral health therapy due to significant impairments in home, school, and community functioning caused by current mental health symptoms consistent with a DSM-5 diagnosis.

(b) The certificate of need must demonstrate all of the following: (i) ambulatory care resources (all available modalities of treatment less restrictive than inpatient treatment) available in the community do not meet the treatment needs of the youth; (ii) proper treatment of the youth's psychiatric condition requires services on an inpatient basis under the direction of a physician; and (iii) the services can reasonably be expected to improve the youth's condition or prevent further regression so that the services will no longer be needed.

(c) The state uniform assessment tool shall be completed. The assessment shall demonstrate at least two areas of moderate impairment in major life activities. A moderate impairment is defined as a major or persistent disruption in major life activities. A moderate impairment is evidenced by, but not limited to (i) frequent conflict in the family setting such as credible threats of physical harm, where "frequent" means more than expected for the youth's age and developmental level; (ii) frequent inability to accept age-appropriate direction and supervision from caretakers, from family members, at school, or in the home or community; (iii) severely limited involvement in social support, which means significant avoidance of appropriate social interaction, deterioration of existing relationships, or refusal to participate in therapeutic interventions; (iv) impaired ability to form a trusting relationship with at least one caretaker in the home, school, or community; (v) limited ability to consider the effect of one's inappropriate conduct on others; and (vi) interactions consistently involving conflict, which may include impulsive or abusive behaviors.

(d) Less restrictive community-based services have been given a fully adequate trial and were unsuccessful or, if not attempted, have been considered, but in either situation were determined to be unable to meet the youth's treatment needs and the reasons for that are discussed in the certificate of need.

(e) The youth's symptoms, or the need for treatment in a 24 hours a day, seven days a week level of care (LOC), are not primarily due to any of the following: (i) intellectual disability, developmental disability, or autistic spectrum disorder; (ii) organic mental disorders, traumatic brain injury, or other medical condition; or (iii) the youth does not require a more intensive level of care.

(f) The youth does not require primary medical or surgical treatment.

(2) Intensity and quality of service necessary for admission. All of the following criteria shall be met to satisfy the criteria for intensity and quality of service:

(a) The therapeutic group home service has been prescribed by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S who has documented that a residential setting is the least restrictive clinically appropriate service that can meet the specifically identified treatment needs of the youth.

(b) The therapeutic group home is not being used for clinically inappropriate reasons, including (i) an alternative to incarceration or preventative detention; (ii) an alternative to a parent's, guardian's, or agency's capacity to provide a place of residence for the youth; or (iii) a treatment intervention when other less restrictive alternatives are available.

(c) The youth's treatment goals are included in the plan of care and include behaviorally defined objectives that require and can reasonably be achieved within a therapeutic group home setting.

(d) The therapeutic group home is required to coordinate with the youth's community resources, including schools and FAPT as appropriate, with the goal of transitioning the youth out of the program to a less restrictive care setting for continued services as soon as possible and appropriate.

(e) The therapeutic group home program must incorporate nationally established, evidence-based, trauma-informed services and supports that promote recovery and resiliency.

(3) Continued stay criteria. The following criteria shall be met in order to satisfy the criteria for continued stay:

(a) All of the admission guidelines continue to be met and continue to be supported by the written clinical documentation.

(b) The youth shall meet one of the following criteria: (i) the desired outcome or level of functioning has not been restored or improved in the timeframe outlined in the youth's plan of care or the youth continues to be at risk for relapse based on history or (ii) the nature of the functional gains is tenuous and use of less intensive services will not achieve stabilization.

(c) The youth shall meet one of the following criteria: (i) the youth has achieved initial plan of care goals, but additional goals are indicated that cannot be met at a lower level of care; (ii) the youth is making satisfactory progress toward meeting goals but has not attained plan of care goals, and the goals cannot be addressed at a lower level of care; (iii) the youth is not making progress, and the plan of care has been modified to identify more effective interventions; or (iv) there are current indications that the youth requires this level of treatment to maintain level of functioning as evidenced by failure to achieve goals identified for therapeutic passes.

(d) There is a written, up-to-date discharge plan that (i) identifies the custodial parent or custodial caregiver at discharge; (ii) identifies the school the youth will attend at discharge, if applicable; (iii) includes individualized education program (IEP) and FAPT recommendations, if necessary; (iv) outlines the aftercare treatment plan (discharge to another residential level of care is not an acceptable discharge goal); and (v) lists barriers to community reintegration and progress made on resolving these barriers since last review.

(e) The active plan of care includes structure for daily therapeutic services and activities to ensure the attainment of therapeutic mental health goals as identified in the plan of care.

(f) There is evidence of intensive family or support system involvement occurring at least once per week, unless there is an identified or valid reason why it is not clinically appropriate or feasible.

(g) Less restrictive treatment options have been considered but cannot yet meet the youth's treatment needs. There is sufficient current clinical documentation or evidence to show that therapeutic group home level of care continues to be the least restrictive level of care that can meet the youth's mental health treatment needs.

(4) Discharge shall occur if any of the following applies: (i) the level of functioning has improved with respect to the goals outlined in the plan of care, and the youth can reasonably be expected to maintain these gains at a lower level of treatment; (ii) the youth no longer benefits from service as evidenced by absence of progress toward plan of care goals for a period of 60 days; or (iii) other less intensive services may achieve stabilization.

d. The following clinical activities shall be required for each therapeutic group home resident:

(1) An assessment shall be performed by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S.

(2) A face-to-face evaluation shall be performed by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S within 30 calendar days prior to admission with a documented DSM-5 or ICD-10 diagnosis.

(3) A certificate of need shall be completed by an independent certification team according to the requirements of subdivision D 4 of this section. Recertification shall occur at least every 60 calendar days by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S acting within his scope of practice.

(4) An IPOC that is specific to the youth's unique treatment needs and acuity levels. The IPOC shall be completed on the day of admission by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S and shall be signed by the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S and the youth and a family member or legally authorized representative. The IPOC shall include all of the following:

(a) Youth and family strengths and personal traits that would facilitate recovery and opportunities to develop motivational strategies and treatment alliance;

(b) Diagnoses, symptoms, complaints, and complications indicating the need for admission;

(d) Treatment objectives with short-term and long-term goals;

(e) Orders for medications, psychiatric, medical, dental, and any special health care needs whether or not provided in the facilities, treatments, restorative and rehabilitative services, activities, therapies, therapeutic passes, social services, community integration, diet, and special procedures recommended for the health and safety of the youth;

(f) Plans for continuing care, including review and modification to the plan of care; and

(g) Plans for discharge.

