Section 890. Plans of care; review of plans of care

A. For Residential Treatment Services (Level C), an initial plan of care must be completed at admission and a Comprehensive Individual Plan of Care (CIPOC) must be completed no later than 14 days after admission.

B. Initial plan of care (Level C) must include:

1. Diagnoses, symptoms, complaints, and complications indicating the need for admission;

2. A description of the functional level of the recipient;

3. Treatment objectives with short-term and long-term goals;

4. Any orders for medications, treatments, restorative and rehabilitative services, activities, therapies, social services, diet, and special procedures recommended for the health and safety of the patient;

5. Plans for continuing care, including review and modification to the plan of care;

6. Plans for discharge; and

7. Signature and date by the physician.

C. The CIPOC for Level C must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Be based on a diagnostic evaluation that includes examination of the medical, psychological, social, behavioral, and developmental aspects of the recipient's situation and must reflect the need for inpatient psychiatric care;

2. Be developed by an interdisciplinary team of physicians and other personnel specified under subsection F of this section, who are employed by, or provide services to, patients in the facility in consultation with the recipient and his parents, legal guardians, or appropriate others in whose care he will be released after discharge;

3. State treatment objectives that must include measurable short-term and long-term goals and objectives, with target dates for achievement;

4. Prescribe an integrated program of therapies, activities, and experiences designed to meet the treatment objectives related to the diagnosis; and

5. Describe comprehensive discharge plans and coordination of inpatient services and post-discharge plans with related community services to ensure continuity of care upon discharge with the recipient's family, school, and community.

D. Review of the CIPOC for Level C. The CIPOC must be reviewed every 30 days by the team specified in subsection F of this section to:

1. Determine that services being provided are or were required on an inpatient basis; and

2. Recommend changes in the plan as indicated by the recipient's overall adjustment as an inpatient.

E. The development and review of the plan of care for Level C as specified in this section satisfies the facility's utilization control requirements for recertification and establishment and periodic review of the plan of care, as required in 42 CFR 456.160 and 456.180.

F. Team developing the CIPOC for Level C. The following requirements must be met:

1. At least one member of the team must have expertise in pediatric mental health. Based on education and experience, preferably including competence in child psychiatry, the team must be capable of all of the following:

a. Assessing the recipient's immediate and long-range therapeutic needs, developmental priorities, and personal strengths and liabilities;

b. Assessing the potential resources of the recipient's family;

c. Setting treatment objectives; and

d. Prescribing therapeutic modalities to achieve the plan's objectives.

2. The team must include, at a minimum, either:

a. A board-eligible or board-certified psychiatrist;

b. A clinical psychologist who has a doctoral degree and a physician licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy; or

c. A physician licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy with specialized training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental diseases, and a psychologist who has a master's degree in clinical psychology or who has been certified by the state or by the state psychological association.

3. The team must also include one of the following:

a. A psychiatric social worker;

b. A registered nurse with specialized training or one year's experience in treating mentally ill individuals;

c. An occupational therapist who is licensed, if required by the state, and who has specialized training or one year of experience in treating mentally ill individuals; or

d. A psychologist who has a master's degree in clinical psychology or who has been certified by the state or by the state psychological association.

G. All Medicaid services are subject to utilization review. Absence of any of the required documentation may result in denial or retraction of any reimbursement.

H. For Therapeutic Behavioral Services for Children and Adolescents under 21 (Level B), the initial plan of care must be completed at admission by the licensed mental health professional (LMHP) and a CIPOC must be completed by the LMHP no later than 30 days after admission. The assessment must be signed and dated by the LMHP.

I. For Community-Based Services for Children and Adolescents under 21 (Level A), the initial plan of care must be completed at admission by the QMHP and a CIPOC must be completed by the QMHP no later than 30 days after admission. The individualized plan of care must be signed and dated by the program director.

J. Initial plan of care for Levels A and B must include:

1. Diagnoses, symptoms, complaints, and complications indicating the need for admission;

2. A description of the functional level of the child;

3. Treatment objectives with short-term and long-term goals;

4. Any orders for medications, treatments, restorative and rehabilitative services, activities, therapies, social services, diet, and special procedures recommended for the health and safety of the patient;

5. Plans for continuing care, including review and modification to the plan of care; and

6. Plans for discharge.

K. The CIPOC for Levels A and B must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Be based on a diagnostic evaluation that includes examination of the medical, psychological, social, behavioral, and developmental aspects of the child's situation and must reflect the need for residential psychiatric care;

2. The CIPOC for both levels must be based on input from school, home, other healthcare providers, the child and family (or legal guardian);

3. State treatment objectives that include measurable short-term and long-term goals and objectives, with target dates for achievement;

4. Prescribe an integrated program of therapies, activities, and experiences designed to meet the treatment objectives related to the diagnosis; and

5. Describe comprehensive discharge plans with related community services to ensure continuity of care upon discharge with the child's family, school, and community.

L. Review of the CIPOC for Levels A and B. The CIPOC must be reviewed, signed, and dated every 30 days by the QMHP for Level A and by the LMHP for Level B. The review must include:

1. The response to services provided;

2. Recommended changes in the plan as indicated by the child's overall response to the plan of care interventions; and

3. Determinations regarding whether the services being provided continue to be required.

Updates must be signed and dated by the service provider.

M. All Medicaid services are subject to utilization review. Absence of any of the required documentation may result in denial or retraction of any reimbursement.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 17, Issue 05, eff. January 1, 2001; amended, Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 08, eff. January 25, 2006; Volume 25, Issue 14, eff. April 15, 2009.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-324 and 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.