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 Mental Health Skill-building Services
Stage Final
Comment Period Ended on 7/27/2016
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7/25/16  10:19 am
Commenter: Tara Tormey, EHS

Billing changes/ Mental health clinician
 
There have been many times where my clients have required more time than the allotted new unit cap due to heightened symptoms during appointments, out in the community, and communicating with others, and dealing with many every day mental health issues. Many of my clients have health and mental heath providers which are located at least 45 minutes or more from their homes, which makes travel a large part of the issue especailly when other transportation will not serve their area due to being so. Clients have reported that they have had difficulty with other transportation being reliable and have suffered a loss of providers due to not being able to attended resulting in discharge. Clients have reported that they experience extreme heightened symptoms related to their mental health while utilizing other transportation and not having support to reduce or minimize these symptoms resulting in negative back slides relating to their ISP. Clients who have heightened symptoms that are unable to be seen more than their 3 hrs will be left to move through these potentually damaging symptoms especially when experinicing heightened suicidal symtpoms. In order to work towards discharge with a client, clinician needs to be spending time with clients during these heightened situations in order to train, model, and role play ways that they could effectively reduce these symtpoms. Clients will possibly feel less supported and vulnerable when they should feel supported and confident when dealing with daily issues connected to their mental health and medical concerns.
CommentID: 50662