(5) A CIPOC shall be completed no later than 14 calendar days after admission. The CIPOC shall meet all of the following criteria:

(a) Be based on a diagnostic evaluation that includes examination of the medical, psychological, social, behavioral, and developmental aspects of the youth's situation and shall reflect the need for therapeutic group home care;

(b) Be based on input from school, home, other health care providers, FAPT if necessary, the youth, and the family or legal guardian;

(c) Shall state treatment objectives that include measurable short-term and long-term goals and objectives, with target dates for achievement;

(d) Prescribe an integrated program of therapies, activities, and experiences designed to meet the treatment objectives related to the diagnosis; and

(e) Include a comprehensive discharge plan with clear action steps and target dates, including necessary, clinically appropriate community services to ensure continuity of care upon discharge with the youth's family, school, and community.

(6) The CIPOC shall be reviewed, signed, and dated every 30 calendar days by the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S and the youth or a family member or primary caregiver. Updates shall be signed and dated by the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S and the youth or a family member or legally authorized representative. The review shall include all of the following:

(a) The youth's response to the services provided;

(b) Recommended changes in the plan as indicated by the youth's overall response to the CIPOC interventions; and

(7) The plan of care shall include individualized activities, including a minimum of one intervention per 24-hour period in addition to individual, group, and family therapies. Daily interventions are not required when there is documentation to justify clinical or medical reasons for the youth's deviations from the plan of care. Interventions shall be documented on a progress note and shall be outlined in and aligned with the treatment goals and objectives in the IPOC and CIPOC. Any deviation from the plan of care shall be documented along with a clinical or medical justification for the deviation.

(8) Crisis management, clinical assessment, and individualized therapy shall be provided to address both mental health and substance use disorder needs as indicated in the plan of care to address intermittent crises and challenges within the therapeutic group home setting or community settings as defined in the plan of care and to avoid a higher level of care.

(9) Care coordination shall be provided with medical, educational, and other behavioral health providers and other entities involved in the care and discharge planning for the youth as included in the plan of care. Documentation of this care coordination shall be maintained by the facility or group home in the youth's record. The documentation shall include who was contacted, when the contact occurred, what information was transmitted, and recommended next steps.

(10) Weekly individual therapy shall be provided in the therapeutic group home, or other settings as appropriate for the youth's needs, by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S, which shall be documented in progress notes in accordance with the requirements for progress notes in 12VAC30-60-61 B.

(11) Group therapy shall be provided at a minimum of weekly and as documented in the plan of care by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S, and shall be documented in progress notes in accordance with the requirements for progress notes in 12VAC30-60-61 B.

(12) Family involvement begins immediately upon admission to the therapeutic group home. Family therapy shall be provided as clinically indicated and as documented in the plan of care and shall be provided by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S, and documented in progress notes in accordance with the requirements for progress notes in 12VAC30-60-61 B.

(13) Family engagement activities shall be provided in addition to family therapy. Family engagement activities shall be provided at least weekly as outlined in the plan of care, and daily communication with the family or legally authorized representative shall be part of the family engagement strategies in the plan of care. For each service authorization period when family engagement is not possible, the therapeutic group home shall identify and document the specific barriers to the youth's engagement with the youth's family or legally authorized representatives. The therapeutic group home shall document on a weekly basis the reasons why family engagement is not occurring as required. The therapeutic group home shall document alternative family engagement strategies to be used as part of the interventions in the plan of care and request approval of the revised plan of care by DMAS or its contractor. When family engagement is not possible, the therapeutic group home shall collaborate with DMAS or its contractor on a weekly basis to develop individualized family engagement strategies and document the revised strategies in the plan of care.

(14) Therapeutic passes shall be provided as clinically indicated in the plan of care and as paired with facility-based and community-based interventions to promote discharge planning, community integration, and family engagement activities.

(a) The provider shall document how the family was prepared for the therapeutic pass to include a review of the plan of care goals and objectives being addressed by the planned interventions and the safety and crisis plan in effect during the therapeutic pass.

(b) If a facility staff member does not accompany the youth on the therapeutic pass and the therapeutic pass exceeds 24 hours, the provider shall make daily contacts with the family and be available 24 hours per day to address concerns, incidents, or crises that may arise during the pass.

(c) Contact with the family shall occur within seven calendar days of the end date of the therapeutic pass to discuss the accomplishments and challenges of the therapeutic pass along with an update on progress toward plan of care goals and any necessary changes to the plan of care.

(d) Twenty-four therapeutic passes shall be permitted per youth, per admission, without authorization as approved by the treating LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, and LMHP-S and documented in the plan of care. Additional therapeutic passes shall require service authorization. Any unauthorized therapeutic passes shall result in retraction for those days of service.

(15) Discharge planning shall begin at admission and continue throughout the youth's stay at the therapeutic group home. The family or guardian, the community services board (CSB), the family assessment and planning team (FAPT) case manager, and the DMAS contracted care manager shall be involved in treatment planning and shall identify the anticipated needs of the youth and family upon discharge and available services in the community. Prior to discharge, the therapeutic group home shall submit a comprehensive discharge plan to the DMAS contractor for review. Once the DMAS contractor approves the discharge plan, the provider shall begin actively collaborating with the family or legally authorized representative and the treatment team to identify behavioral health and medical providers and schedule appointments for a comprehensive needs assessment as needed. The therapeutic group home shall request information from post-discharge providers to establish that the planning of pending services and transition planning activities has begun, shall establish that the youth has been enrolled in school, and shall provide individualized education program recommendations to the school if necessary. The therapeutic group home shall inform the DMAS contractor of all scheduled appointments within 30 calendar days of discharge and shall notify the DMAS contractor within one business day of the youth's discharge date from the therapeutic group home.

(16) Failure to perform any of the items described in this subsection shall result in a retraction of the per diem for each day of noncompliance.

e. Service exclusions include the following:

(1) Room and board costs shall not be reimbursed. Facilities that only provide independent living services or nonclinical services that do not meet the requirements of this subsection are not eligible for reimbursement.

(2) Therapeutic group home services shall not be covered when treatment goals are met or other less intensive services may achieve stabilization.

(3) Services that are based upon incomplete, missing, or outdated service-specific provider intakes or plans of care shall be denied reimbursement.

