Effective Date of Rule: July 1, 2008.

     Purpose: Chapter 359, Laws of 2007 (2SHB 1088) requires the department to improve access to mental health services for children who do not meet regional support network access to care standards. Specifically, the department is revising its rules effective July 1, 2008, to allow children up to twenty hours of outpatient therapy per year, including family therapy visits. In addition, licensed mental health professionals will be allowed to provide the therapy. Currently, children are allowed up to twelve hours of outpatient therapy per year provided by a psychiatrist.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-502-0010, 388-531-0100, 388-531-0250, and 388-531-1400.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.09.521.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 08-08-124 on April 2, 2008.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: (Changes are indicated in bold italics).

WAC 388-502-0010:

     (3)(a)(xxviii): Social workers, only as provided in WAC 388-531-1400 and 388-531-1600;

     (5)(h): Social workers, except as provided in WAC 388-531-1400 and 388-531-1600;

WAC 388-531-0250:

     (1): The following enrolled providers are eligible to provide and bill for physician-related medical healthcare services which they provide...

     (1)(i): Licensed social workers, only as provided in WAC 388-531-1400 and 388-531-1600;

WAC 388-531-1400:

     Title: Psychiatric physician-related services and other professional mental health services.

     First sentence: The mental health services covered in the medical benefits described in this section are separate from the mental health services covered by the mental health managed care system administered under the authority of the mental health division pursuant to chapter 388-865 WAC.

     (3) ((MAA reimburses psychiatrists for either hospital care or psychotherapy, but not for both on the same day)) With the exception of medication management, the department covers, with limitations, other mental health services described in this section with the limitation of one service per client, per day regardless of location or provider type.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: May 27, 2008.

Stephanie E. Schiller

Rules Coordinator

     (1) To be eligible for enrollment, a provider must:

     (a) Be licensed, certified, accredited, or registered according to Washington state laws and rules; and

     (b) Meet the conditions in this chapter and chapters regulating the specific type of provider, program, and/or service.

     (2) To enroll, an eligible provider must sign a core provider agreement ((or a contract)) with the department and receive a unique provider number; a provider may also sign a contract to enroll. (Note: Section 13 of the core provider agreement, DSHS 09-048 (REV. 06/2002), is hereby rescinded. The department and each provider signing a core provider agreement will hold each other harmless from a legal action based on the negligent actions or omissions of either party under the terms of the agreement.)

     (3) Eligible providers listed in this subsection may request enrollment. Out-of-state providers listed in this subsection are subject to conditions in ((WAC 388-502-0120)) chapter 388-502 WAC.

     (a) Professionals:

     (i) Advanced registered nurse practitioners;

     (ii) Anesthesiologists;

     (iii) Audiologists;

     (iv) Chiropractors;

     (v) Dentists;

     (vi) Dental hygienists;

     (vii) Denturists;

     (viii) Dietitians or nutritionists;

     (ix) Marriage and family therapists, only as provided in WAC 388-531-1400;

     (x) Maternity case managers;

     (((x))) (xi) Mental health counselors, only as provided in WAC 388-531-1400;

     (xii) Midwives;

     (((xi))) (xiii) Occupational therapists;

     (((xii))) (xiv) Ophthalmologists;

     (((xiii))) (xv) Opticians;

     (((xiv))) (xvi) Optometrists;

     (((xv))) (xvii) Orthodontists;

     (((xvi))) (xviii) Osteopathic physicians;

     (((xvii))) (xix) Podiatric physicians;

     (((xviii))) (xx) Pharmacists;

     (((xix))) (xxi) Physicians;

     (((xx))) (xxii) Physical therapists;

     (((xxi))) (xxiii) Psychiatrists;

     (((xxii))) (xxiv) Psychologists;

     (((xxiii))) (xxv) Registered nurse delegators;

     (((xxiv))) (xxvi) Registered nurse first assistants;

     (((xxv))) (xxvii) Respiratory therapists;

     (((xxvi))) (xxviii) Social workers, only as provided in WAC 388-531-1400 and 388-531-1600;

