12VAC30-50-320. Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

Part III. Amount, Duration, and Scope of Services

12VAC30-50-100. Inpatient hospital services provided at general acute care hospitals and freestanding psychiatric hospitals; enrolled providers.

A. Service authorization of all inpatient hospital services will be performed. This applies to both general acute care hospitals and freestanding psychiatric hospitals. Nonauthorized inpatient services will not be covered or reimbursed by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) or its contractor. Service authorization shall be based on criteria specified by DMAS.

1. Admission review.

a. Planned/scheduled admissions. Review shall be done prior to admission to determine that inpatient hospitalization is medically justified. An initial length of stay shall be assigned at the time of this review. Adverse authorization decisions shall have available a reconsideration process as set out in subdivision 4 of this subsection.

b. Unplanned/urgent or emergency admissions. These admissions will be permitted before any service authorization procedures. Review shall be performed within one working day to determine that inpatient hospitalization is medically justified. An initial length of stay shall be assigned for those admissions which have been determined to be appropriate. Adverse authorization decisions shall have available a reconsideration process as set out in subdivision 4 of this subsection.

2. Concurrent review shall end for nonpsychiatric claims with dates of admission and services on or after July 1, 1998, with the full implementation of the DRG reimbursement methodology. Concurrent review shall be done to determine that inpatient hospitalization continues to be medically necessary. Prior to the expiration of the previously assigned initial length of stay, the provider shall be responsible for obtaining authorization for continued inpatient hospitalization. If continued inpatient hospitalization is determined necessary, an additional length of stay shall be assigned. Concurrent review shall continue in the same manner until the discharge of the patient from acute inpatient hospital care. Adverse authorization decisions shall have available a reconsideration process as set out in subdivision 4 of this subsection.

3. Retrospective review shall be performed when a provider is notified of a patient's retroactive eligibility for Medicaid coverage. It shall be the provider's responsibility to obtain authorization for covered days prior to billing DMAS for these services. Adverse authorization decisions shall have available a reconsideration process as set out in subdivision 4 of this subsection.

4. Reconsideration process. Providers shall be given the opportunity to request a reconsideration of any adverse service authorization decision. Reconsideration requests shall be reviewed by a physician. Should the case be denied, the member or provider may request an appeal by following the procedures described in the denial letter.

5. Appeals process.

a. Recipient appeals. Upon receipt of a denial letter, the recipient shall have the right to appeal the adverse decision. Under the Client Appeals regulations, Part I (12VAC 30-110-10 et seq.) of 12VAC 30-110, the recipient shall have 30 days from the date of the denial letter to file an appeal.

b. Provider appeals. If the reconsideration steps are exhausted and the provider continues to disagree, upon receipt of the denial letter, the provider shall have 30 days from the date of the denial letter to file an appeal if the issue is whether DMAS will reimburse the provider for services already rendered. The appeal shall be held in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

B. Out-of-state inpatient general acute care hospitals and freestanding psychiatric hospitals, enrolled providers. In addition to meeting all of the service authorization requirements specified in subsection A of this section, out-of-state hospitals must further demonstrate that the requested admission meets at least one of the following additional standards. Services provided out of state for circumstances other than these specified reasons shall not be covered.

1. The medical services must be needed because of a medical emergency;

2. Medical services must be needed and the recipient's health would be endangered if he were required to travel to his state of residence;

3. The state determines, on the basis of medical advice, that the needed medical services, or necessary supplementary resources, are more readily available in the other state; or

4. It is the general practice for recipients in a particular locality to use medical resources in another state.

C. Cosmetic surgical procedures shall not be covered unless performed for physiological reasons and require DMAS prior approval.

D. Reimbursement for induced abortions is provided in only those cases in which there would be a substantial endangerment to life of the mother if the fetus were carried to term.

E. Mandatory lengths of stay.

1. Coverage for a normal, uncomplicated vaginal delivery shall be limited to the day of delivery plus an additional two days unless additional days are medically justified. Coverage for cesarean births shall be limited to the day of delivery plus an additional four days unless additional days are medically justified.

2. Coverage for a radical or modified radical mastectomy for treatment of disease or trauma of the breast shall be provided for a minimum of 48 hours. Coverage for a total or partial mastectomy with lymph node dissection for treatment of disease or trauma of the breast shall be provided for a minimum of 24 hours. Additional days beyond the specified minimums for either radical, modified, total, or partial mastectomies may be covered if medically justified and prior authorized until the diagnosis related grouping methodology is fully implemented. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring the provision of inpatient coverage where the attending physician in consultation with the patient determines that a shorter period of hospital stay is appropriate.

F. Coverage in freestanding psychiatric hospitals shall not be available for individuals aged 21 through 64. Medically necessary inpatient psychiatric care rendered in a psychiatric unit of a general acute care hospital shall be covered for all Medicaid eligible individuals, regardless of age, within the limits of coverage prescribed in this section and 12VAC30-50-105.

G. For the purposes of organ transplantation, all similarly situated individuals will be treated alike. Transplant services for kidneys, corneas, hearts, lungs, and livers shall be covered for all eligible persons. High dose chemotherapy and bone marrow/stem cell transplantation shall be covered for all eligible persons with a diagnosis of lymphoma, breast cancer, leukemia, or myeloma. Transplant services for any other medically necessary transplantation procedures that are determined to not be experimental or investigational shall be limited to children (under 21 years of age). Kidney, liver, heart, and bone marrow/stem cell transplants and any other medically necessary transplantation procedures that are determined to not be experimental or investigational require service authorization by DMAS medical support. Inpatient hospitalization related to kidney transplantation will require service authorization at the time of admission and, concurrently, for length of stay. Cornea transplants do not require service authorization of the procedure, but inpatient hospitalization related to such transplants will require service authorization for admission and, concurrently, for length of stay. The patient must be considered acceptable for coverage and treatment. The treating facility and transplant staff must be recognized as being capable of providing high quality care in the performance of the requested transplant. Standards for coverage of organ transplant services are in 12VAC30-50-540 through 12VAC30-50-580.

H. In compliance with federal regulations at 42 CFR 441.200, Subparts E and F, claims for hospitalization in which sterilization, hysterectomy, or abortion procedures were performed shall be subject to review. Hospitals must submit the required DMAS forms corresponding to the procedures. Regardless of authorization for the hospitalization during which these procedures were performed, the claims shall suspend for manual review by DMAS. If the forms are not properly completed or not attached to the bill, the claim will be denied or reduced according to DMAS policy.

I. Addiction and recovery treatment services shall be covered in inpatient facilities consistent with 12VAC 30-130-5000 et seq.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 1, eff. July 1, 1991; amended, eff. September 1, 1991; amended, eff. July 19, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 18, eff. July 14, 1994; Volume 11, Issue 13, eff. April 19, 1995; Volume 13, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 7, eff. January 21, 1998; Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1998; Volume 14, Issue 25, eff. September 30, 1998; Volume 15, Issue 24, eff. September 15, 1999; Volume 16, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2000; Volume 18, Issue 6, eff. January 2, 2002; Volume 18, Issue 7, eff. January 16, 2002; Volume 26, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2010; Volume 33, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2017; Volume 37, Issue 2, eff. October 30, 2020.

12VAC30-50-105. Inpatient hospital services provided at general acute care hospitals and freestanding psychiatric hospitals; nonenrolled providers (nonparticipating/out of state).

A. The full DRG inpatient reimbursement methodology shall become effective July 1, 1998, for general acute care hospitals and freestanding psychiatric hospitals which are nonenrolled providers (nonparticipating/out of state) and the same reviews, criteria, and requirements shall apply as are applied to enrolled, in-state, participating hospitals in 12VAC30-50-100.

B. Inpatient hospital services rendered by nonenrolled providers shall not require service authorization with the exception of transplants as described in subsection I of this section and this subsection. However, these inpatient hospital services claims will be suspended from automated computer payment and will be manually reviewed for medical necessity as described in subsections B through I of this section using criteria specified by DMAS. Inpatient hospital services provided out of state to a Medicaid recipient who is a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall only be reimbursed under at least one of the following conditions. It shall be the responsibility of the hospital, when requesting service authorization for the admission, to demonstrate that one of the following conditions exists in order to obtain authorization.

1. The medical services must be needed because of a medical emergency;

2. Medical services must be needed and the recipient's health would be endangered if he were required to travel to his state of residence;

3.The state determines, on the basis of medical advice, that the needed medical services, or necessary supplementary resources, are more readily available in the other state;

4. It is the general practice for recipients in a particular locality to use medical resources in another state.

C. Cosmetic surgical procedures shall not be covered unless performed for physiological reasons and require DMAS prior approval.

D. Reimbursement for induced abortions is provided in only those cases in which there would be a substantial endangerment to life of the mother if the fetus was carried to term.

E. Hospital claims with an admission date prior to the first surgical date, regardless of the number of days prior to surgery, must be medically justified. The hospital must write on or attach the justification to the billing invoice for consideration of reimbursement for all pre-operative days. Medically justified situations are those where appropriate medical care cannot be obtained except in an acute hospital setting thereby warranting hospital admission. Medically unjustified days in such admissions will be denied.

F. The admission and length of stay must be medically justified and service authorized via the admission and concurrent review processes described in subsection A of 12VAC30-50-100. Medically unjustified days in such hospitalizations shall not be reimbursed by DMAS.

G. Mandatory lengths of stay.

H. Reimbursement will not be provided for inpatient hospitalization for those surgical and diagnostic procedures listed on the DMAS outpatient surgery list unless the inpatient stay is medically justified or meets one of the exceptions.

I. For purposes of organ transplantation, all similarly situated individuals will be treated alike. Transplant services for kidneys, corneas, hearts, lungs, and livers shall be covered for all eligible persons. High dose chemotherapy and bone marrow/stem cell transplantation shall be covered for all eligible persons with a diagnosis of lymphoma, breast cancer, leukemia, or myeloma. Transplant services for any other medically necessary transplantation procedures that are determined to not be experimental or investigational shall be limited to children (under 21 years of age). Kidney, liver, heart, bone marrow/stem cell transplants and any other medically necessary transplantation procedures that are determined to not be experimental or investigational require service authorization by DMAS. Cornea transplants do not require service authorization. The patient must be considered acceptable for coverage and treatment. The treating facility and transplant staff must be recognized as being capable of providing high quality care in the performance of the requested transplant. Standards for coverage of organ transplant services are in 12VAC30-50-540 through 12VAC30-50-580.

J. In compliance with 42 CFR 441.200, Subparts E and F, claims for hospitalization in which sterilization, hysterectomy, or abortion procedures were performed shall be subject to review of the required DMAS forms corresponding to the procedures. The claims shall suspend for manual review by DMAS. If the forms are not properly completed or not attached to the bill, the claim will be denied or reduced according to DMAS policy.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 7, eff. January 21, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1998; Volume 14, Issue 25, eff. September 30, 1998; Volume 15, Issue 24, eff. September 15, 1999; Volume 16, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2000; Volume 18, Issue 6, eff. January 2, 2002; Volume 18, Issue 7, eff. January 16, 2002; Volume 26, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2010; Volume 37, Issue 2, eff. October 30, 2020.

12VAC30-50-110. Outpatient hospital and rural health clinic services.

A. Outpatient hospital services.

1. Outpatient hospital services means preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, or palliative services that:

a. Are furnished to outpatients;

b. Except in the case of nurse-midwife services, as specified in 42 CFR 440.165, are furnished by or under the direction of a physician or dentist; and

c. Are furnished by an institution that:

(1) Is licensed or formally approved as a hospital by an officially designated authority for state standard-setting; and

(2) Except in the case of medical supervision of nurse-midwife services, as specified in 42 CFR 440.165, meets the requirements for participation in Medicare.

2. Reimbursement for induced abortions is provided in only those cases in which there would be substantial endangerment of life to the mother if the fetus was carried to term.

3. The following limits and requirements shall apply to DMAS coverage of outpatient observation beds.

a. Observation bed services shall be covered when they are reasonable and necessary to evaluate a medical condition to determine appropriate level of treatment.

b. Nonroutine observation for underlying medical complications, as explained in documentation attached to the provider's claim for payment, after surgery or diagnostic services shall be covered. Routine use of an observation bed shall not be covered. Noncovered routine use shall be:

(1) Routine preparatory services and routine recovery time for outpatient surgical or diagnostic testing services (e.g., services for routine post-operative monitoring during a normal recovery period (four to six hours)).

(2) Observation services provided in conjunction with emergency room services, unless, following the emergency treatment, there are clear medical complications which must be managed by a physician other than the original emergency physician.

(3) Any substitution of an outpatient observation service for a medically appropriate inpatient admission.

c. These services must be billed as outpatient care and may be provided for up to 23 hours. A patient stay of 24 hours or more shall require inpatient precertification, where applicable.

d. When inpatient admission is required following observation services and prior approval has been obtained for the inpatient stay, observation charges must be combined with the appropriate inpatient admission and be shown on the inpatient claim for payment. Observation bed charges and inpatient hospital charges shall not be reimbursed for the same day.

4. Addiction and recovery treatment services shall be covered in outpatient hospital facilities consistent with 12VAC 30-130-5000 et seq.

B. Rural health clinic services and other ambulatory services furnished by a rural health clinic.

1. The same service limitations apply to rural health clinics as to all other services.

2. Addiction and recovery treatment services shall be covered in rural health clinics consistent with 12VAC 30-130-5000 et seq.

C. Federally qualified health center (FQHC) services and other ambulatory services that are covered under the plan and furnished by an FQHC in accordance with § 4231 of the State Medicaid Manual (HCFA-Pub. 45‑4).

1. The same service limitations apply to FQHCs as to all other services.

2. Addiction and recovery treatment services shall be covered in FQHCs consistent with 12VAC 30-130-5000 et seq.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 2, eff. November 7, 1990; amended, eff. June 30, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 8, Issue 14, eff. April 1, 1992; amended, Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; amended, Volume 11, Issue 17, eff. July 1, 1995; Volume 15, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 1999; Volume 26, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2010; Volume 33, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2017.

12VAC30-50-120. Other laboratory and x-ray services.

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

B. Prior authorization is required for the following nonemergency outpatient procedures: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), including Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) scans, including Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA), or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans performed for the purpose of diagnosing a disease process or physical injury. The referring physician ordering the scan must obtain the prior authorization in order for the servicing provider to be reimbursed for the scan. Nonemergency outpatient MRI, CAT and PET scans that are not prior authorized will not be covered or reimbursed by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS).

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-324 and 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 3, eff. June 30, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 20, Issue 1, eff. October 22, 2003; Volume 22, Issue 16, eff. July 3, 2006.

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 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"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 12VAC 30-60-143.

"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 12VAC 30-130-5170.

"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 12VAC 30-130-5160.

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

"Person centered" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"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 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"Recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"Resiliency" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"Self-advocacy" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"Strength-based" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"Supervision" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"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 12VAC 30-60-61.

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 12VAC 30-60-61 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 12VAC 30-60-61 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 12VAC 30-60-61 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 12VAC 30-60-61 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 12VAC 30-60-61 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 12VAC 30-60-61 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 12VAC 30-60-61 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 12VAC 30-110.

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 12VAC 30-60-25.

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 12VAC 30-130-5200 C and E through J.

4. Limitations and exclusions to service delivery shall be the same as set forth in 12VAC 30-130-5210.

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 12VAC 30-130-5180 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 12VAC 30-130-5000 et seq.

H. Services facilitators shall be required for all consumer-directed personal care services consistent with the requirements set out in 12VAC 30-120-935.

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 12VAC 30-60-61 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 12VAC 30-60-61 F;

b. Development of initial and updated ISPs as established in 12VAC 30-60-61 F;

c. Clinical supervision activities. Requirements for clinical supervision are set out in 12VAC 30-60-61 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 12VAC 30-60-61 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 12VAC 30-60-65 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.

12VAC30-50-131. Services provided by certified Early Intervention practitioners under EPSDT.

A. Definitions. The following words and terms when used in these regulations shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"DBHDS" means the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the lead state agency for Early Intervention services appointed by the Governor in accordance with Chapter 53 (§ 2.2-5300 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia.

"Early Intervention services" or "EI" means services provided through Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 USC § 1431 et seq.), as amended. Early Intervention services are specialized rehabilitative services covered in accordance with 42 CFR 440.130(d), which are designed to meet the developmental needs of each child and the needs of the family related to enhancing the child's development, and are provided to children from birth to age three who have (i) a 25% developmental delay in one or more areas of development, (ii) atypical development, or (iii) a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay.