3. PRTF services are a 24-hour, supervised, clinically and medically necessary out-of-home program designed to provide necessary support and address mental health, behavioral, substance use, cognitive, or other treatment needs of a youth in order to prevent or minimize the need for more intensive inpatient treatment. Active treatment and comprehensive discharge planning shall begin prior to admission. In order to be covered for youth, these services shall (i) meet DMAS-approved psychiatric medical necessity criteria or be approved as an EPSDT service based upon a diagnosis made by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S who is practicing within the scope of his license and (ii) be reflected in provider records and on the provider's claims for services by recognized diagnosis codes that support and are consistent with the requested professional services.

a. PRTF services shall be covered for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of mental health and behavioral disorders when such services are rendered by a psychiatric facility that is not a hospital and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, or by any other accrediting organization with comparable standards that is recognized by the state.

b. Providers of PRTF services shall be licensed by DBHDS.

c. PRTF services are reimbursable only when the treatment program is fully in compliance with (i) 42 CFR Part 441 Subpart D, specifically 42 CFR 441.151 (a) and (b) and 42 CFR 441.152 through 42 CFR 441.156 and (ii) the Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR Part 483 Subpart G. Each admission must be service authorized, and the treatment must meet DMAS requirements for clinical necessity.

d. The PRTF benefit for youth shall include services defined at 42 CFR 440.160 that are provided under the direction of a physician pursuant to a certification of medical necessity and plan of care developed by an interdisciplinary team of professionals and shall involve active treatment designed to achieve the youth's discharge from PRTF services at the earliest possible time.

e. PRTF services shall include assessment and reassessment; room and board; daily supervision; therapeutic services; individual, family, and group therapy; care coordination; interventions; general or special education; medical treatment, including medication, coordination of necessary medical services, and 24-hour onsite nursing availability; specialty services; and discharge planning that meets the medical and clinical needs of the youth.

f. Medical necessity criteria for admission to a PRTF. The following requirements for severity of need and intensity and quality of service shall be met to satisfy the medical necessity criteria for admission:

(1) Severity of need required for admission. The following criteria shall be met to satisfy the criteria for severity of need:

(a) There is clinical evidence that the youth has a DSM-5 disorder that is amenable to active psychiatric treatment.

(b) There is a high degree of potential of the condition leading to acute psychiatric hospitalization in the absence of residential treatment.

(c) Either (i) there is clinical evidence that the youth would be a risk to self or others if the youth were not in a PRTF or (ii) as a result of the youth's mental disorder, there is an inability for the youth to adequately care for his own physical needs, and caretakers, guardians, or family members are unable to safely fulfill these needs, representing potential serious harm to self.

(d) The youth requires supervision seven days per week, 24 hours per day to develop skills necessary for daily living; to assist with planning and arranging access to a range of educational, therapeutic, and aftercare services; and to develop the adaptive and functional behavior that will allow the youth to live outside of a PRTF setting.

(e) The youth's current living environment does not provide the support and access to therapeutic services needed.

(f) The youth is medically stable and does not require the 24-hour medical or nursing monitoring or procedures provided in a hospital level of care.

(2) Intensity and quality of service necessary for admission. The following criteria shall be met to satisfy the criteria for intensity and quality of service:

(a) The evaluation and assignment of a DSM-5 diagnosis must result from a face-to-face psychiatric evaluation.

(b) The program provides supervision seven days per week, 24 hours per day to assist with the development of skills necessary for daily living; to assist with planning and arranging access to a range of educational, therapeutic, and aftercare services; and to assist with the development of the adaptive and functional behavior that will allow the youth to live outside of a PRTF setting.

(c) An individualized plan of active psychiatric treatment and residential living support is provided in a timely manner. This treatment must be medically monitored, with 24-hour medical availability and 24-hour nursing services availability. This plan includes (i) at least once-a-week psychiatric reassessments; (ii) intensive family or support system involvement occurring at least once per week or valid reasons identified as to why such a plan is not clinically appropriate or feasible; (iii) psychotropic medications, when used, are to be used with specific target symptoms identified; (iv) evaluation for current medical problems; (v) evaluation for concomitant substance use issues; and (vi) linkage or coordination with the youth's community resources, including the local school division and FAPT case manager, as appropriate, with the goal of returning the youth to his regular social environment as soon as possible, unless contraindicated.

(3) Criteria for continued stay. The following criteria shall be met to satisfy the criteria for continued stay:

(a) Despite reasonable therapeutic efforts, clinical evidence indicates at least one of the following: (i) the persistence of problems that caused the admission to a degree that continues to meet the admission criteria (both severity of need and intensity of service needs); (ii) the emergence of additional problems that meet the admission criteria (both severity of need and intensity of service needs); or (iii) that disposition planning or attempts at therapeutic reentry into the community have resulted in or would result in exacerbation of the psychiatric illness to the degree that would necessitate continued PRTF treatment. Subjective opinions without objective clinical information or evidence are not sufficient to meet severity of need based on justifying the expectation that there would be a decompensation.

(b) There is evidence of objective, measurable, and time-limited therapeutic clinical goals that must be met before the youth can return to a new or previous living situation. There is evidence that attempts are being made to secure timely access to treatment resources and housing in anticipation of discharge, with alternative housing contingency plans also being addressed.

(c) There is evidence that the plan of care is focused on the alleviation of psychiatric symptoms and precipitating psychosocial stressors that are interfering with the youth's ability to return to a less-intensive level of care.

(d) The current or revised plan of care can be reasonably expected to bring about significant improvement in the problems meeting the criteria in subdivision 3 g (3) (a) of this subsection, and this is documented in weekly progress notes written and signed by the provider.

(e) There is evidence of intensive family or support system involvement occurring at least once per week, unless there is an identified valid reason why it is not clinically appropriate or feasible.

(f) A discharge plan is formulated that is directly linked to the behaviors or symptoms that resulted in admission and begins to identify appropriate post-PRTF resources including the local school division and FAPT case manager as appropriate.

(g) All applicable elements in admission-intensity and quality of service criteria are applied as related to assessment and treatment if clinically relevant and appropriate.

(4) Discharge criteria. Discharge shall occur if any of the following applies: (i) the level of functioning has improved with respect to the goals outlined in the plan of care, and the individual youth can reasonably be expected to maintain these gains at a lower level of treatment; (ii) the youth no longer benefits from service as evidenced by absence of progress toward plan of care goals for a period of 30 days; or (iii) other less intensive services may achieve stabilization.

g. The following clinical activities shall be required for each PRTF resident:

(1) A face-to-face assessment shall be performed by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RS, or LMHP-S within 30 calendar days prior to admission and weekly thereafter and shall document a DSM-5 or ICD-10 diagnosis.