     (xxix) Speech/language pathologists;

     (((xvii))) (xxx) Radiologists; and

     (((xviii))) (xxxi) Radiology technicians (technical only);

     (b) Agencies, centers and facilities:

     (i) Adult day health centers;

     (ii) Ambulance services (ground and air);

     (iii) Ambulatory surgery centers (Medicare-certified);

     (iv) Birthing centers (licensed by the department of health);

     (v) Blood banks;

     (vi) Chemical dependency treatment facilities certified by the department of social and health services (DSHS), division of alcohol and substance abuse (DASA), and contracted through either:

     (A) A county under chapter 388-810 WAC; or

     (B) DASA to provide chemical dependency treatment services;

     (vii) Centers for the detoxification of acute alcohol or other drug intoxication conditions (certified by DASA);

     (viii) Community AIDS services alternative agencies;

     (ix) Community mental health centers;

     (x) Early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment (EPSDT) clinics;

     (xi) Family planning clinics;

     (xii) Federally qualified health ((care)) centers (FQHC) (designated by the ((Federal Health Care Financing Administration)) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid);

     (xiii) Genetic counseling agencies;

     (xiv) Health departments;

     (xv) HIV/AIDS case management;

     (xvi) Home health agencies;

     (xvii) Hospice agencies;

     (xviii) Hospitals;

     (xix) Indian Health Service;

     (xx) Tribal or urban Indian clinics;

     (xxi) Inpatient psychiatric facilities;

     (xxii) Intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded (ICF-MR);

     (xxiii) Kidney centers;

     (xxiv) Laboratories (CLIA certified);

     (xxv) Maternity support services agencies;

     (xxvi) Neuromuscular and neurodevelopmental centers;

     (xxvii) Nursing facilities (approved by DSHS Aging and ((Adult)) Disability Services);

     (xxviii) Pharmacies;

     (xxix) Private duty nursing agencies;

     (xxx) Rural health clinics (Medicare-certified);

     (xxxi) Tribal mental health services (contracted through the DSHS mental health division); and

     (xxxii) Washington state school districts and educational service districts.

     (c) Suppliers of:

     (i) Durable and nondurable medical equipment and supplies;

     (ii) Infusion therapy equipment and supplies;

     (iii) Prosthetics/orthotics;

     (iv) Hearing aids; and

     (v) Oxygen equipment and supplies;

     (d) Contractors of:

     (i) Transportation brokers;

     (ii) Interpreter services agencies; and

     (iii) Eyeglass and contact lens providers.

     (4) Nothing in this chapter precludes the department from entering into other forms of written agreements to provide services to eligible clients.

     (5) The department does not enroll licensed or unlicensed practitioners who are not specifically addressed in subsection (3) of this section((, including,)). Ineligible providers include but are not limited to:

     (a) Acupuncturists;

     (b) Counselors, except as provided in WAC 388-531-1400;

     (c) Sanipractors;

     (d) Naturopaths;

     (e) Homeopaths;

     (f) Herbalists;

     (g) Massage therapists;

     (h) Social workers, except as provided in WAC 388-531-1400 and 388-531-1600; or

     (i) Christian Science practitioners or theological healers.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.080, 74.09.120. 03-14-106, § 388-502-0010, filed 6/30/03, effective 7/31/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.500, and 74.09.530. 01-07-076, § 388-502-0010, filed 3/20/01, effective 4/20/01; 00-15-050, § 388-502-0010, filed 7/17/00, effective 8/17/00.]

     (a) Within the scope of an eligible client's medical assistance program. Refer to WAC 388-501-0060 and 388-501-0065; and

     (b) Medically necessary as defined in WAC 388-500-0005.

     (2) The department evaluates a request for a service that is in a covered category under the provisions of WAC 388-501-0165.

     (3) The department evaluates requests for covered services that are subject to limitations or other restrictions and approves such services beyond those limitations or restrictions as described in WAC 388-501-0169.