"Individualized family service plan" or "IFSP" means a comprehensive and regularly updated statement specific to the child being treated containing, but not necessarily limited to, treatment or training needs, measurable outcomes expected to be achieved, services to be provided with the recommended frequency to achieve the outcomes, and estimated timetable for achieving the outcomes. The IFSP is developed by a multidisciplinary team that includes the family, under the auspices of the local lead agency.

"Local lead agency" means an agency under contract with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to facilitate implementation of a local Early Intervention system as described in Chapter 53 (§ 2.2-5300 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia.

"Primary care provider" means a practitioner who provides preventive and primary health care and is responsible for providing routine Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) screening and referral and coordination of other medical services needed by the child.

B. Coverage for Early Intervention services.

1. Early Intervention services shall be reimbursed for individuals younger than 21 years of age who meet criteria for Early Intervention services established by DBHDS in accordance with Chapter 53 (§ 2.2-5300 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia.

2. Early Intervention services shall be recommended by the child's primary care provider or other qualified EPSDT screening provider as necessary to correct or ameliorate a physical or mental condition.

3. Early Intervention services shall be provided in settings that are natural or normal for an infant or toddler without a disability, such as the home, unless there is justification for an atypical location.

4. Except for the initial and periodic assessments, Early Intervention services shall be described in an IFSP developed by the local lead agency and designed to prevent or ameliorate developmental delay within the context of the Early Intervention services system defined by Chapter 53 (§ 2.2-5300 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia.

5. Medical necessity for Early Intervention services shall be defined by the IFSP. The IFSP shall describe service needs in terms of amount, duration, and scope. The IFSP shall be approved by the child's primary care provider.

6. Covered Early Intervention services include the following functions provided with the infant or toddler and the child's parent or other authorized caregiver by a certified Early Intervention professional:

a. Assessment, including consultation with the child's family and other service providers, to evaluate:

(1) The child's level of functioning in the following developmental areas: cognitive development; physical development, including vision and hearing; communication development; social or emotional development; and adaptive development;

(2) The family's capacity to meet the developmental needs of the child; and

(3) Services needed to correct or ameliorate developmental conditions during the infant and toddler years. EI services include, but are not limited to, PT, OT, and speech therapy as described in 42 CFR 440.110, and developmental/rehabilitative services as described in 42 CFR 440.130(d). All licensed PT, OT, and speech therapy providers shall comply with requirements of 42 CFR 440.110. All EI providers are certified to provide EI services by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

b. Participation in a multidisciplinary team review of assessments to develop integrated, measurable outcomes for the IFSP.

c. The planning and design of activities, environments, and experiences to promote the normal development of an infant or toddler with a disability, consistent with the outcomes in the IFSP.

7. Covered Early Intervention services include the following functions when included in the IFSP and provided to an infant or toddler with a disability and the child's parent or other authorized caregiver by a certified Early Intervention professional or by a certified Early Intervention specialist under the supervision of a certified Early Intervention professional:

a. Providing families with information and training to enhance the development of the child.

b. Working with the child with a disability to promote normal development in one or more developmental domains.

c. Consulting with the child's family and other service providers to assess service needs; and plan, coordinate, and evaluate services to ensure that services reflect the unique needs of the child in all developmental domains.

C. The following functions shall not be covered under this section:

1. Screening to determine if the child is suspected of having a disability. Screening is covered as an EPSDT service provided by the primary care provider and is not covered as an Early Intervention service under this section.

2. Administration and coordination activities related to the development, review, and evaluation of the IFSP and procedural safeguards required by Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 USC § 1431 et seq.).

3. Services other than the initial and periodic assessments that are provided but are not documented in the child's IFSP or linked to a service in the IFSP.

4. Sessions that are conducted for family support, education, recreational, or custodial purposes, including respite or child care.

5. Services provided by a relative who is legally responsible for the child's care.

6. Services rendered in a clinic or provider's office without justification for the location.

7. Services provided in the absence of the child and a parent or other authorized caregiver identified in the IFSP with the exception of multidisciplinary team meetings, which need not include the child.

D. Qualifications of providers:

1. Individual practitioners of Early Intervention services must be certified by DBHDS as a qualified Early Intervention professional or Early Intervention specialist and hold a valid Medicaid Early Intervention provider agreement.

2. Certified individuals and service agencies or groups who employ or contract with certified individuals may enroll with DMAS as Early Intervention providers. In accordance with 42 CFR 431.51, recipients may obtain Early Intervention services from any willing and qualified Medicaid provider who participates in this service.

3. Certified EI practitioners are qualified to provide a specialized rehabilitative service for young children with developmental delays. Certified individuals and agencies will enroll with DMAS and bill for this specialized rehabilitative service as an EPSDT Early Intervention provider rather than as a speech therapist, rehabilitation facility, or other designation. EI providers are certified or licensed to provide services within the scope of their practice as defined under state law. All licensed physical therapy and occupational therapy providers and those providing services for individuals with speech, hearing, and language disorders shall comply with the requirements of 42 CFR 440.110.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 2, eff. October 25, 2012.

12VAC30-50-140. Physician's services whether furnished in the office, the patient's home, a hospital, a skilled nursing facility, or elsewhere.

A. Elective surgery as defined by the Program is surgery that is not medically necessary to restore or materially improve a body function.

B. Cosmetic surgical procedures are not covered unless performed for physiological reasons and require Program prior approval.

C. Routine physicals and immunizations are not covered except when the services are provided under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program and when a well-child examination is performed in a private physician's office for a foster child of the local social services department on specific referral from those departments.

D. Outpatient psychiatric services.

1. Psychiatric services can be provided by or under the supervision of an individual licensed under state law to practice medicine or osteopathy. Only the following licensed providers are permitted to provide psychiatric services under the supervision of an individual licensed under state law to practice medicine or osteopathy: an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S as defined in 12VAC30-50-130, or a licensed school psychologist as defined in § 54.1-3600 of the Code of Virginia. Medically necessary psychiatric services shall be covered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) or its designee and shall be directly and specifically related to an active written plan designed and signature dated by one of the health care professionals listed in this subdivision.

2. Psychiatric services shall be considered appropriate when an individual meets the following criteria:

a. Requires treatment in order to sustain behavioral or emotional gains or to restore cognitive functional levels that have been impaired;

b. Exhibits deficits in peer relations, dealing with authority; is hyperactive; has poor impulse control; is clinically depressed or demonstrates other dysfunctional clinical symptoms having an adverse impact on attention and concentration, ability to learn, or ability to participate in employment, educational, or social activities;

c. Is at risk for developing or requires treatment for maladaptive coping strategies; and

d. Presents a reduction in individual adaptive and coping mechanisms or demonstrates extreme increase in personal distress.

E. Any procedure considered experimental is not covered.

F. Reimbursement for induced abortions is provided in only those cases in which there would be a substantial endangerment of life to the mother if the fetus was carried to term.

G. Physician visits to inpatient psychiatric hospital patients are restricted to medically necessary authorized (for enrolled providers)/approved (for nonenrolled providers) inpatient psychiatric hospital days as determined by DMAS or its contractor.

H. (Reserved.)

I. Reimbursement shall not be provided for physician services provided to recipients in the inpatient setting whenever the facility is denied reimbursement.

J. (Reserved.)

K. For the purposes of organ transplantation, all similarly situated individuals will be treated alike. Transplant services for kidneys, corneas, hearts, lungs, and livers shall be covered for all eligible persons. High dose chemotherapy and bone marrow/stem cell transplantation shall be covered for all eligible persons with a diagnosis of lymphoma, breast cancer, leukemia, or myeloma. Transplant services for any other medically necessary transplantation procedures that are determined to not be experimental or investigational shall be limited to children (under 21 years of age). Kidney, liver, heart, and bone marrow/stem cell transplants and any other medically necessary transplantation procedures that are determined to not be experimental or investigational require service authorization by DMAS. Cornea transplants do not require service authorization. The patient must be considered acceptable for coverage and treatment. The treating facility and transplant staff must be recognized as being capable of providing high quality care in the performance of the requested transplant. Standards for coverage of organ transplant services are in 12VAC30-50-540 through 12VAC30-50-580.

L. Breast reconstruction/prostheses following mastectomy and breast reduction.

1. If prior authorized, breast reconstruction surgery and prostheses may be covered following the medically necessary complete or partial removal of a breast for any medical reason. Breast reductions shall be covered, if prior authorized, for all medically necessary indications. Such procedures shall be considered noncosmetic.

2. Breast reconstruction or enhancements for cosmetic reasons shall not be covered. Cosmetic reasons shall be defined as those that are not medically indicated or are intended solely to preserve, restore, confer, or enhance the aesthetic appearance of the breast.

M. Admitting physicians shall comply with the requirements for coverage of out-of-state inpatient hospital services. Inpatient hospital services provided out of state to a Medicaid recipient who is a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall only be reimbursed under at least one the following conditions. It shall be the responsibility of the hospital, when requesting service authorization for the admission, to demonstrate that one of the following conditions exists in order to obtain authorization. Services provided out of state for circumstances other than these specified reasons shall not be covered.

1. The medical services must be needed because of a medical emergency;

2. Medical services must be needed and the recipient's health would be endangered if he were required to travel to his state of residence;

3. The state determines, on the basis of medical advice, that the needed medical services, or necessary supplementary resources, are more readily available in the other state; or

4. It is general practice for recipients in a particular locality to use medical resources in another state.

N. In compliance with 42 CFR 441.200, Subparts E and F, claims for hospitalization in which sterilization, hysterectomy, or abortion procedures were performed shall be subject to review of the required DMAS forms corresponding to the procedures. The claims shall suspend for manual review by DMAS. If the forms are not properly completed or not attached to the bill, the claim will be denied or reduced according to DMAS policy.

O. Prior authorization is required for the following nonemergency outpatient procedures: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), including Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) scans, including Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA), or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans performed for the purpose of diagnosing a disease process or physical injury. The referring physician ordering nonemergency outpatient Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) scans, or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans must obtain prior authorization from DMAS for those scans. The servicing provider will not be reimbursed for the scan unless proper prior authorization is obtained from DMAS by the referring physician.

P. Addiction and recovery treatment services shall be covered in physician services consistent with 12VAC 30-130-5000 et seq.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 5, eff. April 1, 1993; amended, eff. June 30, 1993; amended, eff. July 19, 1993; amended, eff. June 29, 1994; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 13, eff. April 19, 1995; Volume 11, Issue 17, eff. July 1, 1995; Volume 12, Issue 3, eff. November 29, 1995; Volume 13, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 7, eff. January 21, 1998; Volume 14, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 1998; Volume 14, Issue 18, July 1, 1998; Volume 15, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 1999; Volume 15, Issue 6, eff. January 6, 1999; Volume 15, Issue 24, eff. September 15, 1999; Volume 16, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2000; Volume 18, Issue 6, eff. January 2, 2002; Volume 18, Issue 7, eff. January 16, 2002; Volume 19, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2003; Volume 20, Issue 1, eff. October 22, 2003; Volume 20, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2004; Volume 22, Issue 16, eff. July 3, 2006; Volume 26, Issue 8, eff. January 21, 2010; Volume 26, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2010; Volume 33, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2017; Volume 33, Issue 22, eff. July 26, 2017; Volume 35, Issue 5, eff. December 13, 2018; Volume 37, Issue 2, eff. October 30, 2020; Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. December 8, 2022.

12VAC30-50-150. Medical care by other licensed practitioners within the scope of their practice as defined by state law.

A. Podiatrists' services.

1. Covered podiatry services are defined as reasonable and necessary diagnostic, medical, or surgical treatment of disease, injury, or defects of the human foot. These services must be within the scope of the license of the podiatrists' profession and defined by state law.

2. The following services are not covered: preventive health care, including routine foot care; treatment of structural misalignment not requiring surgery; cutting or removal of corns, warts, or calluses; experimental procedures; acupuncture.

3. The Program may place appropriate limits on a service based on medical necessity or for utilization control, or both.

B. Optometrists' services. Diagnostic examination and optometric treatment procedures and services by ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians, as allowed by the Code of Virginia and by regulations of the Boards of Medicine and Optometry, are covered for all recipients. Routine refractions are limited to once in 24 months except as may be authorized by the agency.

C. Chiropractors' services are not provided.

D. In accordance with 42 CFR 440.60, licensed practitioners (including an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S as defined in 12VAC30-50-130 or a licensed school psychologist as defined in § 54.1-3600 of the Code of Virginia) may provide medical care or any other type of remedial care or services, other than physician's services, within the scope of practice as defined by state law.

E. Addiction and recovery treatment services shall be covered in other licensed practitioner services consistent with Part XX (12VAC 30-130-5000 et seq.) of 12VAC 30-130.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 6, eff. January 4, 1990; amended, eff. September 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 17, eff. July 1, 1995; Volume 12, Issue 3, eff. November 29, 1995; Volume 14, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 1998; Volume 15, Issue 6, eff. January 6, 1999; Volume 19, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2003; Volume 20, Issue 1, eff. October 22, 2003; Volume 20, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2004; Volume 22, Issue 16, eff. July 3, 2006; Volume 26, Issue 8, eff. January 21, 2010; Volume 33, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2017; Volume 33, Issue 22, eff. July 26, 2017; Volume 35, Issue 5, eff. December 13, 2018; Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. December 8, 2022.

12VAC30-50-160. Home health services.

A. Service must be ordered or prescribed by a physician, nurse practitioner (NP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), or physician assistant (PA). Services shall be directed or performed within the scope of a license of a practitioner of the healing arts. Home health services shall be provided in accordance with guidelines found in the Virginia Medicaid Home Health Manual.

B. Nursing services provided by a home health agency.

1. Intermittent or part-time nursing service provided by a home health agency or by a registered nurse when no home health agency exists in the area.

2. Patients may receive up to five visits by a licensed nurse annually. Limits are per recipient, regardless of the number of providers rendering services. "Annually" shall be defined as July 1 through June 30 for each recipient. If services beyond these limitations are determined by a practitioner, as defined in subsection A of this section, to be required, then the provider shall request prior authorization from DMAS for additional services. Payment shall not be made for additional service unless authorized by DMAS.

C. Home health aide services provided by a home health agency.

1. Home health aides must function under the supervision of a registered nurse.

2. Home health aides must meet the certification requirements specified in 42 CFR 484.80.

3. For home health aide services, patients may receive up to 32 visits annually. Limits shall be per recipient, regardless of the number of providers rendering services. "Annually" shall be defined as July 1 through June 30 for each recipient.

D. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech pathology services and audiology services provided by a home health agency or medical rehabilitation facility.

1. Service covered only as part of a plan of care developed by a practitioner, as defined in subsection A of this section.

2. Patients may receive up to five visits for each rehabilitative therapy service ordered annually without authorization. Limits shall apply per recipient regardless of the number of providers rendering services. "Annually" shall be defined as July 1 through June 30 for each recipient. If services beyond these limitations are determined by the practitioner, as defined in subsection A of this section, to be required, then the provider shall request prior authorization from DMAS for additional services.

E. The following services are not covered under the home health services program:

1. Medical social services;

2. Services or items which would not be paid for if provided to an inpatient of a hospital, such as private-duty nursing services, or items of comfort which have no medical necessity, such as television;

3. Community food service delivery arrangements;

4. Domestic or housekeeping services that are unrelated to patient care and that materially increase the time spent on a visit;

5. Custodial care, which is patient care that primarily requires protective services rather than definitive medical and skilled nursing care; and

6. Services related to cosmetic surgery.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 7, eff. September 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 17, eff. July 1, 1995; Volume 12, Issue 16, eff. July 1, 1996; Volume 12, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1996; Volume 13, Issue 7, eff. February 1, 1997; Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1998; Volume 16, Issue 2, eff. November 10, 1999; Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. February 27, 2002; Volume 19, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2003; Volume 33, Issue 25, eff. January 13, 2018; Volume 36, Issue 24, eff. August 19, 2020.

12VAC30-50-165. Durable medical equipment suitable for use in the home.

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

"Affirmative contact" means speaking, either face-to-face or by phone, with either the individual or caregiver in order to ascertain that the DME is still needed and appropriate. Such contacts shall be documented in the individual's medical record.

"Certificate of Medical Necessity" or "CMN" means the DMAS-352 form required to be completed and submitted in order for DMAS to provide reimbursement.

"Designated agent" means an entity with whom DMAS has contracted to perform functions such as provider audits and prior authorizations of services.

