Section 405IAC5-20-8. Outpatient mental health services

   Medicaid reimbursement is available for outpatient mental health services provided by licensed physicians, psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric wings of acute care hospitals, outpatient mental health facilities, and psychologists endorsed as a health service provider in psychology (HSPP). Outpatient mental health services rendered by a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or HSPP are subject to the following limitations:

(1) Outpatient mental health services rendered by a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy are subject to the limitations set out in 405 IAC 5-25.

(2) Subject to prior authorization by the office Medicaid will reimburse physician or HSPP directed outpatient mental health services for group, family, and individual outpatient psychotherapy when the services are provided by one (1) of the following practitioners:

(A) A licensed psychologist.

(B) A licensed independent practice school psychologist.

(C) A licensed clinical social worker.

(D) A licensed marital and family therapist.

(E) A licensed mental health counselor.

(F) A person holding a master's degree in social work, marital and family therapy, or mental health counseling, except that partial hospitalization services provided by such person shall not be reimbursed by Medicaid.

(G) An advanced practice nurse who is a licensed, registered nurse with a master's degree in nursing with a major in psychiatric or mental health nursing from an accredited school of nursing.

(3) The physician, psychiatrist, or HSPP is responsible for certifying the diagnosis and for supervising the plan of treatment described as follows:

(A) The physician, psychiatrist, or HSPP is responsible for seeing the member during the intake process or reviewing the medical information obtained by the practitioner listed in subdivision (2) within seven (7) days of the intake process. This review by the physician, psychiatrist, or HSPP must be documented in writing.

(B) The physician, psychiatrist, or HSPP must again see the member or review the medical information and certify the service is medically necessary on the basis of medical information provided by the practitioner listed in subdivision (2) at intervals not to exceed ninety (90) days. This review must be documented in writing.

(4) Medicaid will reimburse partial hospitalization services under the following conditions and subject to prior authorization:

(A) Partial hospitalization programs must be highly intensive, time-limited medical services that either provide a transition from inpatient psychiatric hospitalization to community-based care, or serve as a substitute for an inpatient admission. Partial hospitalization programs are highly individualized with treatment goals that are measurable and medically necessary. Treatment goals must include specific time frames for achievement of goals, and treatment goals must be directly related to the reason for admission.

(B) Partial hospitalization programs must have the ability to reliably contract for safety. Members with clear intent to seriously harm the self or others are not candidates for partial hospitalization services.

(C) Services may be provided for consumers of all ages who are not at imminent risk of harm to self or others. Members who currently reside in a group home or other residential care setting are not eligible for partial hospitalization services. Members must have a diagnosed or suspected behavioral health condition and one (1) of the following:

(i) A short-term deficit in daily functioning.

(ii) An assessment of the member indicating a high probability of serious deterioration of the member's general medical or behavioral health.

(D) Program standards shall be as follows:

(i) Services must be ordered and authorized by a psychiatrist.

(ii) Services require prior authorization pursuant to 405 IAC 5-3-13(a).

(iii) A face-to-face evaluation and an assignment of a behavioral health diagnosis must take place within twenty-four (24) hours following admission to the program.

(iv) A psychiatrist must actively participate in the case review and monitoring of care.

(v) Documentation of active oversight and monitoring of progress by a physician, a psychiatrist, or an HSPP must appear in the member's clinical record.

(vi) At least one (1) individual psychotherapy service or group psychotherapy service must be delivered daily.

(vii) For members under eighteen (18) years of age, documentation of active psychotherapy must appear in the member's clinical record.

(viii) For members under eighteen (18) years of age, a minimum of one (1) family encounter per five (5) business days of episode of care is required.

(ix) Programs must include four (4) to six (6) hours of active treatment per day and be provided at least four (4) days per week.

(x) Programs must not mix members receiving partial hospitalization services with members receiving outpatient behavioral health services.

(E) Exclusions shall be as follows:

(i) Members at imminent risk of harm to self or others are not eligible for services.

