[PC-BH-Integration] New to List

[Mary Jean MORK]

Hello, Have you considered using the Health and Behavior codes if you are offering behavioral support for a medical diagnosis? These are specifically intended for medical concerns, and not mental health diagnoses - when there is an underlying physical illness or injury where a biopsychosocial factor may be affecting the medical treatment. The Medicare rules are fairly clear about the intention and documentation required. Medicare in some regions (like ours in New England) limits this to PhD's only, but the states can decide if Medicaid will allow LCSW's to also deliver this. Our state (Maine) does. Because kids generally have Medicaid (or Commercial) and not Medicare, this is worth looking into. Let me know if you want any more specifics. Thanks, Mary Jean

Mary Jean Mork
Program Manager
SHH/MMC/ Maine Health
39 Forest Ave
Portland, Maine
662-2490

>>> Jody Rowell <jrowell at cliffordbeers.org> 2/14/2009 10:55 AM >>>
Hi, our primary care integration with a FQHC is failing.  As an LCSW I am
there for 4 hours a week.  I have been providing consultation to the medical
clinicians, seeing kids and their parents briefly, and hooking them up with
other MH external services as indicated.  Because I am the only child
therapist there it doesn't seem particularly helpful to do a full hour
assessment (90801) to provide a few sessions, especially since there is an
enormous amount of backlog.  In addition, I would need a translator with me
for a large majority of the assessments and treatment.  Currently there are
over a 100 kids on the shared list.  Our MH clinic is billing the FQHC for
my time.  The FQHC is struggling financially and is feeling that they cannot
continue to pay for my presence even though they find it valuable.  I am not
billing enough to cover my time there.  Upcoding through FQHC codes is
nearly impossible because most of the peds are reluctant to do the 10 min
warm transfer because of their own insane schedules.

If I sound a little desparate it is because I am worried that all the work
we have done combined with the incredible need means we will loose this
project.

Any ideas would be very much appreciate.  Jody

On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 3:24 PM, Jaffy Phillips <jaffy at pobox.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I've just recently signed up to join this list-serve. My impression is that
> I am to send an email to this address by way of introduction? If so, here
> goes:
>
> I've been practicing as a psychotherapist for several years, and am
> currently back in school for a Master's in Public Health, focussing on
> health policy. I have a strong interest in collaborative care, and I am
> currently working on a research paper for the Massachusetts Health Data
> Consortium, exploring the barriers to and possibilities for implementation
> of shared electronic medical records between behavioral and non-behavioral
> providers in Massachusetts.
>
> Thanks for letting me join in the conversation.
>
> Jaffy
>
>
> Jaffy Phillips, MA
> Psychotherapist in private practice
> Health Policy Intern: Massachusetts Health Data Consortium
> MPH student: Boston University School of Public Health
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Reply to this message to send to the group
> Help can be found at
> http://lists101.his.com/mailman/listinfo/pc-bh-integration 
> or call Bob Beckwith at (301) 984-6200
>



-- 
Jody L. Rowell, MSSW, LCSW, Advocate
Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic
93 Edwards Street
New Haven, CT 06511
(203)772-1270 x-238 (203)772-0051 (F)
jrowell at cliffordbeers.org 

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