Library: Policy

317:30-5-753. Individual plan of care (IPC) requirements

Revised 9-14-20

All behavioral health services in an ITFC setting are provided as a result of an individual assessment of the member's needs and documented in the IPC.

(1)Assessment.

(A) Definition.Gathering and assessment of historical and current bio-psychosocial information which includes face-to-face contact with the member and the member's foster parent(s) or legal guardian or other person, including biological parent(s) when applicable, who have pertinent information about the member resulting in a written summary report, diagnosis, and recommendations. All ITFC agencies must assess each individual to determine whether they could be an appropriate candidate for ITFC services.

(B) Qualified professional.This service is performed by a licensed behavioral health professional (LBHP).

(C) Limitations.Assessments are compensable on behalf of a member who is seeking services for the first time from the ITFC agency. This service is not compensable if the member has previously received or is currently receiving services from the agency, unless there has been a gap in service of more than six (6) months and it has been more than one (1) year since the previous assessment.

(D) Documentation requirements.The assessment must include all elements and tools required by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA). In the case of members under the age of eighteen (18), it is performed with the direct, active, face-to-face participation of the member and foster parent(s) or legal guardian or other persons, including biological parent(s) when applicable. The member's level of participation is based on age, developmental, and clinical appropriateness. The assessment must include all related diagnoses from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). The assessment must contain, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) Date, including month, day, and year of the assessment session(s);

(ii) Source of information;

(iii) Member's first name, middle initial, and last name;

(iv) Gender;

(v) Birth date;

(vi) Home address;

(vii) Telephone number;

(viii) Referral source;

(ix) Reason for referral;

(x) Person to be notified in case of emergency;

(xi) Presenting reason for seeking services;

(xii) Start and stop time for each unit billed;

(xiii) Dated signature of foster parent(s) or legal guardian [Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) or Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA)] or other persons, including biological parent(s) (when applicable) participating in the face-to-face assessment. Signatures are required for members fourteen (14) years of age and over;

(xiv) Bio-psychosocial information, which must include:

(I) Identification of the member's strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences;

(II) History of the presenting problem;

(III) Previous psychiatric treatment history, including treatment of psychiatric issues, substance use, drug and alcohol addiction, and other addictions;

(IV) Health history and current biomedical conditions and complications;

(V) Trauma, abuse, neglect, violence, and/or sexual assault history of self and/or others, including OKDHS involvement;

(VI) Family and social history, including psychiatric, substance use, drug and alcohol addiction, other addictions, and trauma/abuse/neglect;

(VII) Educational attainment, difficulties, and history;

(VIII) Cultural and religious orientation;

(IX) Vocational, occupational, and military history;

(X) Sexual history, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and at-risk behaviors;

(XI) Marital or significant other relationship history;

(XII) Recreation and leisure history;

(XIII) Legal or criminal record, including the identification of key contacts (e.g. attorneys, probation officers);

(XIV) Present living arrangements;

(XV) Economic resources; and

(XVI) Current support system, including peer and other recovery supports.

(xv) Mental status and level of functioning information, including, but not limited to, questions regarding the following:

(I) Physical presentation, such as general appearance, motor activity, attention, and alertness;

(II) Affective process, such as mood, affect, manner, and attitude;

(III) Cognitive process, such as intellectual ability, social-adaptive behavior, thought processes, thought content, and memory; and

(IV) All related diagnoses from the DSM-V.

(xvi) Pharmaceutical information for both current and past medications, to include the following;

(I) Name of medication;

(II) Strength and dosage of medication;

(III) Length of time on the medication; and

(IV) Benefit(s) and side effects of medication.

(xvii) LBHP's interpretation of findings and diagnosis; and

(xviii) Dated signature and credentials of the LBHP who performed the face-to-face behavioral assessment.

(2) IPC requirements.

(A) Signature requirement.A written IPC following a comprehensive evaluation for each member must be formulated by the ITFC agency staff within thirty (30) days of admission to the program with documented input from the member, the legal guardian (OKDHS/OJA), the foster parent(s), the treatment provider(s), and the biological parent(s) when applicable. An IPC is not valid until all dated signatures are present, including signatures from the member [if fourteen (14) years of age and over], the legal guardian, the foster parent, and the treatment provider(s). This plan must be reviewed every thirty (30) days with documented involvement of the legal guardian and member. The review includes an evaluation of the member's progress in the treatment setting, as well as in other environments, such as home, school, social engagements, etc.