(2) A certificate of need shall be completed by an independent certification team according to the requirements of 12VAC30-50-130 D 4. Recertification shall occur at least every 30 calendar days by a physician acting within his scope of practice.

(3) The initial plan of care (IPOC) shall be completed within 24 hours of admission by the treatment team. The IPOC shall include:

(a) Individual and family strengths and personal traits that would facilitate recovery and opportunities to develop motivational strategies and treatment alliance;

(b) Diagnoses, symptoms, complaints, and complications indicating the need for admission;

(d) Treatment objectives with short-term and long-term goals;

(e) Any orders for medications, psychiatric, medical, dental, and any special health care needs, whether or not provided in the facility; education or special education; treatments; interventions; and restorative and rehabilitative services, activities, therapies, social services, diet, and special procedures recommended for the health and safety of the youth;

(f) Plans for continuing care, including review and modification to the plan of care;

(g) Plans for discharge; and

(h) Signature and date by the youth, parent, or legally authorized representative, a physician, and treatment team members.

(4) The CIPOC shall be completed and signed no later than 14 calendar days after admission by the treatment team. This information shall be used when considering changes and updating the CIPOC. The CIPOC shall meet all of the following criteria:

(a) Be based on a diagnostic evaluation that includes examination of the medical, psychological, social, behavioral, and developmental aspects of the youth's situation and must reflect the need for PRTF care;

(b) Be developed by an interdisciplinary team of physicians and other personnel specified in subdivision 3 h of this subsection who are employed by or provide services to the youth in the facility in consultation with the youth, family member, or legally authorized representative, or appropriate others into whose care the youth will be released after discharge;

(c) Shall state treatment objectives that shall include measurable, evidence-based, and short-term and long-term goals and objectives; family engagement activities; and the design of community-based aftercare with target dates for achievement;

(d) Prescribe an integrated program of therapies, interventions, activities, and experiences designed to meet the treatment objectives related to the youth and family treatment needs; and

(e) Describe comprehensive transition plans and coordination of current care and post-discharge plans with related community services to ensure continuity of care upon discharge with the youth's family, school, and community.

(5) The CIPOC shall be reviewed every 30 calendar days by the team specified in subdivision 3 h of this subsection to determine that services being provided are or were required from a PRTF and to recommend changes in the plan as indicated by the youth's overall adjustment during the time away from home. The CIPOC shall include the signature and date from the youth, parent, or legally authorized representative, a physician, and treatment team members.

(6) Individual therapy shall be provided a minimum of three times per week by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S and shall be documented in the plan of care and progress notes in accordance with the requirements in this subsection and the requirements for progress notes in 12VAC30-60-61 B.

(7) Group therapy shall be provided as clinically indicated by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S and shall be documented in the plan of care and progress notes in accordance with the requirements in this subsection and the requirements for progress notes in 12VAC30-60-61 B.

(8) Family therapy shall be provided as clinically indicated by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S and as documented in the plan of care and progress notes in accordance with the requirements in this subsection and requirements for progress notes in 12VAC30-60-61 B.

(9) Family engagement shall be provided in addition to family therapy or counseling. Family engagement shall be provided at least weekly as outlined in the plan of care and daily communication with the treatment team representative and the family or legally authorized representative shall be part of the family engagement strategies in the plan of care. For each service authorization period when family engagement is not possible, the PRTF shall identify and document the specific barriers to the youth's engagement with his family or legally authorized representatives. The PRTF shall document on a weekly basis the reasons that family engagement is not occurring as required. The PRTF shall document alternate family engagement strategies to be used as part of the interventions in the plan of care and request approval of the revised plan of care by DMAS. When family engagement is not possible, the PRTF shall collaborate with DMAS on a weekly basis to develop individualized family engagement strategies and document the revised strategies in the plan of care.

(10) Three non-psychotherapy interventions shall be provided per 24-hour period including nights and weekends. Family engagement activities are considered to be an intervention and shall occur based on the treatment and visitation goals and scheduling needs of the family or legally authorized representative. Interventions shall be documented on a progress note and shall be outlined in and aligned with the treatment goals and objectives in the plan of care. Any deviation from the plan of care shall be documented along with a clinical or medical justification for the deviation based on the needs of the youth.

(11) Therapeutic passes shall be provided as clinically indicated in the plan of care and as paired with community-based and facility-based interventions to promote discharge planning, community integration, and family engagement. Therapeutic passes include activities as listed in subdivision 2 d (13) of this section. Twenty-four therapeutic passes shall be permitted per youth, per admission, without authorization as approved by the treating physician and documented in the plan of care. Additional therapeutic passes shall require service authorization from DMAS or its contractor. Any unauthorized therapeutic passes not approved by the provider or DMAS or its contractor shall result in retraction for those days of service.

(12) Discharge planning shall begin at admission and continue throughout the youth's placement at the PRTF. The parent or legally authorized representative, the community services board (CSB), the family assessment planning team (FAPT) case manager, if appropriate, and the DMAS contracted care manager shall be involved in treatment planning and shall identify the anticipated needs of the youth and family upon discharge and identify the available services in the community. Prior to discharge, the PRTF shall submit a comprehensive discharge plan to the DMAS contractor for review. Once the DMAS contractor approves the discharge plan, the provider shall begin collaborating with the parent or legally authorized representative and the treatment team to identify behavioral health and medical providers and schedule appointments for comprehensive needs assessments as needed. The PRTF shall request information from post-discharge providers to establish that the planning of services and activities has begun, shall establish that the youth has been enrolled in school, and shall provide individualized education program recommendations to the school if necessary. The PRTF shall inform the DMAS contractor of all scheduled appointments within 30 calendar days of discharge and shall notify the DMAS contractor within one business day of the youth's discharge date from the PRTF.

(13) A urine drug screen is considered at the time of admission, when progress is not occurring, when substance misuse is suspected, or when substance use and medications may have a potential adverse interaction. After a positive screen, additional random screens are considered and referral to a substance use disorder provider is considered.

(14) Failure to perform any of the items as described in subdivisions 3 g (1) through 3 g (13) of this subsection up until the discharge of the youth shall result in a retraction of the per diem and all other contracted and coordinated service payments for each day of noncompliance.

h. The team developing the CIPOC shall meet the following requirements:

(1) At least one member of the team must have expertise in pediatric behavioral health. Based on education and experience, preferably including competence in child and adolescent psychiatry, the team must be capable of all of the following: assessing the youth's immediate and long-range therapeutic needs, developmental priorities, and personal strengths and liabilities; assessing the potential resources of the youth's family or legally authorized representative; setting treatment objectives; and prescribing therapeutic modalities to achieve the CIPOC's objectives.