"DMAS" means the Department of Medical Assistance Services.

"DME provider" means those entities enrolled with DMAS to render DME services.

"Durable medical equipment" or "DME" means medical equipment, supplies, and appliances suitable for use in the home consistent with 42 CFR 440.70(b)(3) that treat a diagnosed condition or assist the individual with functional limitations.

"Enteral nutrition" refers to any method of feeding that uses the gastrointestinal tract to deliver part or all of an individual's caloric requirements. "Enteral nutrition" may include a routine oral diet, the use of liquid supplements, or delivery of part or all of the daily requirements by use of a tube, which is called tube feeding.

"Expendable supply" means an item that is used and then disposed of.

"Frequency of use" means the rate of use by the individual as documented by the number of times per day, week, or month, as appropriate, a supply is used by the individual. Frequency of use must be recorded on the face of the CMN in such a way that reflects whether a supply is used by the individual on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Frequency of use may be documented on the CMN as a range of the rate of use. By way of example and not limitation, the frequency of use of a supply may be expressed as a range, such as four to six adult diapers per day. However, large ranges shall not be acceptable documentation of frequency of use, for example, the range of one to six adult diapers per day shall not be acceptable. The frequency of use provides the justification for the total quantity of supplies ordered on the CMN.

"Functional limitation" means the inability to perform a normal activity.

"Practitioner" means a licensed provider of physician services as defined in 42 CFR 440.50.

"Prior authorization" or "PA" means the process of approving either by DMAS or its prior authorization contractor for the purposes of DMAS reimbursement for the service for the individual before it is rendered or reimbursed.

"Quantity" means the total number of supplies ordered on a monthly basis as reflected on the CMN. The monthly quantity of supplies ordered for the individual shall be dependent upon the individual's frequency of use.

B. General requirements and conditions.

1. a. All medically necessary supplies and equipment shall be covered. Unusual amounts, types, and duration of usage must be authorized by DMAS in accordance with published policies and procedures. When determined to be cost effective by DMAS, payment may be made for rental of the equipment in lieu of purchase.

b. No provider shall have a claim of ownership on DME reimbursed by Virginia Medicaid once it has been delivered to the Medicaid individual. Providers shall only be permitted to recover DME, for example, when DMAS determines that it does not fulfill the required medically necessary purpose as set out in the Certificate of Medical Necessity, when there is an error in the ordering practitioner's CMN, or when the equipment was rented.

2. DME providers shall adhere to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations and DMAS policies for DME. DME providers shall comply with all other applicable Virginia laws and regulations requiring licensing, registration, or permitting. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations that are required by a licensing agency shall result in denial of coverage for DME.

3. DME must be furnished pursuant to a properly completed Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN) (DMAS-352). In order to obtain Medicaid reimbursement, specific fields of the DMAS-352 form shall be completed as specified in 12VAC 30-60-75.

4. DME shall be ordered by the licensed practitioner and shall be related to medical treatment of the Medicaid individual. The complete DME order shall be recorded on the CMN for Medicaid individuals to receive such services. In the absence of a different effective period determined by DMAS or its designated agent, the CMN shall be valid for a maximum period of six months for Medicaid individuals younger than 21 years of age. In the absence of a different effective period determined by DMAS or its designated agent, the maximum valid time period for CMNs for Medicaid individuals 21 years of age and older shall be 12 months. The validity of the CMN shall terminate when the individual's medical need for the prescribed DME no longer exists as determined by the licensed practitioner.

5. DME shall be furnished exactly as ordered by the licensed practitioner who signed the CMN. The CMN and any supporting verifiable documentation shall be fully completed, signed, and dated by the licensed practitioner, and in the DME provider's possession within 60 days from the time the ordered DME is initially furnished by the DME provider. Each component of the DME shall be specifically ordered on the CMN by the licensed practitioner.

6. The CMN shall not be changed, altered, or amended after the licensed practitioner has signed it. If the individual's condition indicates that changes in the ordered DME are necessary, the DME provider shall obtain a new CMN. All new CMNs shall be signed and dated by the licensed practitioner within 60 days from the time the ordered supplies are furnished by the DME provider.

7. DMAS or its designated agent shall have the authority to determine a different length of time from those specified in subdivisions 4, 5, and 6 of this subsection that a CMN may be valid based on medical documentation submitted on the CMN. The CMN may be completed by the DME provider or other appropriate health care professionals, but it shall be signed and dated by the licensed practitioner, as specified in subdivision 5 of this subsection. Supporting documentation may be attached to the CMN but the licensed practitioner's entire order for DME shall be on the CMN.

8. The DME provider shall retain a copy of the CMN and all supporting verifiable documentation on file for purposes of the DMAS post payment audit review. DME providers shall not create or revise CMNs or supporting documentation for this service after the initiation of the post payment review audit process. Licensed practitioners shall not complete, sign, or date CMNs once the post payment audit review has begun.

9. The DME provider shall be responsible for knowledge of items requiring prior authorization and the limitation on the provision of certain items as described in the Virginia Medicaid Durable Medical Equipment and Supplies Manual, Appendix B. Appendix B shall be the official listing of all items covered through the Virginia Medicaid DME program and list the service limits, items that require prior authorization, billing units, and reimbursement rates.

10. The DME provider shall be required to make affirmative contact with the individual or his caregiver and document the interaction prior to the next month's delivery and prior to the recertification CMN to assure that the appropriate quantity, frequency, and product are provided to the individual.

11. Supporting documentation, added to a completed CMN, shall be allowed to further justify the medical need for DME. Supporting documentation shall not replace the requirement for a properly completed CMN. The dates of the supporting documentation shall coincide with the dates of service on the CMN, and the supporting documentation shall be signed and dated by the licensed practitioner.

C. The billing unit for incontinence supplies (such as diapers, pull-ups, and panty liners) shall be by each product. For example, if the incontinence supply being provided is diapers, the billing unit would be by individual diaper, rather than a case of diapers. Prior authorization shall be required for incontinence supplies provided in quantities greater than the allowable service limit per month.

D. Supplies, equipment, or appliances that are not covered include the following:

1. Space conditioning equipment, such as room humidifiers, air cleaners, and air conditioners;

2. DME for any hospital or nursing facility resident, except ventilators and associated supplies or specialty beds for the treatment of wounds consistent with DME criteria for nursing facility residents that have been prior approved by DMAS or designated agent;

3. Furniture or appliances not defined as medical equipment (such as blenders, bedside tables, mattresses other than for a hospital bed, pillows, blankets or other bedding, special reading lamps, chairs with special lift seats, hand-held shower devices, exercise bicycles, and bathroom scales);

4. Items that are only for the individual's comfort and convenience or for the convenience of those caring for the individual (e.g., a hospital bed or mattress because the individual does not have a bed; wheelchair trays used as a desk surface); mobility items used in addition to primary assistive mobility aide for the convenience of the individual or his caregiver (e.g., an electric wheelchair plus a manual chair); and cleansing wipes;

5. Prosthesis, except for artificial arms, legs, and their supportive devices, which shall be prior authorized by DMAS or designated agent;

6. Items and services that are not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member (e.g., dentifrices; toilet articles; shampoos that do not require a licensed practitioner's prescription; dental adhesives; electric toothbrushes; cosmetic items, soaps, and lotions that do not require a licensed practitioner's prescription; sugar and salt substitutes; and support stockings);

7. Orthotics, including braces, diabetic shoe inserts, splints, and supports;

8. Home or vehicle modifications;

9. Items not suitable for or not used primarily in the home setting (e.g., car seats, equipment to be used while at school, etc.);

10. Equipment for which the primary function is vocationally or educationally related (e.g., computers, environmental control devices, speech devices, etc.);

11. Diapers for routine use by children younger than three years of age who have not yet been toilet trained;

12. Equipment or items that are not suitable for use in the home; and

13. Equipment or items that the Medicaid individual or his caregiver is unwilling or unable to use in the home.

E. For coverage of blood glucose meters for pregnant women, refer to 12VAC30-50-510.

F. Coverage of home infusion therapy.

1. Home infusion therapy shall be defined as the administration of fluids, drugs, chemical agents, or nutritional substances to individuals through intravenous (I.V.) therapy or an implantable pump in the home setting. DMAS shall reimburse for these services, supplies, and drugs on a service day rate methodology established in 12VAC 30-80-30. The therapies to be covered under this policy shall be: hydration therapy, chemotherapy, pain management therapy, drug therapy, and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). All the therapies that meet criteria shall be covered and do not require prior authorization. The established service day rate shall reimburse for all services delivered in a single day. There shall be no additional reimbursement for special or extraordinary services. In the event of incompatible drug administration, a separate HCPCS code shall be used to allow for rental of a second infusion pump and purchase of an extra administration tubing. When applicable, this code may be billed in addition to the other service day rate codes. There shall be documentation to support the use of this code on the I.V. Implementation Form. Proper documentation shall include the need for pump administration of the medications ordered, frequency of administration to support that they are ordered simultaneously, and indication of incompatibility.

2. The service day rate payment methodology shall be mandatory for reimbursement of all I.V. therapy services except for the individual who is enrolled in the Technology Assisted Waiver.

3. The following limitations shall apply to this service:

a. This service must be medically necessary to treat an individual's medical condition. The service must be ordered and provided in accordance with accepted medical practice. The service must not be desired solely for the convenience of the individual or the individual's caregiver.

b. In order for Medicaid to reimburse for this service, the individual shall:

(1) Reside in either a private home or a domiciliary care facility, such as an assisted living facility. Because the reimbursement for DME is already provided under institutional reimbursement, individuals in hospitals, nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and other institutional settings shall not be covered for this service;

(2) Be under the care of a licensed practitioner who prescribes the home infusion therapy and monitors the progress of the therapy;

(3) Have body sites available for peripheral intravenous catheter or needle placement or have a central venous access; and

(4) Be capable of either self-administering such therapy or have a caregiver who can be adequately trained, is capable of administering the therapy, and is willing to safely and efficiently administer and monitor the home infusion therapy. The caregiver must be willing to and be capable of following appropriate teaching and adequate monitoring. In cases where the individual is incapable of administering or monitoring the prescribed therapy and there is no adequate or trained caregiver, it may be appropriate for a home health agency to administer the therapy.

G. The DME vendor shall provide the equipment and supplies as prescribed by the licensed practitioner on the CMN. Orders shall not be changed unless the vendor obtains a new CMN, which includes the licensed practitioner's signature, prior to ordering the equipment or supplies or providing the equipment or supplies to the individual.

H. Medicaid shall not provide reimbursement to the DME vendor for services that are provided (i) prior to the date prescribed by the licensed practitioner; (ii) prior to the date of the delivery; or (iii) when services are not provided in accordance with DMAS published regulations and guidance documents. If reimbursement is denied for one or all of these reasons, the DME vendor shall not bill the Medicaid individual for the service that was provided.

I. The following criteria shall be satisfied through the submission of adequate and verifiable documentation on the CMN satisfactory to DMAS. Medically necessary DME shall be:

1. Ordered by the licensed practitioner on the CMN;

2. A reasonable and necessary part of the individual's treatment plan;

3. Consistent with the individual's diagnosis and medical condition, particularly the functional limitations and symptoms exhibited by the individual;

4. Not furnished solely for the convenience, safety, or restraint of the individual, the family or caregiver, the licensed practitioner, or other licensed practitioner or supplier;

5. Consistent with generally accepted professional medical standards (i.e., not experimental or investigational); and

6. Furnished at a safe, effective, and cost-effective level suitable for use in the individual's home environment.

J. Medical documentation shall provide DMAS or the designated agent with evidence of the individual's DME needs. Medical documentation may be recorded on the CMN or evidenced in the supporting documentation attached to the CMN. The following applies to the medical justification necessary for all DME services regardless of whether prior authorization is required. The documentation is necessary to identify:

1. The medical need for the requested DME;

2. The diagnosis related to the reason for the DME request;

3. The individual's functional limitation and its relationship to the requested DME;

4. How the DME service will treat the individual's medical condition;

5. For expendable supplies, the quantity needed and the medical reason the requested amount is needed;

6. The frequency of use to describe how often the DME is used by the individual;

7. The estimated duration of use of the equipment (rental and purchased);

8. Any other treatment being rendered to the individual relative to the use of DME;

9. How the needs were previously met, identifying changes that have occurred that necessitate the DME;

10. Other alternatives tried or explored and a description of the success or failure of these alternatives;

11. How the DME service is required in the individual's home environment; and

12. The individual's or his caregiver's ability, willingness, and motivation to use the DME.

K. DME provider responsibilities. To receive reimbursement, the DME provider shall, at a minimum, perform the following:

1. Verify the individual's current Medicaid eligibility;

2. Determine whether the ordered items are a covered service and require prior authorization;

3. Deliver all items ordered by the licensed practitioner;

4. Deliver only the quantities ordered by the licensed practitioner on the CMN and prior authorized by DMAS if required;

5. Deliver only the items for the periods of service covered by the licensed practitioner's order and prior authorized, if required, by DMAS;

6. Maintain a copy of the licensed practitioner's signed CMN and all verifiable supporting documentation for all DME ordered;

7. Document and justify the description of services (i.e., labor, repairs, maintenance of equipment);

8. Document and justify the medical necessity, frequency, and duration for all items and supplies as set out in the Medicaid DME guidance documents;

9. Document all DME provided to an individual in accordance with the licensed practitioner's orders. The delivery ticket or proof of delivery shall document the requirements as stated in subsection L of this section; and

10. Meet documentation requirements for the use of DME billing codes that have Individual Consideration (IC) indicated as the reimbursement fee to include a complete description of the items, a copy of the supplies invoices or the manufacturer's cost information, and all discounts that were received by the DME provider. Additional information regarding requirements for the IC reimbursement process can be found in the relevant agency guidance document.

L. Proof of delivery.

1. The delivery ticket shall contain the following information:

a. The Medicaid individual's name and Medicaid number or date of birth or a unique identifier (e.g., an individual's medical record number);

b. A detailed description of the items being delivered, including the product names and brands;

c. The serial numbers or the product numbers of the DME, if available;

d. The quantity delivered; and

e. The dated signature of either the individual or his caregiver.

2. If a commercial shipping service is used, the DME provider's records shall reference, in addition to the information required in subdivision 1 of this subsection, the delivery service's package identification numbers with a copy of the delivery service's delivery ticket, which may be printed from the online record on the delivery service's website.

a. The delivery service's ticket identification numbers shall be recorded on the DME provider's delivery documentation.

b. The service delivery documentation may be substituted for the individual's signature as proof of delivery.

c. In the absence of a delivery service's ticket, the DME provider shall obtain the individual's or his caregiver's dated signature on the DME provider's delivery ticket as proof of delivery.

3. Providers may use a postage-paid delivery invoice from the individual or his caregiver as a form of proof of delivery. The descriptive information concerning the items delivered, as described in subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection, as well as the required signature and date from either the individual or his caregiver, shall be included on this invoice.

4. DME providers shall make affirmative contact with the individual or his caregiver and document the interaction prior to dispensing repeat orders or refills to ensure that:

a. The item is needed;

b. The quantity, frequency, and product are appropriate; and

c. The individual resides at the address in the provider's records.

5. The DME provider shall contact the individual prior to each delivery. This contact shall not occur any sooner than seven days prior to the delivery or shipping date and shall be documented in the individual's record.

6. DME providers shall not deliver refill orders sooner than five days prior to the end of the usage period.

7. Providers shall not bill for dates of service prior to delivery. The provider shall confirm receipt of the DME via the shipping service record showing the item was delivered prior to billing. Claims for refill orders shall be the start of the new usage period and shall not overlap with the previous usage period.

8. The purchase prices listed in the Virginia Medicaid Durable Medical Equipment and Supplies Manual, Appendix B, represent the amount DMAS shall pay for newly purchased equipment. Unless otherwise approved by DMAS or its designated agent, documentation on the delivery ticket shall reflect that the purchased equipment is new upon the date of the service billed. Any warranties associated with new equipment shall be effective from the date of the service billed. Since Medicaid is the payer of last resort, the DME provider shall explore coverage available under the warranty prior to requesting coverage of repairs from DMAS.

9. DME for home use for an individual being discharged from a hospital or nursing facility may be delivered to the hospital or nursing facility one day prior to the discharge. However, the DME provider's claim date of service shall not begin prior to the date of the individual's discharge from the hospital or nursing facility.