(B) Individualization.The IPC must be individualized and take into account the member's age, history, diagnosis, functional levels, culture, and the effect of past and current traumatic experiences in the life of the member. It includes the member's documented diagnosis, appropriate goals, corresponding reasonable and attainable treatment objectives, and action steps within the expected timelines. Each member's IPC needs to address the ITFC agency's plans with regard to the provision of services. Each plan of care must clearly identify the type of services required to meet the member's treatment needs and frequency over a given period of time.

(D) Time requirements.IPC updates must be conducted face-to-face and are required at least every ninety (90) days during active treatment. However, updates can be conducted whenever it is clinically needed, as determined by an LBHP.

Updates should reflect changes to treatment based on the members' progress or lack thereof.

(E) Documentation requirements.Comprehensive and integrated service plan content must address the following:

(i) Member strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences (SNAP);

(ii) Identified presenting challenges, problems, needs and diagnosis;

(iii) Specific goals for the member;

(iv) Objectives that are specific, attainable, realistic, and time-limited;

(v) Each type of service and estimated frequency to be received;

(vi) The name and credentials of all the practitioners who will be providing and responsible for each service;

(vii) Any needed referrals for service;

(viii) Specific discharge criteria; and

(ix) Description of the member's involvement in, and responses to, the treatment plan, and his/her signature and date [if fourteen (14) years of age and older].

(F) Amendments and updates.Amendment of an existing IPC to revise or add goals, objectives, service provider(s), service type, and service frequency must be documented in the existing IPC through an addendum until the review/update is due. Any changes must, prior to implementation, be signed and dated by the member [if fourteen (14) years of age and over], the legal guardian, the foster parent, as well as the primary LBHP and any new provider(s). IPC updates must address the following:

(i) Update to the bio-psychosocial assessment, re-evaluation of diagnosis, and IPC goals and/ or objectives;

(ii) Progress, or lack of, on previous IPC goals and/or objectives;

(iii) A statement documenting a review of the current IPC, and, if no changes are needed, an explanation and a statement addressing the status of identified problem behaviors that led to ITFC placement must be included;

(iv) Change in goals and/or objectives (including target dates) based upon member's progress or identification of new needs, challenges, and problems;

(v) Change in frequency and/or type of services provided;

(vi) Change in practitioner(s) who will be responsible for providing services on the plan;

(vii) Change in discharge criteria; and

(viii) Description of the member's involvement in, and responses to, the treatment plan, and his/her signature and date [if fourteen (14) years of age and older].

(3) Description of services.Agency services include:

(A) Individual, family, and/or group therapy.See OAC 317:30-5-241.2(a), (b), and (c). The number of units of individual, family, and/or group therapy within the ITFC setting differ from the number of units available in the outpatient setting. A member must receive two (2) hours of individual, family, and/or group therapy each week that is provided by an LBHP, and may receive up to three (3) hours each week, if medically needed.

(B) Crisis intervention.The provider agency must provide crisis intervention by ITFC agency staff as needed twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week. The agency must ensure staff is available to respond to the ITFC foster parent(s) in a crisis to stabilize a member's behavior and prevent placement disruption. This service is to be provided to the member by an LBHP.

(C) Discharge planning.The ITFC agency must develop a discharge plan for each member. The discharge plan must be individualized, member-specific, and include an after-care plan that is appropriate to the member's needs, identifies the member's needs, includes specific recommendations for follow-up care, and outlines plans that are in place at the time of discharge. The plan for members in parental custody must include, when appropriate, reunification plans with the parent(s)/legal guardian. The plan for members who remain in the custody of OKDHS or OJA must be developed in collaboration with the case worker and be finalized at the time of discharge. The discharge plan is to include, at a minimum, recommendations for continued treatment services, educational services, and other appropriate community resources. Appointments for outpatient therapy and medication management (when applicable) should be scheduled prior to discharge. Discharge planning provides a transition from ITFC placement into a lesser restrictive setting within the community. Discharge planning is performed in partnership between Child Welfare Services (CWS) of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) and an LBHP within the ITFC agency.

(D) Substance use/chemical dependency use therapy. Substance use/chemical dependency therapy can be provided if a member is identified by diagnosis or documented social history as having emotional or behavioral problems directly related to substance use and/or chemical dependency. The modalities employed are provided in order to begin, maintain, and/or enhance recovery from problem drinking, alcoholism, nicotine use and addiction, and/or drug use, drug dependency, and/or drug addiction. This service is provided to the member by an LBHP.