(ii) Members who concurrently reside in a group home or other residential care setting are not eligible for services.

(iii) Members who cannot actively engage in psychotherapy are not eligible for services.

(iv) Members with withdrawal risk or symptoms of a substance-related disorder whose needs cannot be managed at this level of care or who need detoxification services.

(v) Members who by virtue of age or medical condition cannot actively participate in group therapies are not eligible for services.

(5) Medicaid will reimburse for evaluation and group, family, and individual psychotherapy when provided by a psychologist endorsed as an HSPP.

(6) Subject to prior authorization by the office, Medicaid will reimburse for neuropsychological and psychological testing when the services are provided by one (1) of the following practitioners:

(A) A physician.

(B) An HSPP.

(C) A practitioner listed in subdivision (7).

(7) The following practitioners may only administer neuropsychological and psychological testing under the direct supervision of a physician or HSPP:

(A) A licensed psychologist.

(B) A licensed independent practice school psychologist.

(C) A person holding a master's degree in a mental health field and one (1) of the following:

(i) A certified specialist in psychometry (CSP).

(ii) Two thousand (2,000) hours of experience, under direct supervision of a physician or HSPP, in administering the type of test being performed.

(8) The physician and HSPP are responsible for the interpretation and reporting of the testing performed.

(9) The physician and HSPP must provide direct supervision and maintain documentation to support the education, training, and hours of experience for any practitioner providing services under their supervision. A cosignature by the physician or HSPP is required for services rendered by one (1) of the practitioners listed in subdivision (7).

(10) Prior authorization is required for mental health services provided in an outpatient or office setting that exceed twenty (20) units per member, per provider, per rolling twelve (12) month period of time, except neuropsychological and psychological testing, which is subject to prior authorization as stated in subdivision (4)(D)(ii).

(11) The following are services that are not reimbursable by Medicaid:

(A) Daycare.

(B) Hypnosis.

(C) Biofeedback.

(D) Missed appointments.

(12) All outpatient services rendered must be identified and itemized on the Medicaid claim form. Additionally, the length of time of each therapy session must be indicated on the claim form. The medical record documentation must identify the services and the length of time of each therapy session. This information must be available for audit purposes.

(13) A current plan of treatment and progress notes, as to the necessity and effectiveness of therapy, must be attached to the prior authorization form and available for audit purposes.

(14) For psychiatric diagnostic interview examinations, Medicaid reimbursement is available for one (1) unit per member, per provider, per rolling twelve (12) month period of time, except as follows:

(A) A maximum of two (2) units per rolling twelve (12) month period of time per member, per provider, may be reimbursed without prior authorization, when a member is separately evaluated by both a physician or HSPP and a midlevel practitioner.

(B) Of the two (2) units allowed without prior authorization, as stated in clause (A), one (1) unit must be provided by the physician or HSPP and one (1) unit must be provided by the midlevel practitioner.

(C) All additional units require prior authorization.

(Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services; 405 IAC 5-20-8; filed Jul 25, 1997, 4:00 p.m.: 20 IR 3335; filed Sep 27, 1999, 8:55 a.m.: 23 IR 315; filed Jun 9, 2000, 9:55 a.m.: 23 IR 2707; readopted filed Jun 27, 2001, 9:40 a.m.: 24 IR 3822; filed Aug 28, 2001, 9:56 a.m.: 25 IR 61; errata filed Nov 21, 2001, 11:33 p.m.: 25 IR 1184; readopted filed Sep 19, 2007, 12:16 p.m.: 20071010-IR-405070311RFA; filed May 27, 2010, 9:15 a.m.: 20100623-IR-405100045FRA; filed Jul 19, 2010, 11:24 a.m.: 20100818-IR-405090087FRA; readopted filed Oct 28, 2013, 3:18 p.m.: 20131127-IR-405130241RFA; filed Aug 1, 2016, 3:44 p.m.: 20160831-IR-405150418FRA; errata filed Nov 1, 2016, 9:36 a.m.: 20161109-IR-405160493ACA)