M. Enteral nutrition products. Coverage of enteral nutrition (EN) that does not include a legend drug shall be limited to when the nutritional supplement is administered orally or through a nasogastric or gastrostomy tube and is necessary to treat a medical condition. DMAS shall provide coverage for nutritional supplements for enteral feeding only if the nutritional supplements are not available over the counter. Additionally, DMAS shall cover medical foods that are (i) specific to inherited diseases and metabolic disorders; (ii) not generally available in grocery stores, health food stores, or the retail section of a pharmacy; and (iii) not used as food by the general population. Coverage of EN shall not include the provision of routine infant formula or feedings as meal replacement only. Coverage of medical foods shall not extend to regular foods prepared to meet particular dietary restrictions, limitations, or needs, such as meals designed to address the situation of individuals with diabetes or heart disease. A nutritional assessment shall be required for all individuals for whom nutritional supplements are ordered.

1. General requirements and conditions.

a. Enteral nutrition products shall only be provided by enrolled DME providers.

b. DME providers shall adhere to all applicable DMAS policies, laws, and regulations. DME providers shall also comply with all other applicable Virginia laws and regulations requiring licensing, registration, or permitting. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations shall result in denial of coverage for enteral nutrition that is regulated by such licensing agency.

2. Service units and service limitations.

a. DME shall be furnished pursuant to the Certificate of Medical Necessity (DMAS-352).

b. The DME provider shall include documentation related to the nutritional evaluation findings on the CMN and may include supplemental information on any supportive documentation submitted with the CMN.

c. DMAS shall reimburse for medically necessary formulae and medical foods when used under a licensed practitioner's direction to augment dietary limitations or provide primary nutrition to individuals via enteral or oral feeding methods.

d. The CMN shall contain a licensed practitioner's order for the enteral nutrition products that are medically necessary to treat the diagnosed condition and the individual's functional limitation. The justification for enteral nutrition products shall be demonstrated in the written documentation either on the CMN or on the attached supporting documentation. The CMN shall be valid for a maximum period of six months.

e. Regardless of the amount of time that may be left on a six-month approval period, the validity of the CMN shall terminate when the individual's medical need for the prescribed enteral nutrition products ends, as determined by the licensed practitioner.

f. A face-to-face nutritional assessment completed by trained clinicians (e.g., physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, or a registered dietitian) shall be completed as required documentation of the need for enteral nutrition products.

g. Prior authorization of enteral nutrition products shall not be required. The DME provider shall assure that there is a valid CMN (i) completed every six months in accordance with subsection B of this section and (ii) on file for all Medicaid individuals for whom enteral nutrition products are provided.

(1) The DME provider is further responsible for assuring that enteral nutrition products are provided in accordance with DMAS reimbursement criteria in 12VAC 30-80-30 A 6.

(2) Upon post payment review, DMAS or its designated contractor may deny reimbursement for any enteral nutrition products that have not been provided and billed in accordance with this section and DMAS policies.

h. DMAS shall have the authority to determine that the CMN is valid for less than six months based on medical documentation submitted.

3. Provider responsibilities.

a. The DME provider shall provide the enteral nutrition products as prescribed by the licensed practitioner on the CMN. Physician orders shall not be changed unless the DME provider obtains a new CMN prior to ordering or providing the enteral nutrition products to the individual.

b. The licensed practitioner's order on the CMN shall specify either a brand name of the enteral nutrition product being ordered or the category of enteral nutrition products that must be provided. If a licensed practitioner orders a specific brand of enteral nutrition product, the DME provider shall supply the brand prescribed. The licensed practitioner order shall include the daily caloric intake and the route of administration for the enteral nutrition product. Supporting documentation may be attached to the CMN, but the entire licensed practitioner's order shall be on the CMN.

c. The CMN shall be signed and dated by the licensed practitioner within 60 days of the CMN begin service date. The order shall not be backdated to cover prior dispensing of enteral nutrition products. If the CMN is not signed and dated by the licensed practitioner within 60 days of the CMN begin service date, the CMN shall become valid on the date of the licensed practitioner's signature.

d. The CMN shall include all of the following elements:

(1) Height of individual (or length for pediatric patients);

(2) Weight of individual. For initial assessments, indicate the individual's weight loss over time;

(3) Tolerance of enteral nutrition product (e.g., is the individual experiencing diarrhea, vomiting, constipation). This element is only required if the individual is already receiving enteral nutrition products;

(4) Route of administration; and

(5) The daily caloric order and the number of calories per package or can.

e. Medicaid reimbursement shall be recovered when the enteral nutrition products have not been ordered on the CMN. Supporting documentation is allowed to justify the medical need for enteral nutrition products. Supporting documentation shall not replace the requirement for a properly completed CMN. The dates of the supporting documentation shall coincide with the dates of service on the CMN, and the supporting documentation shall be signed and dated by the licensed practitioner.

N. Reimbursement denials.

1. DMAS shall deny payment to the DME provider if any of the following occur:

a. Absence of a current, fully completed CMN appropriately signed and dated by the licensed practitioner;

b. Documentation does not verify that the item was provided to the individual;

c. Lack of medical documentation, signed by the licensed practitioner to justify the DME; or

d. Item is noncovered or does not meet DMAS criteria for reimbursement.

2. If reimbursement is denied by Medicaid, the DME provider shall not bill the Medicaid individual for the service that was provided.

O. Replacement DME following a disaster.

1. Medicaid individuals who (i) live in areas that have been declared by the Governor to be subject to a state of emergency in accordance with § 44-146.16 of the Code of Virginia, (ii) live in Virginia and were present in an area of the state that has been declared by the Governor to be subject to a state of emergency in accordance with § 44-146.16 of the Code of Virginia, or (iii) live in Virginia and can prove they were present in a state or federally declared disaster or emergency area in another state when the disaster occurred, and who need to replace DME previously approved by Medicaid that were damaged as a result of the disaster or emergency, may contact a DME provider (either enrolled in fee-for-service Medicaid or a Medicaid health plan) of their choice to obtain a replacement.

a. If the individual's DME provider has gone out of business or is unable to provide replacement DME, the individual may choose another provider who is enrolled as a DME provider with Medicaid or the Medicaid health plan. The original authorization will be canceled or amended and a new authorization will be provided to the new DME provider.

b. The DME provider shall submit a signed statement from the Medicaid individual requesting a change in DME provider in accordance with the declaration by the Governor as a state of emergency due to a disaster and giving the Medicaid individual's current place of residence.

c. The individual can contact the state Medicaid office or the Medicaid health plan to get help finding a new DME provider.

2. For Medicaid enrolled providers, the provider shall make a request to the service authorization contractor; however, a new CMN and medical documentation is not required unless the DME is beyond the service limit (e.g., the individual has a wheelchair that is older than five years). The provider shall keep documentation in the individual's record that includes the individual's current place of residence and states that the original DME was lost due to the disaster.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. February 27, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 4, eff. January 1, 2010; Volume 28, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2012; Volume 36, Issue 10, eff. February 21, 2020.

12VAC30-50-170. Private duty nursing services.

Private duty nursing services are not provided.

Statutory Authority

Social Security Act Title XIX; 42 CFR 430 to end; all other applicable statutory and regulatory sections.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 8, eff. September 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 12, Issue 3, eff. November 29, 1995.

12VAC30-50-180. Clinic services.

A. Reimbursement for induced abortions is provided in only those cases in which there would be a substantial endangerment of life to the mother if the fetus were carried to term.

B. Clinic services means preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, or palliative items or services that:

1. Are provided to outpatients;

2. Are provided by a facility that is not part of a hospital but is organized and operated to provide medical care to outpatients; and

3. Except in the case of nurse-midwife services, as specified in 42 CFR 440.165, are furnished by or under the direction of a physician or dentist.

C. Reimbursement to community mental health clinics for psychotherapy services is provided only when performed by a qualified therapist. For purposes of this section, a qualified therapist is:

1. A licensed physician who has completed three years of post-graduate residency training in psychiatry; or

2. An individual licensed by one of the boards administered by the Department of Health Professions to provide psychotherapy services including: (i) a licensed clinical psychologist; (ii) a LMHP-RP, as defined in 12VAC30-50-130; (iii) a licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner; (iv) a licensed clinical social worker; (v) a LMHP-S, as defined in 12VAC30-50-130; (vi) a licensed professional counselor; (vii) a LMHP-R, as defined in 12VAC30-50-130; (viii) a clinical nurse specialist-psychiatric; (ix) a licensed marriage and family therapists.

D. Addiction and recovery treatment services shall be covered in clinics consistent with 12VAC 30-130-5000 et seq.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 9, eff. July 1, 1989; amended, eff. September 1, 1993; Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 16, Issue 19, eff. July 5, 2000; Volume 20, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2004; Volume 26, Issue 8, eff. January 21, 2010; Volume 26, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2010; Volume 33, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2017; Volume 35, Issue 5, eff. December 13, 2018.

12VAC30-50-190. Dental services.

A. Dental services shall be covered for individuals younger than 21 years of age in fulfillment of the treatment requirements under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program and defined as routine diagnostic, preventive, or restorative procedures necessary for oral health provided by or under the direct supervision of a dentist in accordance with Chapter 27 (§ 54.1-2700 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia.

1. The Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) will provide any medically necessary dental service to individuals younger than 21 years of age.

2. Certain dental services, as described in the DMAS Office Reference Manual (Smiles for Children, March 13, 2014), prepared by DMAS's dental benefits administrator, require preauthorization or prepayment review by DMAS or its designee.

3. Dental services for individuals younger than the age of 21 years that do not require preauthorization or prepayment review are initial, periodic, and emergency examinations; required radiography necessary to develop a treatment plan; patient education; dental prophylaxis; fluoride treatments; routine amalgam and composite restorations; stainless steel crowns, prefabricated steel post and temporary (polycarbonate) crowns, and stainless steel bands; crown recementation; pulpotomies; emergency endodontics for temporary relief of pain; pulp capping; sedative fillings; therapeutic apical closure; topical palliative treatment for dental pain; removal of foreign body; simple extractions; root recovery; incision and drainage of abscess; surgical exposure of the tooth to aid eruption; sequestrectomy for osteomyelitis; and oral antral fistula closure.

B. Dental services determined by the dental provider to be medically appropriate for an adult woman during the term of her pregnancy and through the end of the month following the 60th day postpartum shall be provided to a Medicaid-enrolled pregnant woman. The dental services that shall be covered are (i) diagnostic x-rays and exams; (ii) preventive cleanings; (iii) restorative fillings; (iv) endodontics (root canals); (v) periodontics (gum-related treatments); (vi) prosthodontics, both removable and fixed (crowns, bridges, partial plates, and dentures); (vii) oral surgery (tooth extractions and other oral surgeries); and (viii) adjunctive general services (all covered services that do not fall into specific professional categories). These services require prepayment review by DMAS or its designee.

C. For the dental services covered for Medicaid-enrolled adult pregnant women, DMAS may place appropriate limits on a service based on medical necessity, for utilization control, or both. Examples of service limitations are examinations, prophylaxis, fluoride treatment (once/six months); space maintenance appliances; bitewing x-ray - two films (once/12 months); routine amalgam and composite restorations (once/three years); dentures (once/five years); extractions, tooth guidance appliances, permanent crowns and bridges, endodontics, patient education and sealants (once).

D. Limited oral surgery procedures, as defined and covered under Title XVIII (Medicare), are covered for all recipients, and require preauthorization or prepayment review by DMAS or its designee as described in the agency's Office Reference Manual located on the DMAS website at http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/#/dentalresources.

E. Residents of nursing facilities shall be permitted to deduct the costs of limited specific dental procedures from their payments toward the costs of their nursing facility care. Nursing facility residents shall be limited to deducting the following dental procedures: (i) routine exams and x-rays and dental cleaning twice yearly; (ii) full mouth x-rays once every three years; and (iii) extractions and fillings shall be permitted only if medically necessary as determined by DMAS.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 10, eff. July 1, 1989; amended Virginia Register Volume 6, Issue 17, eff. July 1, 1990; amended, eff. January 1, 1992; amended, Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 12, Issue 3, eff. November 29, 1995; Volume 18, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2002; Volume 22, Issue 23, eff. August 23, 2006; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 27, 2016; Volume 34, Issue 26, eff. September 19, 2018.

12VAC30-50-200. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and services for individuals with speech, hearing, and language disorders.

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

"Acute conditions" means conditions that are expected to be of brief duration (less than 12 months) and in which progress toward established goals is likely to occur frequently.

"DMAS" means the Department of Medical Assistance Services.

"Evaluation" means a thorough assessment completed by a licensed therapist that is signed and fully dated and includes the following components: a medical diagnosis, clinical signs and symptoms, medical history, current functional status, summary of previous rehabilitative treatment and the result, and the therapist's recommendation for treatment.

"Nonacute conditions" means conditions that are of long duration (greater than 12 months) and in which progress toward established goals is likely to occur slowly.

"Physical rehabilitation services" means any medical or remedial services, as defined in 42 CFR 440.130, recommended by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts, within the scope of his practice under state law, for maximum reduction of physical or mental disability and restoration of an eligible individual to his best possible functional level.

"Plan of care" means a treatment plan developed by a licensed therapist, which shall include medical diagnosis; current functional status; individualized, measurable, participant-oriented goals (long-term and short-term goals) that describe the anticipated level of functional improvement; achievement timeframes for all goals; therapeutic interventions or treatments to be utilized by the therapist; frequency and duration of the therapies; and a discharge plan and anticipated discharge date.

"Reevaluation" means an assessment that contains all of the same components as an evaluation and that shall be completed when an individual has a significant change in his condition or when an individual is readmitted to a rehabilitative service.

"SLP" means speech-language pathology.

B. Amount, duration, and scope of outpatient rehabilitation therapy services. The application of a national standardized set of medical necessity criteria in use in the industry, such as McKesson InterQual^® Criteria or an equivalent standard authorized in advance by DMAS, shall be required for this service.

1. DMAS covers outpatient rehabilitation therapy services provided in outpatient settings of acute care and rehabilitation hospitals, nursing facilities, home health agencies, and rehabilitation agencies. All providers of outpatient rehabilitation therapy services shall have a current provider agreement with DMAS. All practitioners and providers of services shall be required to meet applicable state and federal licensing or certification requirements, or both.

2. Outpatient rehabilitation therapy evaluations or therapy treatment, or both, when rendered solely for vocational or educational purposes shall not be covered under the authority of this section. Developmental or behavioral assessments shall not be covered under the authority of this section. Individuals shall have a medical diagnosis, as determined by a licensed physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts within the scope of his practice under state law, and meet the medical necessity criteria in order to qualify for a Medicaid-covered outpatient rehabilitation therapy evaluation or therapy treatment, or both.

3. Outpatient rehabilitation services shall include physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech-language pathology (SLP) services. These services shall be prescribed by a physician or a licensed practitioner of the healing arts within the scope of his practice under state law, such as a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant within the scope of his practice under state law, and be part of a written plan of care that is personally and legibly signed and dated by the licensed practitioner who ordered the services. Supervision for a licensed practitioner shall be provided by a physician as required by 18VAC90-30 and 18VAC90-40 for nurse practitioners and 18VAC85-50 for physician assistants. Any of these services may be offered as the sole rehabilitation service and is not contingent upon the provision of another service.

4. DMAS shall provide for the direct reimbursement to enrolled rehabilitation providers for covered outpatient rehabilitation therapy services when such services are rendered to individuals residing in nursing facilities. Such reimbursement shall not be provided for any sum that the rehabilitation provider collects, or is entitled to collect, from the nursing facility or any other available source, and provided further that the reimbursement shall in no way diminish any obligation of the nursing facility to DMAS to provide its residents such services as set forth in any applicable provider agreement.

5. The provision of physical therapy services shall meet all of the following conditions:

a. The services that the individual needs shall be directly and specifically related to a written plan of care developed, signed, and dated by a licensed physical therapist.

b. The services shall be of a level of complexity and sophistication or the condition of the individual shall be of a nature that the services can only be performed by a physical therapist licensed by the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy or a physical therapy assistant licensed by the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy and who is under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

c. When physical therapy services are provided by a qualified physical therapy assistant, such services shall be provided under the supervision of a qualified physical therapist who makes an onsite supervisory visit at least once every 30 days and documents the findings of the visit in the medical record. The supervisory visit shall not be reimbursable.

