Drug Medical Certification s and s Below are Mike Kerr s (SAPC s) responses to questions submitted during the May 21, 2013 Webinar. Please note Mike s opening clarification and Title 22 citations in response to a few of the initial webinar questions. I misspoke on this issue of RN s, PA s, and NP s not needing to be registered or certified as SUD counselors. They are still subject to the certification requirement. Below is the section in the State regulations dealing with this issue. My apologies, for the incorrect explanations provided during the webinar. 13015. Requirements for Certification of Licensed Professionals. (a) As used in this regulation, licensed professional means a physician licensed by the Medical Board of California; or a psychologist licensed by the Board of Psychology; or a clinical social worker or marriage and family therapist licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, or an intern registered with the California Board of Psychology or the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. (b) Licensed professionals, providing counseling services in an AOD program, who are in good standing with their licensing agency, shall not be required to become certified as AOD counselors pursuant to this Chapter. As used in this regulation, in good standing means that the individual s license is valid and is not revoked, suspended, or otherwise terminated. (c) Licensed professionals, providing counseling services in an AOD program, shall provide to the AOD program by which they are employed, for retention in their personnel files, a copy of their license to practice in the State of California. (d) Licensed professionals, providing counseling services in an AOD program, shall complete 36 hours of continuing education during every two year period of licensure beginning January 1, 2006. Such continuing education shall be based on the curriculum described in Section 13055 and shall be provided or approved by the AOD program employing the licensed professional or one of the certifying organizations specified in Section 13035. Licensed professionals shall be required to complete 36 hours of continuing education during every two year period of licensure; however, at the discretion of the employing AOD program, the continuing education units required by the licensed professional s licensing board shall satisfy this requirement. 1
Can you describe the process for establishing satellite locations at schools and community centers for an established DMC provider? If a new provider only intends to provide services in schools, will SAPC contract with that program? Satellite locations must be certified by the Department of Health Care Services just like full clinics. The link below will take you directly to the application. On page 2 of the application it delineates a few sections of the application that may be skipped for satellite sites. SAPC does not require an Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) certification for satellite locations. Finding a suitable location to provide services is up to the agency and their ability to network. Once a site is certified SAPC must be contacted and asked to add the site to their contract. Billing may not be submitted for any site not listed in a contract. http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/adp/documents/dmca_drug_medi Cal_Application.pdf Yes, but it still requires that at least one location is a full clinic with both a DMC certification and an AOD certification. The clinic must also be approved by SAPC. Can MFT interns provide counseling thatʹs reimbursable? Are the standards the same for both inpatient and outpatient clinics? So long as they are registered the answer is yes as explained above. Many standards are the same regardless of modality, but many are also different. Each modality has its own unique requirements which 2
We already have a 3 year contract. So is this a different contract than we already have? If the nurse provides counseling they must be certified or registered right? Are services rendered at medical offices, away from the outpatient certified site, reimbursable under Drug MediCal? We are looking at acquiring a drug MediCal certified agency. Will their certification transfer to us? Or do we need to reapply separately? In regards to the ʺJustification for Continuing Servicesʺ form for Drug Medi Cal clients, is there someone we have to fax a copy to? If the Masterʹs Level Counselor is a licensed clinician (LCSW or LMFT), are they qualified? If an intern has an NPI number, can they provide services with their own caseload? are explained in both Title 22 and SAPC contracts. If you currently have a three year DMC contract then it is scheduled to end on June 30, 2014. At that time contracts will be negotiated for renewal and there may be changes in requirements and/or services that are reimbursable to comply with the Affordable Care Act. There may also be mandated changes on January 1, 2014. Unfortunately we do not yet have all those answers. That is correct. See above. No. All services must be rendered at a certified DMC site. No exceptions. No it will not transfer. You will have to apply for new certifications in the name of your agency. The yearly justifications must be sent to your assigned contract program auditor for approval. Yes, provided they meet the other requirements listed above. An intern registered with the California Board of Psychology or the California Board of Behavioral Sciences may do so. Interns from certification programs may have a caseload as long as they are registered or certified and are supervised by a qualified individual. 3
To acquire a contract with the county does the location need to be at a commercial location? The question regarding nurses: See counselor Regulations Section 13015. Nurses if not licensed as per Section 13015 must be certified or registered. I just donʹt want programs to think a nurse can counsel and bill DMC without being certified/registered. Are for profit AOD providers allowed to contract for Drug Medi Cal? Is a Physician assistant Qualified to Provide DMC Counseling Services? We are a Contracted AB109 Youth program but not Drug Medi cal If an incoming Drug Medi Cal client sees our agencyʹs nurse, is that billable to Drug Medi Cal? If they are registered with a substance abuse association AND have an NPI number, can an intern provide services with their own caseload? See Counseling Regulations section 10125 Is SAPC accepting new providers and or does it depend on the SPA? To acquire a contract with the county the site must be certified. To be certified by the DHCS, certain zoning requirements apply. I understand that DHCS is becoming stricter in this regard so you will need to discuss your particular location with them. Yes, that is correct. Yes. Currently that is the case. See the similar question previously answered above. No, see the opening statement above. If the person is registered with one of the certification organization approved by the state and if the agency provides proper clinical supervision that is okay (should be a billable service). SAPC is accepting new applications regardless of the SPA 4
Since many patients need the intensity of intensive outpatient or day treatment, will Drug MediCal cover this middle level of care (3 10 hours of outpatient treatment daily)? Can our County Monitor assist us with Drug Medi CAL Transitions? If a counselor has masters does this support as a certified counselor? Currently does not have Drug Medi cal contract county contracted AB109 JJCPA etc. No, not at this time. I am not sure what this question is asking. Requests for Training and Technical Assistance on Drug Medi Cal Certification should be directed to the State Department of Health Care Services or to ADPI No, see the clarification above. 5