     (4) The department covers the following physician-related services, subject to the conditions in subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section:

     (a) Allergen immunotherapy services;

     (b) Anesthesia services;

     (c) Dialysis and end stage renal disease services (refer to chapter 388-540 WAC);

     (d) Emergency physician services;

     (e) ENT (ear, nose, and throat) related services;

     (f) Early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment (EPSDT) services (refer to WAC 388-534-0100);

     (g) Family planning services (refer to chapter 388-532 WAC);

     (h) Hospital inpatient services (refer to chapter 388-550 WAC);

     (i) Maternity care, delivery, and newborn care services (refer to chapter 388-533 WAC);

     (j) Office visits;

     (k) Vision-related services, refer to chapter 388-544 WAC;

     (l) Osteopathic treatment services;

     (m) Pathology and laboratory services;

     (n) Physiatry and other rehabilitation services (refer to chapter 388-550 WAC);

     (o) Podiatry services;

     (p) Primary care services;

     (q) Psychiatric services, provided by a psychiatrist;

     (r) Psychotherapy services for children as provided in WAC 388-531-1400;

     (s) Pulmonary and respiratory services;

     (((s))) (t) Radiology services;

     (((t))) (u) Surgical services;

     (((u))) (v) Cosmetic, reconstructive, or plastic surgery, and related services and supplies to correct physiological defects from birth, illness, or physical trauma, or for mastectomy reconstruction for post cancer treatment; and

     (((v))) (w) Other outpatient physician services.

     (5) The department covers physical examinations for medical assistance clients only when the physical examination is one or more of the following:

     (a) A screening exam covered by the EPSDT program (see WAC 388-534-0100);

     (b) An annual exam for clients of the division of developmental disabilities; or

     (c) A screening pap smear, mammogram, or prostate exam.

     (6) By providing covered services to a client eligible for a medical assistance program, a provider who has signed an agreement with the department accepts the department's rules and fees as outlined in the agreement, which includes federal and state law and regulations, billing instructions, and department issuances.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.08.090, 74.09.530, and 74.09.700. 06-24-036, § 388-531-0100, filed 11/30/06, effective 1/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.520. 01-01-012, § 388-531-0100, filed 12/6/00, effective 1/6/01.]

     (a) Advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP);

     (b) Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs);

     (c) Health departments;

     (d) Hospitals currently licensed by the department of health;

     (e) Independent (outside) laboratories CLIA certified to perform tests. See WAC 388-531-0800;

     (f) Licensed marriage and family therapists, only as provided in WAC 388-531-1400;

     (g) Licensed mental health counselors, only as provided in WAC 388-531-1400;

     (h) Licensed radiology facilities;

     (((g))) (i) Licensed social workers, only as provided in WAC 388-531-1400 and 388-531-1600;

     (j) Medicare-certified ambulatory surgery centers;

     (((h))) (k) Medicare-certified rural health clinics;

     (((i))) (l) Providers who have a signed agreement with ((MAA)) the department to provide screening services to eligible persons in the EPSDT program;

     (((j))) (m) Registered nurse first assistants (RNFA); and

     (((k))) (n) Persons currently licensed by the state of Washington department of health to practice any of the following:

     (i) Dentistry (refer to chapter 388-535 WAC);

     (ii) Medicine and osteopathy;

     (iii) Nursing;

     (iv) Optometry; or

     (v) Podiatry.

     (2) ((MAA)) The department does not ((reimburse)) pay for services performed by any of the following practitioners:

     (a) Acupuncturists;

     (b) Christian Science practitioners or theological healers;

     (c) Counselors, except as provided in WAC 388-531-1400;

     (d) Herbalists;

     (e) Homeopaths;

     (f) Massage therapists as licensed by the Washington state department of health;

     (g) Naturopaths;

     (h) Sanipractors;

     (i) Social workers, except those who have a master's degree in social work (MSW), ((except those)) and:

     (i) Are employed by an FQHC ((or who));

     (ii) Who have prior authorization to evaluate a client for bariatric surgery; or

     (iii) As provided in WAC 388-531-1400.