(2) The team shall include one of the following:

(a) A board-eligible or board-certified psychiatrist;

(b) A licensed clinical psychologist and a physician licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy; or

(c) A physician licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy with specialized training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental diseases and a licensed clinical psychologist.

(3) The team shall also include one of the following: an LMHP, LMHP-supervisee, LMHP-resident, or LMHP-RP.

4. Requirements for independent certification teams applicable to both therapeutic group homes and PRTFs:

a. The independent certification team shall certify the need for PRTF or therapeutic group home services and issue a certificate of need document within the process and timeliness standards as approved by DMAS under contractual agreement with the DMAS contractor.

b. The independent certification team shall be approved by DMAS through a memorandum of understanding with a locality or be approved under contractual agreement with the DMAS contractor. The team shall initiate and coordinate referral to the family assessment and planning team (FAPT) as defined in §§ 2.2-5207 and 2.2-5208 of the Code of Virginia to facilitate care coordination and for consideration of educational coverage and other supports not covered by DMAS.

c. The independent certification team shall assess the youth's and family's strengths and needs in addition to diagnoses, behaviors, and symptoms that indicate the need for behavioral health treatment and also consider whether local resources and community-based care are sufficient to meet the youth's treatment needs, as presented within the previous 30 calendar days, within the least restrictive environment.

d. The LMHP, LMHP-supervisee, LMHP-resident, or LMHP-RP, as part of the independent certification team, shall meet with the youth and the youth's parent or legally authorized representative within two business days from a request to assess the youth's needs and begin the process to certify the need for an out-of-home placement.

e. The independent certification team shall meet with the youth and the youth's parent or legally authorized representative within 10 business days from a request to certify the need for an out-of-home placement.

f. The independent certification team shall assess the treatment needs of the youth to issue a certificate of need (CON) for the most appropriate medically necessary services. The certification shall include the dated signature and credentials for each of the team members who rendered the certification.

g. The CON shall be effective for 30 calendar days prior to admission.

h. The independent certification team shall provide the completed CON to the facility within one calendar day of completing the CON.

i. The youth and the youth's parent or legally authorized representative shall have the right to freedom of choice of service providers.

j. If the youth or the youth's parent or legally authorized representative disagrees with the independent certification team's recommendation, the parent or legally authorized representative may appeal the recommendation in accordance with 12VAC30-110.

k. If the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S, as part of the independent certification team, determines that the youth is in immediate need of treatment, the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S shall refer the youth to an appropriate Medicaid-enrolled crisis intervention provider, crisis stabilization provider, or inpatient psychiatric provider in accordance with 12VAC30-50-226 or shall refer the youth for emergency admission to a PRTF or therapeutic group home under subdivision 4 m of this subsection and shall also alert the youth's managed care organization.

l. For youth who are already eligible for Medicaid at the time of admission, the independent certification team shall be a DMAS-authorized contractor with competence in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, preferably in child and adolescent psychiatry, and have knowledge of the youth's situation and service availability in the youth's local service area. The team shall be composed of at least one physician and one LMHP, including LMHP-S, LMHP-R, or LMHP-RP. The youth's parent or legally authorized representative shall be included in the certification process.

m. For emergency admissions, an assessment must be made by the team responsible for the comprehensive individual plan of care (CIPOC). Reimbursement shall only occur when a certificate of need is issued by the team responsible for the CIPOC within 14 calendar days after admission. The certification shall cover any period of time after admission and before claims are made for reimbursement by Medicaid. After processing an emergency admission, the therapeutic group home, PRTF, or institution for mental diseases (IMD) shall notify the DMAS contractor within five calendar days of the youth's status as being under the care of the facility.

n. For youth who apply and become eligible for Medicaid while an inpatient in the facility or program, the certification shall be made by the team responsible for the CIPOC and shall cover any period of time before the application for Medicaid eligibility for which claims are made for reimbursement by Medicaid. Upon the youth's enrollment into the Medicaid program, the therapeutic group home, PRTF, or IMD shall notify the DMAS contractor of the youth's status as being under the care of the facility within five calendar days of the youth becoming eligible for Medicaid benefits.

5. Service authorization requirements applicable to both therapeutic group homes and PRTFs:

a. Authorization shall be required and shall be conducted by DMAS or its contractor using medical necessity criteria specified in this subsection.

b. The youth shall have a valid psychiatric diagnosis and meet the medical necessity criteria as defined in this subsection to satisfy the criteria for admission. The diagnosis shall be current, as documented within the past 12 months. If a current diagnosis is not available, the youth will require a mental health evaluation prior to admission by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S affiliated with the independent certification team to establish a diagnosis and recommend and coordinate referral to the available treatment options.

c. At authorization, an initial length of stay shall be agreed upon by the youth and parent or legally authorized representative with the treating provider, and the treating provider shall be responsible for evaluating and documenting evidence of treatment progress, assessing the need for ongoing out-of-home placement, and obtaining authorization for continued stay.

d. Information that is required to obtain authorization for these services shall include:

(1) A completed state-designated uniform assessment instrument approved by DMAS completed no more than 30 calendar days prior to the date of submission;

(2) A certificate of need completed by an independent certification team specifying all of the following:

(a) The ambulatory care and Medicaid or FAPT-funded services available in the community do not meet the specific treatment needs of the youth;

(b) Alternative community-based care was not successful;

(c) Proper treatment of the youth's psychiatric condition requires services in a 24-hour supervised setting under the direction of a physician; and

(d) The services can reasonably be expected to improve the youth's condition or prevent further regression so that a more intensive level of care will not be needed;

(3) Diagnosis as defined in the DSM-5 and based on (i) an evaluation by a psychiatrist or LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S that has been completed within 30 calendar days of admission or (ii) a diagnosis confirmed in writing by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S after review of a previous evaluation completed within one year of admission;

(4) A description of the youth's behavior during the seven calendar days immediately prior to admission;

(5) A description of alternate placements and community mental health and rehabilitation services and traditional behavioral health services pursued and attempted and the outcomes of each service;

(6) The youth's level of functioning and clinical stability;

(7) The level of family involvement and supports available; and

(8) The initial plan of care (IPOC).

