Post by Chris Fournier on Mar 30, 2020 7:11:50 GMT -8
Survey Question:
Has your local mental health authority (government), and/or funder made any changes to assist ACT teams during this extraordinary time (e.g., relaxed authorization deadlines; adjusted reimbursement schedules)? If yes, please describe. If no, we are interested in your ideas for what would be most helpful!
There were 49 Responses to this question of those responses 38 said they had not received any information regarding any changes. This survey was completed on March 16. I know in North Carolina there has been significant change in this already. Can you comment about changes that have happened in the last 15 days?
Here is a quick summary of survey responses related to this topic (emphasis added by me):
- Missouri DMH is currently looking into different ways to allow services to be billable.
- Nothing yet
- Yes, assured continued funding through crisis based on average of most recent months regardless of level of billable face-to-face time.
- no-just virtual fidelity reviews as needed
- The state government has ordered Medicaid to accept additional mediums (such as telehealth and phone calls) to be billable as if they occurred face to face.
- Sent communication indicating they plan to fund at "historic funding levels" -details to come
- DC Health Care Finances as approved medicaid providers and consumers to provide Telehealth
- Nothing is specifically spelled out right now. However, in a message to staff, it was implied that these type of issues would be relaxed and that we would not be doing “business as usual”
- No. Relaxed productivity. Utilizing other means of transportation for person served due to exposure risk.
- We have ask our MCO (several different places) for flexibility and allowances. To date we have only heard from them that they are waiting on guidance from the state. We would like flexibility to allow billing (no pay backs during audits) for both telephonic and f:f visits during this time for all enhanced services. PPE for our nurses. We can't find N95 masks or gowns because these aren't part of our protocol (they will be in the future)
- They have allowed telehealth services, however most ACT clients don’t have access to those kinds of electronic platforms
- Considering relaxing face to face requirements, and more creative use of enhancement funds such as purchasing cell phones for clients to enhance telephonic communication as necessary.
- no contact with MCOs currently
- Definitely no! No flexibility or allowances have been given to my team.
- DC has been meeting daily with the Providers for updates and teams are aware to contact DBH if problems are presented to them