Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Medical Assistance Services
Board
Board of Medical Assistance Services
chapter
Amount, Duration, and Scope of Medical and Remedial Care and Services [12 VAC 30 ‑ 50]
Action:
Removal of the 21 Out of 60 Day Limit
Action 5331
 
General Information
Action Summary This action is necessary to comply with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicaid Mental Health Parity Rule, issued on March 30, 2016. The overall objective of the Medicaid Mental Health Parity Rule is to ensure that accessing mental health and substance use disorder services is no more difficult than accessing medical/surgical services.To comply with the Medicaid Mental Health Parity Rule, the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) must remove the limit of 21 days per admission in a 60 day period for the same or similar diagnosis or treatment plan for psychiatric inpatient hospitalization, as this limit for coverage of non-psychiatric admissions was removed on July 1, 1998. (Medicaid managed care plans do not apply the limit of 21 out of 60 days, and both the limit and the change only apply to fee for service.) Psychiatric inpatient hospitalizations must be service authorized based on medical necessity and not be limited to 21 days per admission in a 60 day period. The citation for the federal regulation to remove the "21 out of 60 day limit" can be found in 42 CFR 438.910(b)(1).
Chapters Affected
  VAC Chapter Name Action Type
Primary 12 VAC 30-50 Amount, Duration, and Scope of Medical and Remedial Care and Services Amend Existing Regulation
Other chapters
  12 VAC 30 - 60 Standards Established and Methods Used to Assure High Quality Care Amend Existing Regulation
Executive Branch Review This action will go through the normal Executive Branch Review process.
RIS Project Yes  [006072]
Is Federal action a driving factor in this regulatory change? If so, please provide a specific reference to the law, regulation or court case.
42 CFR 438.910(b)(1)
New Periodic Review This action will not be used to conduct a new periodic review.
 
Stages
Stages associated with this regulatory action.
Stage ID Stage Type Status
8680 Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 10/30/2020.
 
Contact Information
Name / Title: Emily McClellan  / Regulatory Supervisor
Address: Policy Division, DMAS
600 E. Broad Street, Suite 1300
Richmond, VA 23219
Email Address: Emily.McClellan@DMAS.Virginia.gov
Phone: (804)371-4300    FAX: (804)786-1680    TDD: ()-

This person is the primary contact for this chapter.