6. The provision of occupational therapy services shall meet all of the following conditions:

a. The services that the individual needs shall be directly and specifically related to a written plan of care developed, signed, and dated by a licensed occupational therapist.

b. The services shall be of a level of complexity and sophistication or the condition of the individual shall be of a nature that the services can only be performed by an occupational therapist certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine or an occupational therapy assistant certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy who is under the direct supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.

c. When occupational therapy services are provided by a qualified occupational therapy assistant, such services shall be provided under the supervision of a qualified occupational therapist who makes an onsite supervisory visit at least once every 30 days and documents the visit findings in the medical record. The supervisory visit shall not be reimbursable.

7. The provision of speech-language pathology services shall meet all of the following conditions:

a. The services that the individual needs shall be directly and specifically related to a written plan of care developed, signed, and dated by a licensed speech-language pathologist.

b. The services shall be of a level of complexity and sophistication or the condition of the individual shall be of a nature that the services can only be performed by a speech-language pathologist licensed by the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology or who, if exempted from licensure by statute, meets the requirements in 42 CFR 440.110(c).

c. DMAS shall reimburse for the provision of speech-language pathology services when provided by a person considered by DMAS as a speech-language assistant (i.e., has a bachelor's level or a master's level degree without licensure by the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and who does not meet the qualifications required for billing as a speech-language therapist). Speech-language assistants shall work under the direct supervision of a licensed professional therapist holding a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in SLP or a speech-language pathologist who meets the licensing requirements of the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

d. When services are provided by a therapist who is in his Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) of an SLP Program or a speech-language assistant, a licensed professional therapist holding a CCC in SLP or a speech-language pathologist who shall make a supervisory visit at least every 30 days while therapy is being conducted and document the findings in the medical record. The supervisory visit shall not be reimbursable.

C. Authorization for outpatient rehabilitation services.

1. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services provided in outpatient settings of acute and rehabilitation hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, nursing facilities, or home health agencies shall include authorization for up to five allowed visits, which do not require preceding service authorization, by each ordered rehabilitative service annually as long as the individual meets the medical necessity criteria as set out in subsection B of this section for the particular service. In situations when individuals require more than the initial five visits, providers shall submit to either DMAS or the service authorization contractor requests for service authorization and the required demonstration of medical necessity for such individuals. The provider shall maintain documentation to justify the need for services.

2. The provider shall request from DMAS or its contractor authorization for treatments deemed necessary by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts within the scope of his practice under state law beyond the initial five visits. Documentation for medical justification must include plans of care signed and dated by a physician or other licensed practitioner. Authorization for extended services shall be based on individual need. Payment shall not be made for additional services beyond the initial five visits unless the extended provision of services has been authorized by DMAS or its contractor.

3. Covered outpatient rehabilitative services for acute conditions shall include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services.

4. Covered outpatient rehabilitation services for long-term, nonacute conditions shall include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services.

5. Payment shall not be made for reimbursement requests submitted more than 12 months after the termination of services.

D. Service limitations. The following general conditions shall apply to reimbursable physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services:

1. The individual must be under the care of a physician or other licensed practitioner who is legally authorized to practice and who is acting within the scope of his license.

2. The orders for evaluation of the need for therapy services shall identify the specific therapy discipline and must be personally signed and dated prior to the initiation of rehabilitative services.

3. The plan of care shall include the specific procedures and modalities to be used and indicate the frequency and duration for services. A written plan of care shall be reviewed by the physician or licensed practitioner every 60 days for acute conditions, as defined in subsection A of this section, or annually for nonacute conditions. The requested services shall be necessary to carry out the plan of care and shall be related to the individual's condition. The plan of care shall be signed and dated, as specified in this section, by the physician or other licensed practitioner who reviews the plan of care.

4. Quality management reviews, pursuant to 12VAC 30-60-150, shall be performed by DMAS or its contractor.

5. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language services are to be considered for termination regardless of the service authorized visits or services when any of the following conditions are met:

a. No further potential for improvement is demonstrated and the individual has reached his maximum progress.

b. Lack of participation on the part of the individual is evident.

c. The individual has an unstable condition that affects his ability to actively participate in a rehabilitative plan of care.

d. Progress toward an established goal or goals cannot be achieved within a reasonable period of time as determined by the licensed therapist.

e. The established goal serves no purpose to increase meaningful functional or cognitive capabilities.

f. The service no longer requires the skills of a qualified therapist.

g. A home maintenance program has been established to maintain the individual's function at the level to which it has been restored.

E. All providers of outpatient rehabilitation services shall be required to enroll as Medicaid providers using the outpatient rehabilitation services provider agreement.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 11, eff. October 1, 1991; amended, eff. January 1, 1992; amended, eff. June 30, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 17, eff. July 1, 1995; Volume 12, Issue 5, eff. December 27, 1995; Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1998; Volume 32, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2016.

12VAC30-50-210. Prescribed drugs, dentures, and prosthetic devices, and eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in diseases of the eye or by an optometrist.

A. Prescribed drugs.

1. Drugs for which Federal Financial Participation is not available, pursuant to the requirements of § 1927 of the Social Security Act (OBRA 90 § 4401), shall not be covered.

2. Nonlegend drugs shall be covered by Medicaid in the following situations:

a. Insulin, syringes, and needles for diabetic patients;

b. Diabetic test strips for Medicaid recipients younger than 21 years of age;

c. Family planning supplies;

d. Designated categories of nonlegend drugs for Medicaid recipients in nursing homes;

e. Designated drugs prescribed by a licensed prescriber to be used as less expensive therapeutic alternatives to covered legend drugs; and

f. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or p-Menthane-3,8-diol for all Medicaid members of reproductive age (ages 14 through 44 years) and all pregnant women, when prescribed by an authorized health professional.

3. Legend drugs are covered for a maximum of a 34-day supply per prescription per patient with the exception of the drugs or classes of drugs identified in 12VAC30-50-520. FDA-approved drug therapies and agents for weight loss, when preauthorized, will be covered for recipients who meet the strict disability standards for obesity established by the Social Security Administration in effect on April 7, 1999, and whose condition is certified as life threatening, consistent with Department of Medical Assistance Services' medical necessity requirements, by the treating physician. For prescription orders for which quantity exceeds a 34-day supply, refills may be dispensed in sufficient quantity to fulfill the prescription order within the limits of federal and state laws and regulations.

4. Prescriptions for Medicaid recipients for multiple source drugs subject to 42 CFR 447.332 shall be filled with generic drug products unless the physician or other practitioners so licensed and certified to prescribe drugs certifies in his own handwriting "brand necessary" for the prescription to be dispensed as written or unless the drug class is subject to the preferred drug list.

5. New drugs shall be covered in accordance with the Social Security Act § 1927(d) (OBRA 90 § 4401).

6. The number of refills shall be limited pursuant to § 54.1-3411 of the Drug Control Act.

7. Drug prior authorization.

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

"Clinical data" means drug monographs as well as any pertinent clinical studies, including peer review literature.

"Complex drug regimen" means treatment or course of therapy that typically includes multiple medications, co-morbidities, or caregivers.

"Department" or "DMAS" means the Department of Medical Assistance Services.

"Drug" shall have the same meaning, unless the context otherwise dictates or the board otherwise provides by regulation, as provided in the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

"Emergency supply" means 72-hour supplies of the prescribed medication that may be dispensed if the prescriber cannot readily obtain authorization, or if the physician is not available to consult with the pharmacist, including after hours, weekends, and holidays and the pharmacist, in his professional judgment consistent with current standards of practice, feels that the patient's health would be compromised without the benefit of the drug, or other criteria defined by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and DMAS.

"Nonpreferred drugs" means those drugs that were reviewed by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and not included on the preferred drug list. Nonpreferred drugs may be prescribed but require authorization prior to dispensing to the patient.

"Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee," "P&T Committee" or "committee" means the committee formulated to review therapeutic classes, conduct clinical reviews of specific drugs, recommend additions or deletions to the preferred drug list, and perform other functions as required by the department.

"Preferred drug list" or "PDL" means the list of drugs that meet the safety, clinical efficacy, and pricing standards employed by the P&T Committee and adopted by the department for the Virginia Medicaid fee-for-service program. Most drugs on the PDL may be prescribed and dispensed in the Virginia Medicaid fee-for-service program without prior authorization; however, some drugs as recommended by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee may require authorization prior to dispensing to the patient.

"Prior authorization," as it relates to the PDL, means the process of review by a clinical pharmacist of legend drugs that are not on the preferred drug list, or other drugs as recommended by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, to determine if medically justified.

"State supplemental rebate" means any cash rebate that offsets Virginia Medicaid expenditure and that supplements the federal rebate. State supplemental rebate amounts shall be calculated in accordance with the Virginia Supplemental Drug Rebate Agreement Contract and Addenda.

"Therapeutic class" means a grouping of medications sharing the same Specific Therapeutic Class Code (GC3) within the Federal Drug Data File published by First Data Bank, Inc.

"Utilization review" means the prospective and retrospective processes employed by the agency to evaluate the medical necessity of reimbursing for certain covered services.

b. Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.

(1) The department shall utilize a Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee to assist in the development and ongoing administration of the preferred drug list and other pharmacy program issues. The committee may adopt bylaws that set out its make-up and functioning. A quorum for action of the committee shall consist of seven members.

(2) Vacancies on the committee shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments. DMAS shall appoint individuals for the committee that assures a cross-section of the physician and pharmacy community and remains compliant with General Assembly membership guidelines.

(3) Duties of the committee. The committee shall receive and review clinical and pricing data related to the drug classes. The committee's medical and pharmacy experts shall make recommendations to DMAS regarding various aspects of the pharmacy program. For the preferred drug list program, the committee shall select those drugs to be deemed preferred that are safe, clinically effective, as supported by available clinical data, and meet pricing standards. Cost effectiveness or any pricing standard shall be considered only after a drug is determined to be safe and clinically effective.

(4) As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves new drug products, the department shall ensure that the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee will evaluate the drug for clinical effectiveness and safety. Based on clinical information and pricing standards, the P&T Committee will determine if the drug will be included in the PDL or require prior authorization.

(a) If the new drug product falls within a drug class previously reviewed by the P&T Committee, until the review of the new drug is completed, it will be classified as nonpreferred, requiring prior authorization in order to be dispensed. The new drug will be evaluated for inclusion in the PDL no later than at the next review of the drug class.

(b) If the new drug product does not fall within a drug class previously reviewed by the P&T Committee, the new drug shall be treated in the same manner as the other drugs in its class.

(5) To the extent feasible, the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee shall review all drug classes included in the preferred drug list at least every 12 months and may recommend additions to and deletions from the PDL.

(6) In formulating its recommendations to the department, the committee shall not be deemed to be formulating regulations for the purposes of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

(7) Immunity. The members of the committee, the staff of the department, and the contractor shall be immune, individually and jointly, from civil liability for any act, decision, or omission done or made in performance of their duties pursuant to this subsection while serving as a member of such board, committee, or staff provided that such act, decision, or omission is not done or made in bad faith or with malicious intent.

c. Pharmacy prior authorization program. Pursuant to § 1927 of the Act and 42 CFR 440.230, the department shall require the prior authorization of certain specified legend drugs. For those therapeutic classes of drugs subject to the PDL program, drugs with nonpreferred status included in the DMAS drug list shall be subject to prior authorization. The department also may require prior authorization of other drugs only if recommended by the P&T Committee. Providers who are licensed to prescribe legend drugs shall be required to obtain prior authorization for all nonpreferred drugs or other drugs as recommended by the P&T Committee.

(1) Prior authorization shall consist of prescription review by a licensed pharmacist or pharmacy technician to ensure that all predetermined clinically appropriate criteria, as established by the P&T Committee relative to each therapeutic class, have been met before the prescription may be dispensed. Prior authorization shall be obtained through a call center staffed with appropriate clinicians, or through written or electronic communications (e.g., faxes, mail). Responses by telephone or other telecommunications device within 24 hours of a request for prior authorization shall be provided. The dispensing of 72-hour emergency supplies of the prescribed drug may be permitted and dispensing fees shall be paid to the pharmacy for such emergency supply.

(2) The preferred drug list program shall include (i) provisions for an expedited review process of denials of requested prior authorization by the department; (ii) consumer and provider education; and (iii) training and information regarding the preferred drug list both prior to implementation as well as ongoing communications, to include computer and website access to information and multilingual material.

(3) Exclusion of protected groups from the pharmacy preferred drug list prior authorization requirements. The following groups of Medicaid eligibles shall be excluded from pharmacy prior authorization requirements: individuals enrolled in hospice care, services through PACE or pre-PACE programs; persons having comprehensive third party insurance coverage; minor children who are the responsibility of the juvenile justice system; and refugees who are not otherwise eligible in a Medicaid covered group.

d. Supplemental rebates. The department has the authority to seek supplemental rebates from pharmaceutical manufacturers. In addition to collecting supplemental rebates for fee-for-service claims, the department may, at its option, also collect supplemental rebates for Medicaid member utilization through MCOs under an agreement. Supplemental rebate agreements shall be separate from the federal rebates and in compliance with federal law, §§ 1927(a)(1) and 1927(a)(4) of the Social Security Act. All rebates collected on behalf of the Commonwealth shall be collected for the sole benefit of the state share of costs.

e. Pursuant to 42 USC § 1396r-8(b)(3)(D), information disclosed to the department or to the committee by a pharmaceutical manufacturer or wholesaler which discloses the identity of a specific manufacturer or wholesaler and the pricing information regarding the drugs by such manufacturer or wholesaler is confidential and shall not be subject to the disclosure requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

f. Appeals for denials of prior authorization shall be addressed pursuant to 12VAC 30-110, Part I, Client Appeals.

8. Coverage of home infusion therapy. This service shall be covered consistent with the limits and requirements set out within home health services (12VAC30-50-160). Multiple applications of the same therapy (e.g., two antibiotics on the same day) shall be covered under one service day rate of reimbursement. Multiple applications of different therapies (e.g., chemotherapy, hydration, and pain management on the same day) shall be a full service day rate methodology as provided in pharmacy services reimbursement.

B. Dentures. Dentures are provided only as a result of EPSDT and subject to medical necessity and preauthorization requirements specified under Dental Services.

C. Prosthetic devices.

1. Prosthetic services shall mean the replacement of missing arms, legs, eyes, and breasts and the provision of any internal (implant) body part. Nothing in this regulation shall be construed to refer to orthotic services or devices or organ transplantation services.

2. Artificial arms and legs, and their necessary supportive attachments, implants and breasts are provided when prescribed by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts within the scope of their professional licenses as defined by state law. This service, when provided by an authorized vendor, must be medically necessary and preauthorized for the minimum applicable component necessary for the activities of daily living.

3. Eye prostheses are provided when eyeballs are missing regardless of the age of the recipient or the cause of the loss of the eyeball. Eye prostheses are provided regardless of the function of the eye.

D. Eyeglasses. Eyeglasses shall be reimbursed for all recipients younger than 21 years of age according to medical necessity when provided by practitioners as licensed under the Code of Virginia.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 12, eff. July 1, 1992; amended, Virginia Register Volume 9, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 1993; Volume 9, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1993; Volume 12, Issue 3, eff. November 29, 1995; Volume 13, Issue 7, eff. February 1, 1997; Volume 13, Issue 13, eff. April 16, 1997; Volume 13, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1997; Volume 15, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 1999; Volume 15, Issue 23, eff. September 1, 1999; Volume 16, Issue 2, eff. November 10, 1999; Volume 18, Issue 4, eff. December 5, 2001; Volume 18, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2002; Volume 21, Issue 6, eff. January 3, 2005; Volume 30, Issue 7, eff. January 16, 2014; Volume 33, Issue 19, eff. June 29, 2017; Volume 35, Issue 12, eff. March 21, 2019; Volume 37, Issue 13, eff. April 4, 2021.

12VAC30-50-220. Diagnostic, screening, preventive, and rehabilitative services other than those provided elsewhere in this plan.

A. Diagnostic services are provided but only when necessary to confirm a diagnosis.

B. Screening services.

1. Screening mammograms for the female recipient population aged 35 and over shall be covered, consistent with the guidelines published by the American Cancer Society.

2. Screening PSA (prostate specific antigen) and the related DRE (digital rectal examination) for males shall be covered, consistent with the guidelines published by the American Cancer Society.

3. Screening Pap smears shall be covered annually for females, consistent with the guidelines published by the American Cancer Society.

4. Screening services for colorectal cancer, specifically screening with an annual fecal occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, or in appropriate circumstances radiologic imaging, in accordance with the most recently published recommendations established by the American College of Gastroenterology, in consultation with the American Cancer Society, for the ages, family histories, and frequencies referenced in such recommendations.

