Section 280. Family/caregiver training

A. Service description. Family or caregiver training is the provision of identified training and education related to SED, community integration, family dynamics, stress management, behavioral interventions, and mental health to the family/caregiver. For purposes of this service, "family" is defined as the persons who live with, provide care to or support a waiver client, and may include a spouse, children, relatives, a legal guardian, foster family, or in-laws. "Family" does not include individuals who are employed to care for the client. All family/caregiver training must be included in the client's ISP.

B. Criteria. The need for the training and the content of the training in order to assist the family or caregivers with maintaining the client at home must be documented in the client's ISP. The training must be necessary in order to improve the family or caregiver's ability to provide care and support.

C. Service units and service limitations. Services are billed hourly and must be pre- authorized. Clients may receive up to 80 hours of family/caregiver training per ISP treatment year.

D. Provider requirements. In addition to meeting the general conditions and requirements for home and community-based care participating providers as specified in 12VAC30-135-120 and 12VAC30-135-160, providers must meet the following qualifications:

1. Family/caregiver training must be provided on an individual basis, in small groups or through seminars and conferences provided by Medicaid-approved or enrolled family and caregiver training providers;

2. Family/caregiver training must be provided by individuals with expertise who work for an agency with experience in or demonstrated knowledge of the training topic and who work for an agency or organization that has a provider participation agreement with DMAS to provide these services. Individuals must also have the appropriate licensure or certification as required for the specific professional field associated with the training area. Licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, licensed psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, and psychiatric clinical nurse specialists may enroll as individual practitioners with DMAS to provide family/caregiver training;

3. The family/caregiver training provider must submit documentation of all training to the case manager quarterly. This documentation must include:

a. All assessments and reassessments;

b. All supporting documentation developed for the client and the written reviews;

c. Documentation of the date services were rendered and the amount and type of services rendered; and

d. Any documentation to support that services provided are appropriate and necessary to maintain the client in the home and in the community.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 24, Issue 02, eff. December 1, 2007.

Statutory Authority

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