(E) Substance use rehabilitation services.Covered substance use rehabilitation services are provided in non-residential settings in regularly scheduled sessions intended for individuals not requiring a more intensive level of care or those who require continuing services following more intensive treatment regimes. The purpose of substance use rehabilitation services is to begin, maintain, and/or enhance recovery from problem drinking, alcoholism, nicotine use and addiction, and/or drug use, drug dependency, and/or drug addiction. Rehabilitation services may be provided individually or in group sessions, and they take the format of an agency-approved, curriculum-based education and skills training. This service is provided to the member by a certified behavioral health case manager (CM) II, a certified alcohol drug counselor (CADC), or an LBHP.

(F) Psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR).

(i) Definition.PSR services are face-to-face behavioral health rehabilitation services which are necessary to improve the member's ability to function in the community. They are performed to improve the skills and abilities of members to live independently in the community, improve self-care and social skills, and promote lifestyle change and recovery practices. Rehabilitation services may be provided individually or in group sessions, and they take the format of an agency-approved, curriculum-based education and skills training.

(ii) Clinical restrictions.This service is generally performed with only the member and the qualified provider, but may also include the member's family/support system group that focuses on the member's diagnosis, symptom management, and recovery-based curriculum. A member who, at the time of service, is not able to benefit from the treatment due to active hallucinations and/or substance use, or other impairment, is not suitable for this service. Family involvement is allowed for support of the member and education regarding his/her recovery, but does not constitute family therapy, which requires an LBHP.

(iii) Qualified practitioners.A CM II or an LBHP may perform PSR, following development of an IPC curriculum. The CM II must have immediate access to an LBHP who can provide clinical oversight of the CM II and collaborate with the CM II in the provision of services. A minimum of one (1) monthly face-to-face consultation with an LBHP is required.

(iv) Group sizes.The maximum staffing ratio is eight (8) members to one (1) service provider for members under the age of twenty-one (21).

(v) Limitations.

(I) In order to develop and improve the member's community and interpersonal functioning and self-care abilities, PSR services may take place in settings away from the behavioral health agency site as long as the setting protects and assures confidentiality. When this occurs, the qualified provider must be present and interacting, teaching, or supporting the defined learning objectives of the member for the entire claimed time.

(II) PSR services are intended for members with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED), and members with severe behavioral and emotional health needs who may also have a secondary physical, developmental, intellectual, and/or social disorder that is supported alongside the mental health needs. Members, ages four (4) and five (5), are not eligible for PSR services unless a prior authorization has been granted by OHCA or its designated agent, based on a finding of medical necessity.

(III) PSR services are time-limited services designed to be provided over the briefest and most effective period possible and as adjunct (enhancing) interventions to complement more intensive behavioral health therapies. Service limits are based on the member's needs according to the Client Assessment Record (CAR) or other approved tools. Service limitations are designed to maximize efficacy by remaining within reasonable age and developmentally appropriate daily limits.

(vi) Progress notes.In accordance with OAC 317:30-5-241.1, the behavioral health IPC developed by the LBHP must include the member's strengths, functional assets, weaknesses or liabilities, treatment goals, objectives, and methodologies that are specific and time-limited, and defines the services to be performed by the practitioners and others who comprise the treatment team. When PSR services are prescribed, the plan must address objectives that are specific, attainable, realistic, measurable, and time-limited. The plan must include the appropriate treatment coordination to achieve the maximum reduction ofthe severe behavioral and emotional health conditions, and any other secondary physical, developmental, intellectual, and/or social disorders and to restore the member to his or her best possible functional level. Progress notes for PSR services must include:

(I) Start and stop times for each day attended and the physical location in which the service was rendered;

(II) Specific goal(s) and objectives addressed during the session/group;

(III) Type of skills training provided each day and/or during the week including the specific curriculum used with the member;

(IV) Member satisfaction with staff intervention(s);

(V) Progress towards attaining, or barriers affecting the attainment of, goals and objectives;

(VI) New goal(s) or objective(s) identified;

(VII) Dated signature of the qualified provider; and

(VIII) Credentials of the qualified provider.

(vii) Additional documentation requirements.Documentation of ongoing consultation and/or collaboration with an LBHP related to the provision of PSR services.

(G) Therapeutic behavioral services (TBS).Goal-directed social skills redevelopment activities for each member to restore, retain, and improve the self-help, communication, socialization, and adaptive skills necessary to reside successfully in home and community based settings. These will be daily activities that are age appropriate, culturally sensitive, and relevant to the goals of the IPC. These may include self-esteem enhancement, violence alternatives, communication skills, or other related skill development. This service is to be provided to the member by the treatment parent specialist (TPS). Services rendered by the TPS are limited to one and a half (1.5) hours daily.