When Native Solutions set out to launch Mariposa County’s first-ever medication-assisted treatment (MAT) facility, overwhelming licensing hurdles and zero local precedent stood in the way. Partnering with Behave Health Consulting, they turned initial rejection and complex requirements into a groundbreaking success—earning state licensure in record time, bringing vital addiction treatment home to their community, and securing over $1.3 million in funding. Discover how expert regulatory guidance, innovative technology, and local leadership helped redefine rural behavioral healthcare in California.
Where to next? Finding the Sweet Spot Between Deal Flow and Business-Friendly Regulation in Addiction Treatment
Part 7 of 7: Elevance Health Addiction Treatment Coverage: A Comprehensive Guide for Treatment Providers
This in-depth pillar article empowers rehab centers and behavioral health providers by demystifying Elevance Health’s insurance coverage for substance abuse treatment. Discover expert tips on benefit verification, ASAM guideline compliance, prior authorizations, concurrent reviews, and accurate billing & coding—all designed to enhance reimbursement and streamline administrative processes.
Part 6 of 7: Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC): Medical Necessity Criteria for Addiction Treatment
Explore our in-depth guide on HCSC’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plans as they embrace ASAM 4.0 for adult substance use disorder treatment. This post covers critical aspects including detox protocols, inpatient/residential rehab, outpatient services (PHP/IOP), medication-assisted treatment, and billing/coding insights. Stay informed on state mandates and provider best practices to ensure compliance and optimal patient care.
Part 5 of 7: Kaiser Permanente: Medical Necessity Criteria for Addiction Treatment Services
Discover how Kaiser Permanente integrates addiction treatment services using ASAM Criteria to determine medical necessity. This guide covers everything from detox and residential rehab to outpatient programs and MAT, including key insights on billing codes, authorization processes, and provider collaboration.
Part 4 of 7: Cigna: Medical Necessity Criteria for Addiction Treatment Services
Discover how Cigna leverages ASAM criteria to define clinical necessity for substance use treatment. This blog breaks down the detailed guidelines for detox, inpatient and residential rehab, PHP, IOP, and MAT—including key billing codes and documentation tips to streamline the authorization process.
Part 3 of 7: CVS Health (Aetna): Medical Necessity Criteria for Addiction Treatment Services
In Part 3 of our 7-part series, we detail CVS Health’s Aetna guidelines for addiction treatment services. This post breaks down key elements—from detox and inpatient rehab to PHP/IOP and MAT—highlighting the use of ASAM Criteria, precertification protocols, and essential billing codes to ensure medical necessity and optimal reimbursement.
Part 2 of 7: UnitedHealth Group: Medical Necessity Criteria for Addiction Treatment Services
Explore UnitedHealth Group’s evidence-based approach to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Our blog breaks down how ASAM Criteria guides decisions for detox, residential rehab, outpatient programs, and medication-assisted treatment, with essential billing codes and prior authorization tips to ensure smooth reimbursement.
Part 1 of 7: Understanding Medical Necessity Criteria in Addiction Treatment (Introduction)
Welcome to our comprehensive blog series on navigating medical necessity criteria for addiction treatment by insurers. This series unpacks how leading payers—from UnitedHealth Group to Kaiser Permanente—determine coverage for detox, rehab, and therapy services. Discover in-depth analyses of ASAM guidelines, insurer-specific requirements, prior authorization protocols, and key billing codes. Whether you’re a treatment provider or healthcare administrator, our expert insights will empower you to align your documentation with industry standards and overcome coverage hurdles. Dive in to transform insurance challenges into pathways for effective patient care.
The Definitive Guide to Verifying Therapist Licenses: A State-by-State Resource for Treatment Centers and Providers
Discover the definitive state-by-state guide to verifying therapist licenses. This resource empowers treatment center staff and providers to access official licensing and complaint filing information for mental health professionals across the United States, ensuring regulatory compliance and quality care.
Comprehensive Guide to Mental Health & SUD Treatment Credentialing
Credentialing is the backbone of professional practice in mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. It refers to the rigorous process of verifying and validating a provider’s qualifications, licensure, training, and experience before they are allowed to deliver care or receive reimbursement.
Comprehensive Eating Disorder Treatment Planning for Behavioral Health Professionals
Adjustment Disorder Treatment Plans: A Guide | BehaveHealth
Depression Treatment Plans: Goals, Assessment & Billing
Discover expert guidance on developing comprehensive treatment plans for depression. This in‐depth resource covers assessment, goal setting, tailored interventions, and documentation—including ICD‑10 and billing codes—to help clinicians, administrators, and behavioral health professionals deliver quality care.
Treatment Plan for Anxiety: ICD-10 Codes, Goals, ICD-11 Updates & Best Practices
This guide covers developing an effective anxiety treatment plan, including ICD-10 and ICD-11 codes (like GAD and unspecified anxiety), setting measurable goals and objectives, and ensuring compliance. It also provides a case study and FAQs, emphasizing the importance of accurate documentation and tools like Behave EHR.
ICD-10 Codes for Anxiety and Comprehensive Treatment Planning: The Ultimate Guide for Behavioral Health Providers
Accurately coding anxiety disorders with ICD-10 and crafting a solid treatment plan are twin pillars of effective behavioral health practice. Getting the ICD-10 coding right ensures compliance, facilitates reimbursement, and paints a clear clinical picture – while a well-structured treatment plan turns that diagnosis into actionable care. This exhaustive guide will walk through everything a behavioral health provider needs to know about ICD-10 codes for anxiety and treatment planning, from coding accuracy and common pitfalls, to developing SMART goals and evidence-based interventions for anxiety. We’ll also explore how these pieces fit into behavioral health documentation and discuss the upcoming transition from ICD-10 to ICD-11 and its implications. Throughout, we’ll highlight how Behave EHR can streamline both coding and treatment planning, ensuring providers stay compliant and deliver high-quality care.
Mastering IOP Billing: CPT Codes, Insurance Reimbursement, and Licensing
What is IOP Billing and How Does It Work? IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) billing involves using HCPCS codes like H0015 (substance use IOP) and S9480 (mental health IOP) to submit claims for bundled daily services. Most insurers require pre-authorization, condition code 92 (for Medicare), and a minimum of 9 hours of weekly treatment to qualify for reimbursement. Proper coding, medical necessity documentation, and adherence to payer guidelines help ensure claim approval and avoid denials.
CARF vs. Joint Commission: Behavioral Health Accreditation
CARF and The Joint Commission are the two major accrediting bodies for behavioral healthcare. CARF offers a consultative approach and accredits specific programs. The Joint Commission is more medical and compliance-driven, accrediting entire organizations. Both ensure quality standards and continuous improvement but differ in scope and philosophy.
Mental Health Progress Notes: Best Practices | BehaveHealth
Mental health progress notes are the backbone of clinical documentation for therapists, counselors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals. These notes track a client's journey through treatment, providing a written record of each session that supports continuity of care, communication among providers, and legal and ethical accountability. High-quality progress notes ensure that care is consistent and effective, allowing any clinician involved in the case to understand the client's history and current status. They also serve as legal documents that can protect both client and clinician by evidencing the services provided and the decision-making process.