6. Continued stay criteria requirements applicable to both therapeutic group homes and PRTFs. For a continued stay authorization or a reauthorization to occur, the youth shall meet the medical necessity criteria as defined in this subsection to satisfy the criteria for continuing care. The length of the authorized stay shall be determined by DMAS or its contractor. A current plan of care and a current (within 30 calendar days) summary of progress related to the goals and objectives of the plan of care shall be submitted to DMAS or its contractor for continuation of the service. The service provider shall also submit:

a. A state uniform assessment instrument if updated since the last service authorization request;

b. Documentation that the required services have been provided as defined in the plan of care;

c. Current (within the last 14 calendar days) information on progress related to the achievement of all treatment and discharge-related goals; and

d. A description of the youth's continued impairment and treatment needs, problem behaviors, family engagement activities, community-based discharge planning and care coordination, and need for a residential level of care.

7. EPSDT services requirements applicable to therapeutic group homes and PRTFs. Service limits may be exceeded based on medical necessity for youth eligible for EPSDT. EPSDT services may involve service modalities not available to other individuals, such as applied behavioral analysis and neuro-rehabilitative services. Individualized services to address specific clinical needs identified in an EPSDT screening shall require authorization by a DMAS contractor. In unique EPSDT cases, DMAS or its contractor may authorize specialized services beyond the standard therapeutic group home or PRTF medical necessity criteria and program requirements, as medically and clinically indicated to ensure the most appropriate treatment is available to each youth. Treating service providers authorized to deliver medically necessary EPSDT services in therapeutic group homes and PRTFs on behalf of a Medicaid-enrolled youth shall adhere to the individualized interventions and evidence-based progress measurement criteria described in the plan of care and approved for reimbursement by DMAS or its contractor. All documentation, independent certification team, family engagement activity, therapeutic pass, and discharge planning requirements shall apply to cases approved as EPSDT PRTF or therapeutic group home service.

8. Inpatient psychiatric services shall be covered for youth for medically necessary stays in inpatient psychiatric facilities described in 42 CFR 440.160(b)(1) and (b)(2) for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of mental health and behavioral disorders identified under EPSDT when such services meet the requirements set forth in subdivision 7 of this subsection.

a. Inpatient psychiatric services shall be provided under the direction of a physician.

b. Inpatient psychiatric services shall be provided by (i) a psychiatric hospital that undergoes a state survey to determine whether the hospital meets the requirements for participation in Medicare as a psychiatric hospital as specified in 42 CFR 482.60 or is accredited by a national organization whose psychiatric hospital accrediting program has been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); or (ii) a hospital with an inpatient psychiatric program that undergoes a state survey to determine whether the hospital meets the requirements for participation in Medicare as a hospital, as specified in 42 CFR part 482 or is accredited by a national accrediting organization whose hospital accrediting program has been approved by CMS.

c. Inpatient psychiatric admissions at general acute care hospitals and freestanding psychiatric hospitals shall also be subject to the requirements of 12VAC30-50-100, 12VAC30-50-105, and 12VAC30-60-25.

d. PRTF services are reimbursable only when the treatment program is fully in compliance with (i) 42 CFR Part 441 Subpart D, specifically 42 CFR 441.151(a) and 42 CFR 441.151 (b) and 42 CFR 441.152 through 42 CFR 441.156 and (ii) the Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR Part 483 Subpart G. Each admission must be service authorized and the treatment must meet DMAS requirements for clinical necessity.

e. The inpatient psychiatric benefit for youth shall include services that are provided pursuant to a certification of medical necessity and plan of care developed by an interdisciplinary team of professionals and shall involve active treatment designed to achieve the youth's discharge from inpatient status at the earliest possible time.

E. Mental health family support partners.

1. Mental health family support partners are peer recovery support services and are nonclinical, peer-to-peer activities that engage, educate, and support the caregiver and the youth's self-help efforts to improve health recovery resiliency and wellness. Mental health family support partners is a peer support service and is a strength-based, individualized service provided to the caregiver of a Medicaid-eligible youth (defined as an individual younger than 21 years of age) with a mental health disorder that is the focus of support. The services provided to the caregiver and youth must be directed exclusively toward the benefit of the Medicaid-eligible youth. Services are expected to improve outcomes for youth with complex needs who are involved with multiple systems and increase the youth's and family's confidence and capacity to manage their own services and supports while promoting recovery and healthy relationships. These services are rendered by a PRS who is (i) a parent of a youth with a similar mental health disorder or (ii) an adult with personal experience with a family member with a similar mental health disorder with experience navigating behavioral health care services. The PRS shall perform the service within the scope of his knowledge, lived experience, and education.

2. Under the clinical oversight of the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S making the recommendation for mental health family support partners, the peer recovery specialist in consultation with his direct supervisor shall develop a recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan based on the assessment of the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S for service, the youth's and the caregiver's perceived recovery needs, and any clinical assessments or comprehensive needs assessments as defined in subsection C of this section within 30 calendar days of the initiation of service. Development of the recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan shall include collaboration with the youth and the youth's caregiver. Individualized goals and strategies shall be focused on the youth's identified needs for self-advocacy and recovery. The recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan shall also include documentation of how many days per week and how many hours per week are required to carry out the services in order to meet the goals of the plan. The recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan shall be completed, signed, and dated by (i) the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S; (ii) the PRS; (iii) the direct supervisor; (iv) the youth; and (v) the youth's caregiver within 30 calendar days of the initiation of service. The PRS shall act as an advocate for the youth, encouraging the youth and the caregiver to take a proactive role in developing and updating goals and objectives in the individualized recovery planning.

3. Documentation of required activities shall be required as set forth in 12VAC30-130-5200 C and E through J.

4. Limitations and exclusions to service delivery shall be the same as set forth in 12VAC30-130-5210.

5. Caregivers of youth who qualify to receive mental health family support partners shall (i) care for a youth with a mental health disorder who requires recovery assistance and (ii) meet two or more of the following:

a. The youth and his caregiver need peer-based recovery-oriented services for the maintenance of wellness and the acquisition of skills needed to support the youth.

b. The youth and his caregiver need assistance to develop self-advocacy skills to assist the youth in achieving self-management of the youth's health status.

c. The youth and his caregiver need assistance and support to prepare the youth for a successful work or school experience.

d. The youth and his caregiver need assistance to help the youth and caregiver assume responsibility for recovery.

6. Youth who are 18, 19, and 20 years of age who meet the medical necessity criteria in 12VAC30-50-226 B 7 e, who would benefit from receiving peer supports directly and who choose to receive mental health peer support services directly instead of through their caregiver, shall be permitted to receive mental health peer support services by an appropriate PRS.

7. To qualify for continued mental health family support partners, medical necessity criteria shall continue to be met, and progress notes shall document the status of progress relative to the goals identified in the recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan.