5. Low-dose computed tomography lung cancer screening shall be covered annually for individuals between the ages of 55 years and 80 years who are current smokers, have quit smoking within the last 15 years, or have a history of smoking at least one pack of cigarettes per day for 30 or more years.

C. Maternity length of stay and early discharge.

1. If the mother and newborn, or the newborn alone, are discharged earlier than 48 hours after the day of delivery, DMAS will cover one early discharge follow-up visit as recommended by the physicians in accordance with and as indicated by the "Guidelines for Perinatal Care," 4th Edition, August 1997, as developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The mother and newborn, or the newborn alone if the mother has not been discharged, must meet the criteria for early discharge to be eligible for the early discharge follow-up visit. This early discharge follow-up visit does not affect or apply to any usual postpartum or well-baby care or any other covered care to which the mother or newborn is entitled; it is tied directly to an early discharge.

2. The early discharge follow-up visit must be provided as directed by a physician. The physician may coordinate with the provider of his choice to provide the early discharge follow-up visit, within the following limitations. Qualified providers are those hospitals, physicians, nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, federally qualified health clinics, rural health clinics, and health departments' clinics that are enrolled as Medicaid providers and are qualified by the appropriate state authority for delivery of the service. The staff providing the follow-up visit, at a minimum, must be a registered nurse having training and experience in maternal and child health. The visit must be provided within 48 hours of discharge.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 13, eff. July 1, 1992; amended, eff. June 29, 1993; Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 17, eff. July 1, 1995; Volume 12, Issue 3, eff. November 29, 1995; Volume 12, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1996; Volume 13, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 7, eff. January 22, 1998; Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1998; Volume 15, Issue 25, eff. October 1, 1999; Volume 16, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2000; Volume 34, Issue 8, eff. January 10, 2018.

12VAC30-50-225. Rehabilitative services; intensive physical rehabilitation, and CORF services.

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

"Actively participate" means the individual regularly, as may be ordered by the physician, attends planned therapeutic activities and demonstrates progress towards goals established in the plan of care.

"Admission certification statement" means that the physician signs and dates an initial written statement in the individual's medical record of the need for intensive rehabilitation services. This statement shall be documented at the time of the rehabilitation admission.

"Comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility" or "CORF" means a facility that offers a coordinated intensive rehabilitation day program that uses an interdisciplinary team approach and includes, at a minimum, physicians' services and rehabilitation nursing in addition to at least two of the following four therapy services: (i) physical therapy, (ii) occupational therapy, (iii) cognitive rehabilitation therapy, or (iv) speech-language pathology.

"Licensed practitioner of the healing arts" means either a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, or other practitioner as licensed by the Commonwealth to render covered services.

"Physical rehabilitation services" means medically prescribed treatments for improving or restoring functions that have been impaired by illness or injury, or where function has been permanently lost or reduced by illness or injury, for improving the individual's ability to perform those tasks required for independent functioning.

"Plan of care" means a written order signed and dated by a physician or other licensed practitioner that is specific to the individual that includes orders for rehabilitation therapies, including the frequency and duration of services; required medications; treatments; diet; and other services as needed, for example, psychological services, social work services, or therapeutic recreation services.

"Recertification" means that the physician or other licensed practitioner shall sign and date at least every 60 days a written statement in the individual's medical record of the continuing need for intensive rehabilitation services.

"Therapist plan of care" means a written treatment plan, developed by each licensed therapist involved with the individual's care, to include measurable long-term and short-term goals, interventions or modalities, frequency and duration, and a discharge disposition. These therapist plans of care shall be written, signed, and dated by either a licensed physical or occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, cognitive rehabilitative therapist, psychologist, social worker, or certified therapeutic recreational specialist.

B. Medicaid covers intensive inpatient physical rehabilitation services in facilities certified as physical rehabilitation hospitals or physical rehabilitation units in acute care hospitals.

C. Medicaid covers intensive outpatient physical rehabilitation services in facilities that are certified as comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities (CORFs). With the exception of the physician admission certification statement, all of the service criteria for intensive rehabilitation services also apply to CORFs.

D. The application of a national standardized set of medical necessity criteria in use in the industry, such as McKesson InterQual^® Criteria or an equivalent standard authorized in advance by DMAS, shall be required for this service. In addition, an individual qualifies for intensive inpatient rehabilitation or comprehensive outpatient physical rehabilitation as provided in a CORF if all of the following criteria are met:

1. Adequate treatment of the individual's medical condition requires an intensive physical rehabilitation program consisting of an interdisciplinary coordinated team approach to improve his ability to function as independently as possible.

2. It has been established that the rehabilitation program cannot be safely and adequately carried out in a less intensive setting.

3. In addition to the medical condition requirement, individuals shall meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for intensive inpatient rehabilitation or comprehensive outpatient physical rehabilitation provided in a CORF:

a. The individual shall require at least two of these four therapies in addition to requiring rehabilitative skilled nursing:

(1) Occupational therapy;

(2) Physical therapy;

(3) Cognitive rehabilitation therapy; or

(4) Speech-language pathology services.

b. The individual's medical condition shall be stable and compatible with an active rehabilitation program.

4. The individual shall (i) have a rehabilitation potential such that the individual's condition can be expected, based on the physician's assessment, to improve significantly in a reasonable and generally predictable period of time or (ii) require rehabilitation services as necessary toward the establishment of a safe and effective home maintenance therapy program required in connection with a specific diagnosis.

E. Within 24 hours of an individual's admission to intensive physical rehabilitation services, all of the physician requirements of 12VAC 30-60-120 A shall be met.

F. An intensive physical rehabilitation program provides medically necessary intensive skilled rehabilitation nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and, if needed, speech-language pathology, cognitive rehabilitation, prosthetic-orthotic services, psychology, social work, and therapeutic recreation services. With the exception of CORF services, the physician or other licensed practitioner shall be responsible for admission and discharge orders. If verbal orders are given, written plans of care shall be signed and dated within 72 hours of the verbal order. The nursing staff shall support the other disciplines in carrying out the individual's interdisciplinary plan of care treatment activities on the medical nursing unit and furnishing other needed nursing services. The individual interdisciplinary plan of care must be carried out under the continuing direct supervision of a physician or other licensed practitioner with special training or experience in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. For CORF services, only physicians shall be permitted to initiate plans of care or orders.

1. For an individual with a potential for physical rehabilitation for which an outpatient assessment cannot be adequately performed, an admission to intensive inpatient rehabilitation for an evaluation of no more than seven calendar days in duration shall be allowed. During this admission, a comprehensive rehabilitation evaluation shall be made of (i) the individual's medical condition, functional limitations, prognosis, possible need for corrective surgery, and ability to participate in rehabilitation and (ii) the existence of any social problems affecting rehabilitation. After these evaluations have been made, the physician, in consultation with the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team, shall determine and justify the level of care required to achieve the stated goals.

2. If during a previous hospital admission the individual completed a rehabilitation program for essentially the same condition for which inpatient hospital rehabilitation care is now being considered, reimbursement for the evaluation shall not be covered unless there is a documented intervening circumstance, such as an injury or serious illness, that necessitates a reevaluation.

3. Admissions for evaluation or training, or both, for solely vocational or educational purposes or for developmental or behavioral assessments shall not be covered services under the authority of this section.

G. All providers of rehabilitation services shall be enrolled as a Medicaid provider. Inpatient rehabilitation providers and CORFS shall enroll via the Rehabilitation Hospital Participation Agreement, and Comprehensive Outpatient Rehab Facility Participation Agreement, respectively.

H. To receive continued intensive rehabilitation services, the individual must demonstrate an ability to actively participate in goal-related therapeutic interventions developed by the interdisciplinary team. This shall be evidenced by regular attendance in planned therapy activities and demonstrated progress toward the established goals.

I. Intensive rehabilitation services shall be considered for termination regardless of the service authorized length of stay when one or more of the following conditions are met:

1. No further potential for improvement is demonstrated and the individual has reached his maximum progress;

2. Lack of participation on the part of the individual is evident;

3. An unstable condition affects the individual's ability to actively participate, as defined in subsection A of this section, in a rehabilitative plan of care;

4. Progress toward an established goal or goals cannot be achieved within a reasonable period of time as determined by the licensed therapist;

5. The established goal serves no purpose to increase meaningful functional or cognitive capabilities;

6. The service no longer requires the skills of a qualified therapist; or

7. A home maintenance program has been established to maintain the individual's function to the level to which it has been restored.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 7, eff. January 22, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2016.

12VAC30-50-226. Community mental health services.

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

"Activities of daily living" or "ADLs" means personal care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, and eating or feeding. An individual's degree of independence in performing these activities is a part of determining appropriate level of care and service needs.

"Affiliated" means any entity or property in which a provider or facility has a direct or indirect ownership interest of 5.0% or more, or any management, partnership, or control of an entity.

"Certified prescreener" means an employee of either the local community services board or behavioral health authority or its designee who is skilled in the assessment and treatment of mental illness and who has completed a certification program approved by DBHDS.

"Certified prescreener assessment" means an assessment for crisis intervention and crisis stabilization completed by a certified prescreener that meets the elements of a comprehensive needs assessment.

"Code" means the Code of Virginia.

"Comprehensive needs assessment" means the same as defined in 12VAC30-50-130 and also includes individuals who are older than 21 years of age. Requirements for the comprehensive needs assessment are set out in 12VAC 30-60-143.

"DBHDS" means the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services consistent with Chapter 3 (§ 37.2-300 et seq.) of Title 37.2 of the Code of Virginia.

"DMAS" means the Department of Medical Assistance Services and its contractor consistent with Chapter 10 (§ 32.1-323 et seq.) of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia.

"Individual" means the patient, client, or recipient of services described in this section.

"Individual service plan" or "ISP" means a comprehensive and regularly updated treatment plan specific to the individual's unique treatment needs as identified in the comprehensive needs assessment. The ISP contains, but is not limited to, the individual's treatment or training needs, the individual's goals and measurable objectives to meet the identified needs, services to be provided with the recommended frequency to accomplish the measurable goals and objectives, the estimated timetable for achieving the goals and objectives, and an individualized discharge plan that describes transition to other appropriate services. The individual shall be included in the development of the ISP and the ISP shall be signed by the individual. If the individual is a minor child, the ISP shall also be signed by the individual's parent or legal guardian. Documentation shall be provided if the individual, who is a minor child or an adult who lacks legal capacity, is unable or unwilling to sign the ISP.

"Individualized training" means instruction and practice in functional skills and appropriate behavior related to the individual's health and safety, instrumental activities of daily living skills, and use of community resources; assistance with medical management; and monitoring health, nutrition, and physical condition. The training shall be rehabilitative and based on a variety of incremental (or cumulative) approaches or tools to organize and guide the individual's life planning and shall reflect what is important to the individual in addition to all other factors that affect the individual's functioning, including effects of the disability and issues of health and safety.

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

"LMHP-supervisee in social work," "LMHP-supervisee," or "LMHP-S" means the same as "supervisee" is 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 12VAC35-250-10.

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

"Person centered" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"Qualified mental health professional-adult" or "QMHP-A" means the same as defined in § 54.1-3500 of the Code.

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

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

"Qualified paraprofessional in mental health" or "QPPMH" means the same as defined in 12VAC35-105-20.

"Recovery-oriented services" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"Recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"Register" or "registration" means notifying DMAS or its contractor that an individual will be receiving services that do not require service authorization.

"Resiliency" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"Self-advocacy" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"Service authorization" means the process to approve specific services for an enrolled Medicaid, FAMIS Plus, or FAMIS individual by a DMAS service authorization contractor prior to service delivery and reimbursement in order to validate that the service requested is medically necessary and meets DMAS and DMAS contractor criteria for reimbursement. Service authorization does not guarantee payment for the service.

"Strength-based" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

"Supervision" means the same as defined in 12VAC 30-130-5160.

B. Mental health services. The following services, with their definitions, shall be covered: day treatment/partial hospitalization, psychosocial rehabilitation, crisis services, intensive community treatment (ICT), and mental health skill building. Staff travel time shall not be included in billable time for reimbursement. These services, in order to be covered, shall meet medical necessity criteria based upon diagnoses made by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S who is practicing within the scope of their license and that are reflected in provider records and on providers' claims for services by recognized diagnosis codes that support and are consistent with the requested professional services. These services are intended to be delivered in a person-centered manner. The individuals who are receiving these services shall be included in all service planning activities. All services which do not require service authorization require registration. This registration shall transmit service-specific information to DMAS or its contractor in accordance with service authorization requirements.

1. Day treatment/partial hospitalization services shall be provided in sessions of two or more consecutive hours per day, which may be scheduled multiple times per week, to groups of individuals in a nonresidential setting. These services include the major diagnostic, medical, psychiatric, psychosocial, and psychoeducational treatment modalities designed for individuals who require coordinated, intensive, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary treatment but who do not require inpatient treatment. One unit of service shall be defined as a minimum of two but less than four hours on a given day. Two units of service shall be defined as at least four but less than seven hours in a given day. Three units of service shall be defined as seven or more hours in a given day. Authorization is required for Medicaid reimbursement.

a. Day treatment/partial hospitalization services shall be time limited interventions that are more intensive than outpatient services and are required to stabilize an individual's psychiatric condition. The services are delivered when the individual is at risk of psychiatric hospitalization or is transitioning from a psychiatric hospitalization to the community. The comprehensive needs assessment shall document the individual's behavior and describe how the individual is at risk of psychiatric hospitalization or is transitioning from a psychiatric hospitalization to the community.

b. Individuals qualifying for this service must demonstrate a clinical necessity for the service arising from mental, behavioral, or emotional illness that results in significant functional impairments in major life activities. Individuals must meet at least two of the following criteria on a continuing or intermittent basis:

(1) Experience difficulty in establishing or maintaining normal interpersonal relationships to such a degree that they are at risk of hospitalization or homelessness or isolation from social supports;

(2) Experience difficulty in activities of daily living such as maintaining personal hygiene, preparing food and maintaining adequate nutrition, or managing finances to such a degree that health or safety is jeopardized;

(3) Exhibit such inappropriate behavior that the individual requires repeated interventions or monitoring by the mental health, social services, or judicial system that have been documented; or

(4) Exhibit difficulty in cognitive ability such that they are unable to recognize personal danger or recognize significantly inappropriate social behavior.

c. Individuals shall be discharged from this service when they are no longer in an acute psychiatric state and other less intensive services may achieve psychiatric stabilization.

d. Admission and services for time periods longer than 90 calendar days must be authorized based upon a face-to-face evaluation by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S.

e. These services may only be rendered by an LMHP, LMHP-supervisee, LMHP-resident, LMHP-RP, QMHP-A, QMHP-C, QMHP-E, or a QPPMH.

2. Psychosocial rehabilitation shall be provided at least two or more hours per day to groups of individuals in a nonresidential setting. These services include assessment, education to teach the patient about the diagnosed mental illness and appropriate medications to avoid complication and relapse, and opportunities to learn and use independent living skills and to enhance social and interpersonal skills within a supportive and normalizing program structure and environment. One unit of service is defined as a minimum of two but less than four hours on a given day. Two units are defined as at least four but less than seven hours in a given day. Three units of service shall be defined as seven or more hours in a given day. Authorization is required for Medicaid reimbursement. The comprehensive needs assessment shall document the individual's behavior and describe how the individual meets criteria for this service.

a. Individuals qualifying for this service must demonstrate a clinical necessity for the service arising from mental, behavioral, or emotional illness that results in significant functional impairments in major life activities. Services are provided to individuals (i) who without these services would be unable to remain in the community or (ii) who meet at least two of the following criteria on a continuing or intermittent basis:

(1) Experience difficulty in establishing or maintaining normal interpersonal relationships to such a degree that they are at risk of psychiatric hospitalization, homelessness, or isolation from social supports;

(3) Exhibit such inappropriate behavior that repeated interventions documented by the mental health, social services, or judicial system are or have been necessary; or

(4) Exhibit difficulty in cognitive ability such that they are unable to recognize personal danger or significantly inappropriate social behavior.

b. These services may only be rendered by an LMHP, LMHP-supervisee, LMHP-resident, LMHP-RP, a QMHP-A, a QMHP-C, a QMHP-E, or a QPPMH.