     (j) Any other licensed or unlicensed practitioners not otherwise specifically provided for in WAC 388-502-0010; or

     (k) Any other licensed practitioners providing services which the practitioner is not:

     (i) Licensed to provide; and

     (ii) Trained to provide.

     (3) ((MAA reimburses)) The department pays practitioners listed in subsection (2) of this section for physician-related services if those services are mandated by, and provided to, clients who are eligible for one of the following:

     (a) The EPSDT program;

     (b) A Medicaid program for qualified Medicare beneficiaries (QMB); or

     (c) A waiver program.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.520. 05-12-022, § 388-531-0250, filed 5/20/05, effective 6/20/05; 01-01-012, § 388-531-0250, filed 12/6/00, effective 1/6/01.]

     (iii) The mental health services must be provided by a psychiatrist in an outpatient setting.

     (2) ((MAA reimburses only one hospital call for direct psychiatric client care, per client, per day. Psychiatrists must bill the total time spent on direct psychiatric client care during each visit. Making rounds is considered direct client care and includes any one of the following)) The department covers inpatient mental health services with the following limitations:

     (a) ((Brief (up to one hour), individual psychotherapy)) Must be provided by a psychiatrist;

     (b) ((Family/group therapy)) Only the total time spent on direct psychiatric client care during each visit; and

     (c) ((Electroconvulsive therapy; or

     (d) Pharmacologic management)) One hospital call per day for direct psychiatric client care, including making rounds. Making rounds is considered direct client care and includes any one of the following:

     (i) Individual psychotherapy up to one hour;

     (ii) Family/group therapy; or

     (iii) Electroconvulsive therapy.

     (3) ((MAA reimburses psychiatrists for either hospital care or psychotherapy, but not for both on the same day)) With the exception of medication management, the department covers other mental health services described in this section with the limitation of one per client, per day regardless of location or provider type.

     (4) ((MAA reimburses)) The department pays psychiatrists ((for)) when the client receives a medical physical examination in the hospital in addition to a psychiatric diagnostic or evaluation interview examination.

     (5) ((MAA reimburses only one)) The department covers psychiatric diagnostic interview ((examination in a)) evaluations at the limit of one per provider, per calendar year unless a significant change in the client's circumstances renders an additional evaluation medically necessary and is authorized by the department.

     (6) ((MAA requires psychiatrists to use hospital E&M codes when billing for daily rounds.

     (7) MAA)) The department does not cover ((for)) psychiatric sleep therapy.

     (((8) Medication adjustment is the only psychiatric service for which MAA reimburses psychiatric ARNPs)) (7) The department covers electroconvulsive therapy and narcosynthesis only when performed by a psychiatrist.

     (((9) MAA reimburses for one)) (8) The department pays psychiatric ARNPs only for mental health medication management and diagnostic interview evaluations provided to clients nineteen years of age and older.

     (9) The department covers interactive ((or insight oriented call)), face-to-face visits at the limit of one per client, per day, in an ((office or)) outpatient setting. ((Individual psychotherapy, interactive services)) Interactive, face-to-face visits may be billed only for clients age twenty and younger.

     (10) The client or licensed healthcare provider may request a limitation extension only when the client exceeds the total hour limit described in subsection (1) of this section, and for no other limitation of service in this section. The department will evaluate these requests in accordance with WAC 388-501-0169.

     (11) DSHS providers must comply with chapter((s 275-55 and 275-57)) 388-865 WAC for hospital inpatient psychiatric admissions, and must follow rules adopted by the ((division of)) mental health division or the appropriate regional support network (RSN). ((MAA does not reimburse for those psychiatric services that are eligible for reimbursement under those agencies.))

     (12) Accepting payment under more than one contract or agreement with the department for the same service for the same client constitutes duplication of payment. If a client is provided services under multiple contracts or agreements, each provider must maintain documentation identifying the type of service provided and the contract or agreement under which it is provided to ensure it is not a duplication of service.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.520. 01-01-012, § 388-531-1400, filed 12/6/00, effective 1/6/01.]

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office