8. Discharge criteria from mental health family support partners shall be the same as set forth in 12VAC30-130-5180 E.

9. Mental health family support partners services shall be rendered on an individual basis or in a group.

10. Prior to service initiation, an assessment shall be conducted and documented by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S who is acting within his scope of practice under state law. The assessment shall verify that the youth meets the medical necessity criteria set forth in subdivision 5 of this subsection. The assessment shall be included as part of the recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan and medical record. Services shall be initiated within 30 calendar days from when the assessment was complete.

11. Effective July 1, 2017, a peer recovery specialist shall have the qualifications, education, experience, and certification required by DBHDS in accordance with 12VAC35-250. Peer recovery specialists shall be registered by the Virginia Board of Counseling. The PRS shall perform mental health family support partners services under the oversight of the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S who shall provide the clinical oversight of the recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan.

12. The PRS shall be employed by or have a contractual relationship with the enrolled provider licensed for one of the following:

a. Acute care general and emergency department hospital services licensed by the Department of Health.

b. Freestanding psychiatric hospital and inpatient psychiatric unit licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

c. Psychiatric residential treatment facility licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

d. Therapeutic group home licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

e. Outpatient mental health clinic services licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

f. Outpatient psychiatric services provider.

g. A community mental health and rehabilitative services provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services as a provider of one of the following community mental health and rehabilitative services as defined in this section, 12VAC30-50-226, 12VAC30-50-420, or 12VAC30-50-430 for which the youth meets medical necessity criteria: (i) intensive in home; (ii) therapeutic day treatment; (iii) day treatment or partial hospitalization; (iv) crisis intervention; (v) crisis stabilization; (vi) mental health skill building; or (vii) mental health case management.

13. Only the licensed and enrolled provider as referenced in subdivision 12 of this subsection shall be eligible to bill and receive reimbursement from DMAS or its contractor for mental health family support partner services. Payments shall not be permitted to providers that fail to enter into an enrollment agreement with DMAS or its contractor. Reimbursement shall be subject to retraction for any billed service that is determined not to be in compliance with DMAS requirements.

14. Supervision of the PRS shall meet the requirements set forth in 12VAC30-50-226 B 7 l and m.

F. Hearing aids shall be reimbursed for individuals younger than 21 years of age according to medical necessity when provided by practitioners licensed to engage in the practice of fitting or dealing in hearing aids under the Code of Virginia.

G. Addiction and recovery treatment services shall be covered under EPSDT consistent with 12VAC30-130-5000 et seq.

H. Services facilitators shall be required for all consumer-directed personal care services consistent with the requirements set out in 12VAC30-120-935.

I. Behavioral therapy services shall be covered for individuals younger than 21 years of age.

1. Definitions. The following words and terms when used in this subsection shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Behavioral therapy" means systematic interventions provided by licensed practitioners acting within the scope of practice defined under a Virginia Department of Health Professions regulatory board and covered as remedial care under 42 CFR 440.130(d) to youth. Behavioral therapy includes applied behavioral analysis. Family training related to the implementation of the behavioral therapy shall be included as part of the behavioral therapy service. Behavioral therapy services shall be subject to clinical reviews and determined as medically necessary. Behavioral therapy may be provided in the youth's home and community settings as deemed by DMAS or its contractor as medically necessary treatment.

"Counseling" means a professional mental health service that can only be provided by a person holding a license issued by a health regulatory board at the Department of Health Professions, which includes conducting assessments, making diagnoses of mental disorders and conditions, establishing treatment plans, and determining treatment interventions.

"Primary care provider" means a licensed medical practitioner who provides preventive and primary health care and is responsible for providing routine EPSDT screening and referral and coordination of other medical services needed by the individual.

"Youth" means an individual younger than 21 years of age who is receiving behavioral therapy services.

2. Behavioral therapy services shall be designed to enhance communication skills and decrease maladaptive patterns of behavior, which if left untreated, could lead to more complex problems and the need for a greater or a more intensive level of care. The service goal shall be to ensure the youth's family or caregiver is trained to effectively manage the youth's behavior in the home using modification strategies. All services shall be provided in accordance with the ISP and clinical assessment summary.

3. Behavioral therapy services shall be covered when recommended by the youth's primary care provider or other licensed physician, licensed physician assistant, or licensed nurse practitioner and determined by DMAS or its contractor to be medically necessary to correct or ameliorate significant impairments in major life activities that have resulted from either developmental, behavioral, or mental disabilities. Criteria for medical necessity are set out in 12VAC30-60-61 F. A behavioral therapy assessment shall be required prior to these services in order to receive authorization for reimbursement. Individual service plans (ISPs) shall be required throughout the entire duration of services. The services shall be provided in accordance with the individual service plan and clinical assessment summary. These services shall be provided in settings that are natural or normal for a youth without a disability, such as the youth's home, unless there is justification in the ISP, which has been authorized for reimbursement, to include service settings that promote a generalization of behaviors across different settings to maintain the targeted functioning outside of the treatment setting in the youth's home and the larger community within which the youth resides. Covered behavioral therapy services shall include:

a. Initial and periodic behavioral therapy assessment as defined in 12VAC30-60-61 F;

b. Development of initial and updated ISPs as established in 12VAC30-60-61 F;

c. Clinical supervision activities. Requirements for clinical supervision are set out in 12VAC30-60-61 F;

d. Behavioral training to increase the youth's adaptive functioning and communication skills;

e. Training a family member in behavioral modification methods as established in 12VAC30-60-61 F;

f. Documentation and analysis of quantifiable behavioral data related to the treatment objectives; and

g. Care coordination.

4. All personal care services rendered to children under the authority of 42 CFR 440.40(b) shall comply with the requirements of 12VAC30-60-65 with regard to electronic visit verification.

J. School health services.

1. School health assistant services are repealed effective July 1, 2006.

2. School divisions may provide routine well-child screening services under the State Plan. Diagnostic and treatment services that are otherwise covered under early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment services, shall not be covered for school divisions. School divisions to receive reimbursement for the screenings shall be enrolled with DMAS as clinic providers.

a. Youth enrolled in managed care organizations shall receive screenings from those organizations. School divisions shall not receive reimbursement for screenings from DMAS for these individuals.

b. School-based services are listed in a recipient's individualized education program (IEP) and covered under one or more of the service categories described in § 1905(a) of the Social Security Act. These services are necessary to correct or ameliorate defects of physical or mental illnesses or conditions.