3. Crisis intervention shall provide immediate mental health care, available 24 hours a day, seven days per week, to assist individuals who are experiencing acute psychiatric dysfunction requiring immediate clinical attention. This service's objectives shall be to prevent exacerbation of a condition, to prevent injury to the client or others, and to provide treatment in the context of the least restrictive setting. Crisis intervention activities shall include assessing the crisis situation, providing short-term counseling designed to stabilize the individual, providing access to further immediate assessment and follow-up, and linking the individual and family with ongoing care to prevent future crises. Crisis intervention services may include office visits, home visits, preadmission screenings, telephone contacts, and other client-related activities for the prevention of institutionalization. The comprehensive needs assessment or certified prescreener assessment shall document the individual's behavior and describe how the individual meets criteria for this service. The provision of this service to an individual shall be registered with DMAS within one business day of the completion of the comprehensive needs assessment or certified prescreener assessment to avoid duplication of services and to ensure informed care coordination.

a. Individuals qualifying for this service must demonstrate a clinical necessity for the service arising from an acute crisis of a psychiatric nature that puts the individual at risk of psychiatric hospitalization. Individuals must meet at least two of the following criteria at the time of admission to the service:

(3) Exhibit such inappropriate behavior that immediate interventions documented by mental health, social services, or the judicial system are or have been necessary; or

(4) Exhibit difficulty in cognitive ability such that they are unable to recognize personal danger or significantly inappropriate social behavior.

b. A unit shall equal 15 minutes.

c. These services may only be rendered by an LMHP, an LMHP-supervisee, LMHP-resident, LMHP-RP, or a certified prescreener.

4. Intensive community treatment (ICT) shall be provided based on a written comprehensive needs assessment and certification of need by an LMHP, LMHP-S, LMHP-R, or LMHP-RP and shall include medical psychotherapy, psychiatric assessment, medication management, and care coordination activities offered to outpatients outside the clinic, hospital, or office setting for individuals who are best served in the community. Authorization is required for Medicaid reimbursement.

a. To qualify for ICT, the individual must meet at least one of the following criteria:

(1) The individual must be at high risk for psychiatric hospitalization or becoming or remaining homeless due to mental illness or require intervention by the mental health or criminal justice system due to inappropriate social behavior.

(2) The individual has a history (three months or more) of a need for intensive mental health treatment or treatment for co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorder and demonstrates a resistance to seek out and utilize appropriate treatment options.

b. A written comprehensive needs assessment that documents the individual's eligibility and the need for this service must be completed prior to the initiation of services. This comprehensive needs assessment must be maintained in the individual's records.

c. An individual service plan shall be initiated at the time of admission and must be fully developed, as defined in this section, within 30 days of the initiation of services.

d. A unit shall equal one hour.

e. These services may only be rendered by a team that meets the requirements of 12VAC35-105-1370.

f. ICT services shall be reviewed by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S for all individuals who have received at least six months of ICT to determine the continued need for this service.

5. Crisis stabilization services for nonhospitalized individuals shall provide direct mental health care to individuals experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis which may jeopardize their current community living situation. Services shall be provided following a face-to-face comprehensive needs assessment by an LMHP, LMHP-supervisee, LMHP-resident, or LMHP-RP or a certified prescreener assessment. The provision of this service to an individual shall be registered with DMAS within one business day of the initiation of services to avoid duplication of services and to ensure informed care coordination.

a. The goals of crisis stabilization programs shall be to avert hospitalization or rehospitalization, provide normative environments with a high assurance of safety and security for crisis intervention, stabilize individuals in psychiatric crisis, and mobilize the resources of the community support system and family members and others for on-going maintenance and rehabilitation. The services must be documented in the individual's records as having been provided consistent with the ISP in order to receive Medicaid reimbursement.

b. The crisis stabilization program shall provide to individuals, as appropriate, psychiatric assessment including medication evaluation, treatment planning, symptom and behavior management, and individual and group counseling.

c. This service may be provided in any of the following settings, but shall not be limited to: (i) the home of an individual who lives with family or other primary caregiver; (ii) the home of an individual who lives independently; or (iii) community-based programs licensed by DBHDS to provide residential services but which are not institutions for mental disease (IMDs).

d. This service shall not be reimbursed for (i) individuals with medical conditions that require hospital care; (ii) individuals with a primary diagnosis of substance abuse; or (iii) individuals with psychiatric conditions that cannot be managed in the community (i.e., individuals who are of imminent danger to themselves or others).

e. Services must be documented through daily progress notes and a daily log of times spent in the delivery of services. The comprehensive needs assessment or certified prescreener assessment shall document the individual's behavior and describe how the individual meets criteria for this service. Individuals qualifying for this service must demonstrate a clinical necessity for the service arising from an acute crisis of a psychiatric nature that puts the individual at risk of psychiatric hospitalization. Individuals must meet at least two of the following criteria at the time of admission to the service:

(1) Experience difficulty in establishing and maintaining normal interpersonal relationships to such a degree that the individual is at risk of psychiatric hospitalization, homelessness, or isolation from social supports;

(3) Exhibit such inappropriate behavior that immediate interventions documented by the mental health, social services, or judicial system are or have been necessary; or

(4) Exhibit difficulty in cognitive ability such that the individual is unable to recognize personal danger or significantly inappropriate social behavior.

f. These services may only be rendered by an LMHP, LMHP-supervisee, LMHP-resident, LMHP-RP, a QMHP-A, a QMHP-C, a QMHP-E, or a certified prescreener.

6. Mental health skill-building services (MHSS) shall be defined as goal-directed training to enable individuals to achieve and maintain community stability and independence in the most appropriate, least restrictive environment. Authorization is required for Medicaid reimbursement. Services that are rendered before the date of service authorization shall not be reimbursed. These services may be authorized up to six consecutive months as long as the individual meets the coverage criteria for this service. The comprehensive needs assessment shall document the individual's behavior and describe how the individual meets criteria for this service. These services shall provide goal-directed training in the following areas in order to be reimbursed by Medicaid or the DMAS contractor: (i) functional skills and appropriate behavior related to the individual's health and safety, instrumental activities of daily living, and use of community resources; (ii) assistance with medication management; and (iii) monitoring of health, nutrition, and physical condition with goals towards self-monitoring and self-regulation of all of these activities. Providers shall be reimbursed only for training activities defined in the ISP and only where services meet the service definition, eligibility, and service provision criteria and this section. A review of MHSS services by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S shall be repeated for all individuals who have received at least six months of MHSS to determine the continued need for this service.

a. Individuals qualifying for this service shall demonstrate a clinical necessity for the service arising from a condition due to mental, behavioral, or emotional illness that results in significant functional impairments in major life activities. Services are provided to individuals who require individualized goal-directed training in order to achieve or maintain stability and independence in the community.

b. Individuals 21 years of age and older shall meet all of the following criteria in order to be eligible to receive mental health skill-building services:

(1) The individual shall have one of the following as a primary mental health diagnosis:

(a) Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder as set out in the DSM-5;

(b) Major depressive disorder;

(d) Any other serious mental health disorder that a physician has documented specific to the identified individual within the past year and that includes all of the following: (i) is a serious mental illness; (ii) results in severe and recurrent disability; (iii) produces functional limitations in the individual's major life activities that are documented in the individual's medical record; and (iv) requires individualized training for the individual in order to achieve or maintain independent living in the community.

(2) The individual shall require individualized goal-directed training in order to acquire or maintain self-regulation of basic living skills, such as symptom management; adherence to psychiatric and physical health medication treatment plans; appropriate use of social skills and personal support systems; skills to manage personal hygiene, food preparation, and the maintenance of personal adequate nutrition; money management; and use of community resources.

(3) The individual shall have a prior history of any of the following: (i) psychiatric hospitalization; (ii) either residential or nonresidential crisis stabilization; (iii) intensive community treatment (ICT) or program of assertive community treatment (PACT) services; (iv) placement in a psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) as a result of decompensation related to the individual's serious mental illness; or (v) a temporary detention order (TDO) evaluation, pursuant to § 37.2-809 B of the Code of Virginia. This criterion shall be met in order to be initially admitted to services and not for subsequent authorizations of service. Discharge summaries from prior providers that clearly indicate (i) the type of treatment provided, (ii) the dates of the treatment previously provided, and (iii) the name of the treatment provider shall be sufficient to meet this requirement. Family member statements shall not suffice to meet this requirement.

(4) The individual shall have had a prescription for antipsychotic, mood stabilizing, or antidepressant medications within the 12 months prior to the comprehensive needs assessment date. If a physician or other practitioner who is authorized by his license to prescribe medications indicates that antipsychotic, mood stabilizing, or antidepressant medications are medically contraindicated for the individual, the provider shall obtain medical records signed by the physician or other licensed prescriber detailing the contraindication. This documentation shall be maintained in the individual's mental health skill-building services record, and the provider shall document and describe how the individual will be able to actively participate in and benefit from services without the assistance of medication. This criterion shall be met upon admission to services and shall not be required for subsequent authorizations of service. Discharge summaries from prior providers that clearly indicate (i) the type of treatment provided, (ii) the dates of the treatment previously provided, and (iii) the name of the treatment provider shall be sufficient to meet this requirement. Family member statements shall not suffice to meet this requirement.

c. Individuals 18, 19, and 20 years of age shall meet all of the following criteria in order to be eligible to receive mental health skill-building services:

(1) The individual shall not be living in a supervised setting as described in § 63.2-905.1 of the Code of Virginia. If the individual is transitioning into an independent living situation, MHSS shall only be authorized for up to six months prior to the date of transition.

(2) The individual shall have at least one of the following as a primary mental health diagnosis:

(a) Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder as set out in the DSM-5;

(b) Major depressive disorder;

(d) Any other serious mental health disorder that a physician has documented specific to the identified individual within the past year and that includes all of the following: (i) is a serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance; (ii) results in severe and recurrent disability; (iii) produces functional limitations in the individual's major life activities that are documented in the individual's medical record; and (iv) requires individualized training for the individual in order to achieve or maintain independent living in the community.

(3) The individual shall require individualized goal-directed training in order to acquire or maintain self-regulation of basic living skills such as symptom management; adherence to psychiatric and physical health medication treatment plans; appropriate use of social skills and personal support systems; skills to manage personal hygiene, food preparation, and the maintenance of personal adequate nutrition; money management; and use of community resources.

(4) The individual shall have a prior history of any of the following: (i) psychiatric hospitalization; (ii) either residential or nonresidential crisis stabilization; (iii) intensive community treatment (ICT) or program of assertive community treatment (PACT) services; (iv) placement in a psychiatric residential treatment facility as a result of decompensation related to the individual's serious mental illness; or (v) temporary detention order (TDO) evaluation pursuant to § 37.2-809 B of the Code of Virginia. This criterion shall be met in order to be initially admitted to services and not for subsequent authorizations of service. Discharge summaries from prior providers that clearly indicate (i) the type of treatment provided, (ii) the dates of the treatment previously provided, and (iii) the name of the treatment provider shall be sufficient to meet this requirement. Family member statements shall not suffice to meet this requirement.

(5) The individual shall have had a prescription for antipsychotic, mood stabilizing, or antidepressant medications, within the 12 months prior to the assessment date. If a physician or other practitioner who is authorized by his license to prescribe medications indicates that antipsychotic, mood stabilizing, or antidepressant medications are medically contraindicated for the individual, the provider shall obtain medical records signed by the physician or other licensed prescriber detailing the contraindication. This documentation of medication management shall be maintained in the individual's mental health skill-building services record. For individuals not prescribed antipsychotic, mood stabilizing, or antidepressant medications, the provider shall have documentation from the medication management physician describing how the individual will be able to actively participate in and benefit from services without the assistance of medication. This criterion shall be met in order to be initially admitted to services and not for subsequent authorizations of service. Discharge summaries from prior providers that clearly indicate (i) the type of treatment provided, (ii) the dates of the treatment previously provided, and (iii) the name of the treatment provider shall be sufficient to meet this requirement. Family member statements shall not suffice to meet this requirement.

d. Comprehensive needs assessments shall be required at the onset of services and individual service plans (ISPs) shall be required during the entire duration of services. Services based upon incomplete, missing, or outdated comprehensive needs assessment or ISPs shall be denied reimbursement. Requirements for comprehensive needs assessments and ISPs are set out in 12VAC 30-60-143.

e. Only direct face-to-face contacts and services to the individual shall be reimbursable. One unit is 1 to 2.99 hours per day, and two units is 3 or more hours per day.

f. These services may only be rendered by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, LMHP-S, a QMHP-A, a QMHP-C, a QMHP-E, or a QPPMH.

g. The provider shall clearly document details of the services provided during the entire amount of time billed.

h. The ISP shall not include activities that contradict or duplicate those in the treatment plan established by the therapeutic group home or assisted living facility. The provider shall coordinate mental health skill-building services with the treatment plan established by the group home or assisted living facility and shall document all coordination activities in the medical record.

i. Limits and exclusions.

(1) Therapeutic group home and assisted living facility providers shall not serve as the mental health skill-building services provider for individuals residing in the provider's respective facility. Individuals residing in facilities may, however, receive MHSS from another MHSS agency not affiliated with the owner of the facility in which they reside.

(2) Mental health skill-building services shall not be reimbursed for individuals who are receiving in-home residential services or congregate residential services through the Intellectual Disability Waiver or Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Support Waiver.

(3) Mental health skill-building services shall not be reimbursed for individuals who are also receiving services under the Department of Social Services independent living program (22VAC40-151), independent living services (22VAC40-131 and 22VAC40-151), or independent living arrangement (22VAC40-131) or any Comprehensive Services Act-funded independent living skills programs.

(4) Mental health skill-building services shall not be available to individuals who are receiving treatment foster care (12VAC 30-130-900 et seq.).

(5) Mental health skill-building services shall not be available to individuals who reside in intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities or hospitals.

(6) Mental health skill-building services shall not be available to individuals who reside in nursing facilities, except for up to 60 days prior to discharge. If the individual has not been discharged from the nursing facility during the 60-day period of services, mental health skill-building services shall be terminated and no further service authorizations shall be available to the individual unless a provider can demonstrate and document that mental health skill-building services are necessary. Such documentation shall include facts demonstrating a change in the individual's circumstances and a new plan for discharge requiring up to 60 days of mental health skill-building services.

(7) Mental health skill-building services shall not be available for residents of psychiatric residential treatment centers except for the comprehensive needs assessment code H0032 (modifier U8) in the seven days immediately prior to discharge.

(8) Mental health skill-building services shall not be reimbursed if personal care services or attendant care services are being received simultaneously, unless justification is provided why this is necessary in the individual's mental health skill-building services record. Medical record documentation shall fully substantiate the need for services when personal care or attendant care services are being provided. This applies to individuals who are receiving additional services through the Intellectual Disability Waiver (12VAC 30-120-1000 et seq.), Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Support Waiver (12VAC 30-120-700 et seq.), the Elderly or Disabled with Consumer Direction Waiver (12VAC 30-120-900 et seq.), and EPSDT services (12VAC30-50-130).

(9) Mental health skill-building services shall not be duplicative of other services. Providers shall be required to ensure that if an individual is receiving additional therapeutic services that there will be coordination of services by either the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, LMHP-S, QMHP-A, QMHP-C, QMHP-E, or QPPMH to avoid duplication of services.

(10) Individuals who have organic disorders, such as delirium, dementia, or other cognitive disorders not elsewhere classified, will be prohibited from receiving mental health skill-building services unless their physicians issue signed and dated statements indicating that the individuals can benefit from this service.

(11) Individuals who are not diagnosed with a serious mental health disorder but who have personality disorders or other mental health disorders, or both, that may lead to chronic disability shall not be excluded from the mental health skill-building services eligibility criteria provided that the individual has a primary mental health diagnosis from the list included in subdivision B 6 b (1) or B 6 c (2) of this section and that the provider can document and describe how the individual is expected to actively participate in and benefit from mental health skill-building services.