3. Providers shall be licensed under the applicable state practice act or comparable licensing criteria by the Virginia Department of Education, and shall meet applicable qualifications under 42 CFR Part 440. Identification of defects, illnesses or conditions and services necessary to correct or ameliorate them shall be performed by practitioners qualified to make those determinations within their licensed scope of practice, either as a member of the IEP team or by a qualified practitioner outside the IEP team.

a. Providers shall be employed by the school division or under contract to the school division.

b. Supervision of services by providers recognized in subdivision 4 of this subsection shall occur as allowed under federal regulations and consistent with Virginia law, regulations, and DMAS provider manuals.

c. The services described in subdivision 4 of this subsection shall be delivered by school providers, but may also be available in the community from other providers.

d. Services in this subsection are subject to utilization control as provided under 42 CFR Parts 455 and 456.

e. The IEP shall determine whether or not the services described in subdivision 4 of this subsection are medically necessary and that the treatment prescribed is in accordance with standards of medical practice. Medical necessity is defined as services ordered by IEP providers. The IEP providers are qualified Medicaid providers to make the medical necessity determination in accordance with their scope of practice. The services must be described as to the amount, duration and scope.

4. Covered services include:

a. Physical therapy and occupational therapy and services for individuals with speech, hearing, and language disorders, performed by, or under the direction of, providers who meet the qualifications set forth at 42 CFR 440.110. This coverage includes audiology services.

b. Skilled nursing services are covered under 42 CFR 440.60. These services are to be rendered in accordance to the licensing standards and criteria of the Virginia Board of Nursing. Nursing services are to be provided by licensed registered nurses or licensed practical nurses but may be delegated by licensed registered nurses in accordance with the regulations of the Virginia Board of Nursing, especially the section on delegation of nursing tasks and procedures. The licensed practical nurse is under the supervision of a registered nurse.

(1) The coverage of skilled nursing services shall be of a level of complexity and sophistication (based on assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation) that is consistent with skilled nursing services when performed by a licensed registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse. These skilled nursing services shall include dressing changes, maintaining patent airways, medication administration or monitoring, and urinary catheterizations.

(2) Skilled nursing services shall be directly and specifically related to an active, written plan of care developed by a registered nurse that is based on a written order from a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner for skilled nursing services. This order shall be recertified on an annual basis.

c. Psychiatric and psychological services performed by licensed practitioners within the scope of practice are defined under state law or regulations and covered as physicians' services under 42 CFR 440.50 or medical or other remedial care under 42 CFR 440.60. These outpatient services include individual medical psychotherapy, group medical psychotherapy coverage, and family medical psychotherapy. Psychological and neuropsychological testing are allowed when done for purposes other than educational diagnosis, school admission, evaluation of an individual with intellectual or developmental disability prior to admission to a nursing facility, or any placement issue. These services are covered in the nonschool settings also. School providers who may render these services when licensed by the state include psychiatrists, licensed clinical psychologists, school psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, professional counselors, psychiatric clinical nurse specialists, marriage and family therapists, and school social workers.

d. Personal care services are covered under 42 CFR 440.167 and performed by persons qualified under this subsection. The personal care assistant is supervised by a DMAS recognized school-based health professional who is acting within the scope of licensure. This professional develops a written plan for meeting the needs of the individual, which is implemented by the assistant. The assistant must have qualifications comparable to those for other personal care aides recognized by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services. The assistant performs services such as assisting with toileting, ambulation, and eating. The assistant may serve as an aide on a specially adapted school vehicle that enables transportation to or from the school or school contracted provider on days when the student is receiving a Medicaid-covered service under the IEP. Individuals requiring an aide during transportation on a specially adapted vehicle shall have this stated in the IEP.

e. Medical evaluation services are covered as physicians' services under 42 CFR 440.50 or as medical or other remedial care under 42 CFR 440.60. Persons performing these services shall be licensed physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners. These practitioners shall identify the nature or extent of an individual's medical or other health related condition.

f. Transportation is covered as allowed under 42 CFR 431.53 and described at State Plan Attachment 3.1-D (12VAC30-50-530). Transportation shall be rendered only by school division personnel or contractors. Transportation is covered for an individual who requires transportation on a specially adapted school vehicle that enables transportation to or from the school or school contracted provider on days when the individual is receiving a Medicaid-covered service under the IEP. Transportation shall be listed in the individual's IEP. Individuals requiring an aide during transportation on a specially adapted vehicle shall have this stated in the IEP.

g. Assessments are covered as necessary to assess or reassess the need for medical services in an individual's IEP and shall be performed by any of the above licensed practitioners within the scope of practice. Assessments and reassessments not tied to medical needs of the individual shall not be covered.

5. DMAS will ensure through quality management review that duplication of services will be monitored. School divisions have a responsibility to ensure that if an individual is receiving additional therapy outside of the school, that there will be coordination of services to avoid duplication of service.

K. Family planning services and supplies for individuals of child-bearing age.

1. Service must be ordered or prescribed and directed or performed within the scope of the license of a practitioner of the healing arts.

2. Family planning services shall be defined as those services that delay or prevent pregnancy. Coverage of such services shall not include services to treat infertility or services to promote fertility. Family planning services shall not cover payment for abortion services and no funds shall be used to perform, assist, encourage, or make direct referrals for abortions.

3. Family planning services as established by § 1905(a)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act include annual family planning exams; cervical cancer screening for women; sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing; lab services for family planning and STI testing; family planning education, counseling, and preconception health; sterilization procedures; nonemergency transportation to a family planning service; and U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved prescription and over-the-counter contraceptives, subject to limits in 12VAC30-50-210.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia, 42 USC § 1396 et seq.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 4, eff. April 1, 1993; amended, eff. June 30, 1993; Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 14, Issue 7, eff. January 22, 1998; Volume 17, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 2001; Volume 20, Issue 7, eff. February 1, 2004; Volume 22, Issue 8, eff. January 25, 2006; Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. January 1, 2008; Volume 25, Issue 5, eff. December 10, 2008; Volume 26, Issue 11, eff. March 3, 2010; Volume 31, Issue 9, eff. January 30, 2015; Volume 33, Issue 11, eff. February 22, 2017; Volume 33, Issue 12, eff. March 8, 2017; Volume 33, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2017; Volume 34, Issue 3, eff. November 16, 2017; Volume 35, Issue 2, eff. October 27, 2018; Volume 35, Issue 6, eff. December 12, 2018; Volume 35, Issue 10, eff. February 21, 2019; Volume 35, Issue 24, eff. August 22, 2019; Volume 37, Issue 14, eff. April 14, 2021; Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. August 18, 2021; Volume 38, Issue 12, eff. March 17, 2022.

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