7. Mental health peer support services.

a. Mental health peer support services are peer recovery support services and are nonclinical, peer-to-peer activities that engage, educate, and support an individual's self-help efforts to improve health recovery, resiliency, and wellness. Mental health peer support services for adults is a person centered, strength-based, and recovery-oriented rehabilitative service for individuals 21 years of age or older provided by a peer recovery specialist successful in the recovery process with lived experience with a mental health disorder, who is trained to offer support and assistance in helping others in the recovery to reduce the disabling effects of a mental health disorder that is the focus of support. Services assist the individual with developing and maintaining a path to recovery, resiliency, and wellness. Specific peer support service activities shall emphasize the acquisition, development, and enhancement of recovery, resiliency, and wellness. Services are designed to promote empowerment, self-determination, understanding, and coping skills through mentoring and service coordination supports, as well as to assist individuals in achieving positive coping mechanisms for the stressors and barriers encountered when recovering from their illnesses or disorders.

b. Under the clinical oversight of the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S assessing the individual and making the recommendation for mental health support services, the peer recovery specialist in consultation with his direct supervisor shall develop a recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan based on the recommendation of the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S for service, the individual's perceived recovery needs, and any clinical assessments or comprehensive needs assessments as defined in this section within 30 calendar days of the initiation of service. Development of the recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan shall include collaboration with the individual. Individualized goals and strategies shall be focused on the individual'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; and (iv) the individual within 30 calendar days of the initiation of service. The PRS shall act as an advocate for the individual, encouraging the individual to take a proactive role in developing and updating goals and objectives in the individualized recovery planning.

c. Documentation of required activities shall be required as set forth in 12VAC 30-130-5200 C and E through J.

d. Limitations and exclusions to service delivery shall be the same as set forth in 12VAC 30-130-5210.

e. Individuals 21 years of age or older qualifying for mental health peer support services shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Require recovery-oriented assistance and support services for the acquisition of skills needed to engage in and maintain recovery; for the development of self-advocacy skills to achieve a decreasing dependency on formalized treatment systems; and to increase responsibilities, wellness potential, and shared accountability for the individual's own recovery.

(2) Have a documented mental health disorder diagnosis.

(3) Demonstrate moderate to severe functional impairment because of a diagnosis that interferes with or limits performance in at least one of the following domains: educational (e.g., obtaining a high school or college degree); social (e.g., developing a social support system); vocational (e.g., obtaining part-time or full-time employment); self-maintenance (e.g., managing symptoms, understanding his illness, living more independently).

f. To qualify for continued mental health peer support services, 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.

g. Discharge criteria from mental health peer support services is the same as set forth in 12VAC 30-130-5180 E.

h. Mental health peer support services shall be rendered on an individual basis or in a group.

i. Prior to service initiation, an assessment shall be conducted and documented by an LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S within the scope of practice under state law. The assessment shall verify that the individual meets the medical necessity criteria set forth in subdivision 7 e 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.

j. Effective July 1, 2017, a peer recovery specialist shall have the qualifications, education, experience, and certification established by DBHDS in accordance with 12VAC35-250. Peer Recovery Specialists shall be registered with the Virginia Board of Counseling. The PRS shall perform mental health peer support 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. The PRS shall be employed by or have a contractual relationship with an enrolled provider licensed for one of the following:

(1) Acute care general hospital licensed by the Department of Health.

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

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

(4) Outpatient psychiatric services provider.

(5) Rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers.

(6) Hospital emergency department services licensed by the Department of Health.

(7) 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 defined in this section or 12VAC30-50-420 for which the individual meets medical necessity criteria:

(a) Day treatment or partial hospitalization;

(b) Psychosocial rehabilitation;

(d) Intensive community treatment;

(e) Crisis stabilization;

(f) Mental health skill building; or

(g) Mental health case management.

k. Only the licensed and enrolled provider referenced in subdivision 7 j of this subsection shall be eligible to bill mental health peer support 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 to not to be in compliance with DMAS requirements.

l. Supervision of the PRS shall be required as set forth in the definition of "supervision" in 12VAC 30-130-5160. Supervision of the PRS shall also meet the following requirements: the direct supervisor shall perform direct supervision of the PRS as needed based on the level of urgency and intensity of service being provided. The direct supervisor shall have an employment or contract relationship with the same provider entity that employs or contracts with the PRS. Direct supervisors shall maintain documentation of all supervisory sessions. In no instance shall supervisory sessions be performed less than as provided in subdivisions 7 l (1) and 7 l (2) of this subsection:

(1) If the PRS has less than 12 months of experience delivering peer support services or family support partners, the PRS shall receive face-to-face, one-to-one supervisory meetings of sufficient length to address identified challenges for a minimum of a 30-minute session, two times a month. The direct supervisor must be available at least by telephone while the PRS is on duty.

(2) If the PRS has been delivering peer support services or family support partners for over 12 months and fewer than 24 months, the PRS must receive monthly face-to-face, one-to-one supervision of sufficient length to address identified challenges for a minimum of 30 minutes. The direct supervisor must be available by telephone for consult within 24 hours of service delivery if needed.

m. The supervisor shall be under the clinical oversight of the LMHP, LMHP-R, LMHP-RP, or LMHP-S who assessed the individual and made the recommendation for services, and the peer recovery specialist in consultation with his direct supervisor shall conduct and document a review of the recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan every 90 calendar days with the individual and the caregiver, as applicable. The review shall be signed by the PRS and the individual and, as applicable, the identified family member or caregiver. Review of the recovery, resiliency, and wellness plan means the PRS evaluates and updates the individual's progress every 90 calendar days toward meeting the plan's goals and documents the outcome of this review in the individual's medical record. For DMAS to determine that these reviews are complete, the reviews shall (i) update the goals and objectives as needed to reflect any change in the individual's recovery as well as any newly identified needs, (ii) be conducted in a manner that enables the individual to actively participate in the process, and (iii) be documented by the PRS in the individual's medical record no later than 15 calendar days from the date of the review.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 7, eff. January 22, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 7, eff. February 1, 2004; Volume 27, Issue 10, eff. February 16, 2011; Volume 31, Issue 9, eff. January 30, 2015; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 27, 2016; Volume 34, Issue 3, eff. November 16, 2017; 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 38, Issue 12, eff. March 17, 2022.

12VAC30-50-227. Lead contamination.

Coverage shall be provided for investigations by local health departments to determine the source of lead contamination in the home as part of the management and treatment of Medicaid-eligible children who have been diagnosed with elevated blood lead levels. Only costs that are eligible for federal funding participation in accordance with current federal regulations shall be covered. Payments for environmental investigations under this section shall be limited to no more than two visits per residence.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 7, eff. January 22, 1998.

12VAC30-50-228. (Repealed.)

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 8, eff. January 21, 2010; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2017.

12VAC30-50-229. [Reserved]. (Reserved)

12VAC30-50-229.1. (Repealed.)

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 17, eff. June 9, 1999; Errata, 15:18 VA.R. 2411 May 24, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 17, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 2001; Volume 18, Issue 7, eff. January 16, 2002; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 5, eff. December 10, 2008.

12VAC30-50-230. Services for individuals age 65 or older in institutions for mental diseases.

A. Inpatient hospital services are provided with no limitations.

B. Skilled nursing facility services are provided with no limitations.

C. Intermediate care facility services are provided with no limitations.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 14, eff. October 1, 1990; amended, eff. July 1, 1991; Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 12, Issue 3, eff. November 29, 1995.

12VAC30-50-240. Intermediate care services and intermediate care services for institutions for mental disease and mental retardation.

A. Intermediate care facility services (other than such services in an institution for mental diseases) for persons determined, in accordance with § 1902 (a)(31)(A) of the Act, to be in need of such care are provided with no limitations.

B. Including such services in a public institution (or distinct part thereof) for the mentally retarded or persons with related conditions are provided with no limitations.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 15, eff. July 1, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 12, Issue 3, eff. November 29, 1995.

12VAC30-50-250. Inpatient psychiatric facility services for individuals under 21 years of age.

Inpatient psychiatric facility services for individuals under 21 years of age are not provided, other than those provided under early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment (12VAC30-50-130).

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 16, eff. July 1, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 12, Issue 3, eff. November 29, 1995; Volume 17, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 2001.

12VAC30-50-260. Nurse-midwife services.

Covered services for nurse midwives are defined as those services allowed under the licensure requirements of the state statute and as specified in 42 CFR 440.165.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 17, eff. July 1, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 12, Issue 3, eff. November 29, 1995; Volume 18, Issue 7, eff. January 16, 2002.

12VAC30-50-270. Hospice services (in accordance with § 1905 (o) of the Act).

A. Covered hospice services shall be defined as those services allowed under the provisions of Medicare law and regulations as they relate to hospice benefits and as specified in 42 CFR Part 418.

B. Categories of care. As described for Medicare and applicable to Medicaid, hospice services shall entail the following four categories of daily care:

1. Routine home care is at-home care that is not continuous.

2. Continuous home care consists of at-home care that is predominantly nursing care and is provided as short-term crisis care. A registered or licensed practical nurse must provide care for more than half of the period of the care. Home health aide or homemaker services may be provided in addition to nursing care. A minimum of eight hours of care per day must be provided to qualify as continuous home care.

3. Inpatient respite care is short-term inpatient care provided in an approved facility (freestanding hospice, hospital, or nursing facility) to relieve the primary caregiver or caregivers providing at-home care for the recipient. Respite care is limited to not more than five consecutive days.

4. General inpatient care may be provided in an approved freestanding hospice, hospital, or nursing facility. This care is usually for pain control or acute or chronic symptom management which cannot be successfully treated in another setting.

C. Covered services.

1. As required under Medicare and applicable to Medicaid, the hospice itself shall provide all or substantially all of the "core" services applicable for the terminal illness which are nursing care, social work, and counseling (bereavement, dietary, and spiritual).

2. Other services applicable for the terminal illness that shall be available but are not considered "core" services are physician services, drugs and biologicals, home health aide and homemaker services, inpatient care, medical supplies, and occupational and physical therapies and speech-language/pathology services, and any other item or service which is specified under the plan and which is reasonable and necessary for the palliation and management of terminal illness and for which payment may otherwise be made under Title XIX.

3. These other services may be arranged, such as by contractual agreement, or provided directly by the hospice.

4. To be covered, a certification that the individual is terminally ill shall have been completed by the physician, or physicians as required by 12VAC 30-60-130 D, and hospice services must be reasonable and necessary for the palliation or management of the terminal illness and related conditions. The individual must elect hospice care and a plan of care must be established before services are provided. To be covered, services shall be consistent with the plan of care. Services not specifically documented in the patient's medical record as having been rendered will be deemed not to have been rendered and no coverage will be provided.

5. All services shall be performed by appropriately qualified personnel, but it is the nature of the service, rather than the qualification of the person who provides it, that determines the coverage category of the service. The following services are covered hospice services:

a. Nursing care. Nursing care shall be provided by a registered nurse or by a licensed practical nurse under the supervision of a graduate of an approved school of professional nursing and who is licensed as a registered nurse.

b. Medical social services. Medical social services shall be provided by a social worker who has at least a bachelor's degree from a school accredited or approved by the Council on Social Work Education, and who is working under the direction of a physician.

c. Physician services. Physician services shall be performed by a professional who is licensed to practice, who is acting within the scope of his or her license, and who is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy, a doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine, a doctor of podiatric medicine, a doctor of optometry, or a chiropractor. The hospice medical director or the physician member of the interdisciplinary team shall be a licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy.

d. Counseling services. Counseling services shall be provided to the terminally ill individual and the family members or other persons caring for the individual at home. Bereavement counseling consists of counseling services provided to the individual's family up to one year after the individual's death. Bereavement counseling is a required hospice service, but it is not reimbursable.

e. Short-term inpatient care. Short-term inpatient care may be provided in a participating hospice inpatient unit, or a participating hospital or nursing facility. General inpatient care may be required for procedures necessary for pain control or acute or chronic symptom management which cannot be provided in other settings. Inpatient care may also be furnished to provide respite for the individual's family or other persons caring for the individual at home.

f. Durable medical equipment and supplies. Durable medical equipment as well as other self-help and personal comfort items related to the palliation or management of the patient's terminal illness is covered. Medical supplies include those that are part of the written plan of care.

g. Drugs and biologicals. Only drugs used which are used primarily for the relief of pain and symptom control related to the individual's terminal illness are covered.

h. Home health aide and homemaker services. Home health aides providing services to hospice recipients must meet the qualifications specified for home health aides by Medicare and the Department of Health Professions. Home health aides may provide personal care services. Aides may also perform household services to maintain a safe and sanitary environment in areas of the home used by the recipient, such as changing the bed or light cleaning and laundering essential to the comfort and cleanliness of the recipient. Homemaker services may include assistance in personal care, maintenance of a safe and healthy environment and services to enable the individual to carry out the plan of care. Home health aide and homemaker services must be provided under the general supervision of a registered nurse.

i. Rehabilitation services. Rehabilitation services include physical and occupational therapies and speech-language pathology services that are used for purposes of symptom control or to enable the individual to maintain activities of daily living and basic functional skills.

D. Eligible groups. To be eligible for hospice coverage under Medicare or Medicaid, the recipient must have a life expectancy of six months or less, have knowledge of the illness and life expectancy, and except for individuals under 21 years of age, elect to receive hospice services rather than active treatment for the illness. Both the attending physician and the hospice medical director, or the attending physician and the physician member of the interdisciplinary team, must initially certify the life expectancy. Thereafter, subsequent certifications shall be conducted pursuant to 12VAC 30-60-130.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 18, eff. July 1, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 16, Issue 6, eff. January 5, 2000; Volume 27, Issue 3, eff. November 10, 2010.

12VAC30-50-280. Case management services for high-risk pregnant women and children up to age 1, as defined in 12VAC30-50-410, in accordance with § 1915 (g)(1) of ....

Case management services for high-risk pregnant women and children up to age 1 are provided, with limitations. See 12VAC30-50-410 for details.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 19, eff. July 1, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 12, Issue 3, eff. November 29, 1995.

12VAC30-50-290. Extended services to pregnant women.

A. Pregnancy-related and postpartum services for 60 days after the pregnancy ends. The same limitations on all covered services apply to this group as to all other recipient groups.

B. Services for any other medical conditions that may complicate pregnancy. The same limitations on all covered services apply to this group as to all other recipient groups.

Statutory Authority

Social Security Act Title XIX; 42 CFR 430 to end; all other applicable statutory and regulatory sections.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 20, eff. October 1, 1987; amended, eff. January 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994.

12VAC30-50-300. Any other medical care and any other type of remedial care recognized under state law, specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

A. Emergency transportation services shall be provided to Virginia Medicaid recipients to ensure that they have necessary access to and from providers of all emergency medical services. Emergency transport services shall be covered and nonemergency transport services shall be covered as medical services. The single state agency may enter into contracts with friends of recipients, public agencies, nonprofit private agencies, for-profit private agencies, and public carriers to provide transportation to Medicaid recipients.

B. Services of Christian Science nurses are not provided.

C. Care and services provided in Christian Science sanitoria are provided with no limitations.

D. Skilled nursing facility services for patients under 21 years of age are provided with no limitations.

E. Emergency hospital services are provided with no limitations.

F. Personal care services in recipient's home, prescribed in accordance with a plan of treatment and provided by a qualified person under supervision of a registered nurse are not provided.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-324 and 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 21, eff. October 1, 1987; amended, Virginia Register Volume 9, Issue 4, eff. January 1, 1993; Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 12, Issue 3, eff. November 29, 1995; Volume 17, Issue 12, eff. July 2, 2001; Volume 21, Issue 22, eff. August 10, 2005.

12VAC30-50-310. Emergency services for aliens.

A. No payment shall be made for medical assistance furnished to qualified aliens who entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996, who are not eligible for Medicaid for five years after their entry, and nonqualified aliens, including illegal aliens and legal nonimmigrants who are otherwise eligible, unless such services are necessary for the treatment of an emergency medical condition of the alien.

B. Emergency services are defined as:

Emergency treatment of accidental injury or medical condition (including emergency labor and delivery) manifested by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that the absence of immediate medical/surgical attention could reasonably be expected to result in:

1. Placing the patient's health in serious jeopardy;

2. Serious impairment of bodily functions; or

3. Serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.

For purposes of this definition, emergency treatment of a medical condition does not include care and services related to either an organ transplant procedure or routing prenatal or postpartum care.

C. Medicaid eligibility and reimbursement is conditional upon review of necessary documentation supporting the need for emergency services. Services and inpatient lengths of stay cannot exceed the limits established for other Medicaid recipients.

D. Claims for conditions which do not meet emergency criteria for treatment in an emergency room or for acute care hospital admissions for intensity of service or severity of illness will be denied reimbursement by the Department of Medical Assistance Services.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-03-3.1100 § 22, eff. June 29, 1994; amended, Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 1994; Volume 13, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1997.

12VAC30-50-320. Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

The Commonwealth of Virginia has entered into a valid program agreement or agreements with a PACE provider or providers and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 1396.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 16, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2000; amended, Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 16, eff. July 1, 2007; Volume 25, Issue 8, eff. February 5, 2009.

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