Course 3B - The Big Transition in the AOD Field: Assessment of ‘Need for Treatment’ and 'Treatment Interventions' - How They've Changed!

[3 CREDIT HOURS] In most states, it's goodbye to flexible addiction Block Grants and other 'open access' State contracts! This course addresses the 'nitty gritty' of the major CHANGES in TRADITIONAL SA-CD PROGRAMS, TREATMENTS, AND PHILOSOPHY, due to the new health care environment. Applies to single AOD diagnosis and to Dual MH-AOD diagnoses.

Offers a bird's eye view of how ASSESSMENT of the client's NEED FOR TREATMENT - and HOW we DELIVER the treatment - have CHANGED under Managed Care, and how to constructively adapt when it's ethically possible. Course 3B presents some specialized treatment scenarios which can be discussed with an MCO or other care manager (State or local, etc.) which can provide effective treatment of recidivistic addiction clients, under a 'Care Management' system.

We also provide an understanding of HOW the MCOs make those controversial treatment DECISIONS for substance abusing and chemically dependent individuals - and HOW TO ASK for 'WHAT' from the MCO's care manager, to maximize your chances of getting what your clients need.

Clear 1-2-3 guidance on how to DOCUMENT both your assessment and the treatment you deliver under a Care Managed system - and an introduction to RECOUPMENT-PROOFING your professional documentation, which fits in with the new CARE MANAGEMENT or Utilization Review (UR) process.

Some material in this course is included in MiniCourses 1B and 1C and elsewhere, but this course does it from the AOD perspective.

Ethics Course 4A - 'It's Ethics . . . You Need Some!' The Essential Ethics for Addiction Counselors and Mental Health Professionals

Four (4) Ethics CEUs for Texas LCDCs, LPCs, LMFTs and Social Workers, California LCSWs and MFTs, and behavioral health professionals in 48 states and territories which accept NBCC-approved online CE courses.

A fast-paced CE slideshow - provider oriented and to-the-point, with VIGNETTES and EXAMPLES to illustrate the key ethical issues faced by addiction and mental health treatment providers.

TO SEE A DEMO of Ethics 4A, click the SITE HOME tab on our menu bar above, then click MAIN HOME PAGE, and look for the Ethics DEMO buttons on our home page.

The course is authored by Gary L. Fisher, Ph.D. - a faculty member at University of Nevada, a licensed psychologist and popular author of numerous articles, public education interviews, and a book (in its fourth printing - "Substance Abuse: Information for School Counselors, Social Workers, Therapists, and Counselors") which is used in colleges and universities throughout the country.

'Ethics 4A' is a good companion course for our 3 HOUR ETHICS COURSE, offered above, 'When Insurance and State Contracts Are Paying the Bill – The Ethics of Treatment Documentation in Today’s World' (Ethics Course 3D). Two very different courses - both fast-paced SLIDESHOWS with bullet style content.

Ethics 3D - When Insurance and State Contracts Are Paying the Bill – The Ethics of Treatment Documentation in Today’s World.

Three (3) Ethics CEUs for Texas LCDCs, LPCs, LMFTs and Social Workers, California LCSWs and MFTs, and behavioral health professionals in 48 states and territories which accept NBCC-approved online CE courses.

This is a fast-paced SLIDESHOW that's provider-oriented, with bullet style content. It's a close-up view of that sticky issue ... what to write (and not write) in a treatment record from an ETHICS perspective, in this new era of managed health care.

TO SEE A DEMO of Ethics 3D, click the SITE HOME tab on our menu bar above, then click MAIN HOME PAGE, and look for the Ethics DEMO buttons on our home page.

Why have we included this course? Because many providers disagree with the type of information now required in writing, in treatment records. Is it ETHICAL? Like, details about the mental health and addiction client's diagnosis, his functioning, and his response to treatment .... and about HOW you delivered the treatment. And many providers disagree with those Level of Care criteria used by the payer to AUTHORIZE or DENY the treatment.

And so it becomes an ETHICAL PROBLEM when we must put all of our 'supporting information' in writing - in the client's chart. HOW do you handle this, ethically? Bottom line, this course describes in 1-2-3 steps HOW to ethically meet the new documentation requirements, when you may disagree with so much.

This course is a good COMPANION COURSE for 'Ethics 4A' (which awards 4 credit hours).

Course 3C - Beyond the Yellow Legal Pad! Biopsychosocial and Risk Assessment of CD and MH Minors [Even Under the TEXAS' TRAG!]

Move 'beyond the yellow legal pad' when assessing children and adolescents with CD and MH issues. This course focuses upon a structured, 1-2-3 approach to MH & CD Assessment of minor clients, WITH FREE DOWNLOADABLE FORMS! Addresses serious assessment ERRORS to avoid, which can result in LEGAL complications and PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY issues, as well as erroneous DIAGNOSIS(ES). And for you TEXAS professionals, this course and its assessment formats fully support your TDHS TRAG and UA Service Package requests for children and adolescents. Be documented beyond question in that child's chart!

Also includes a structured approach to RISK ASSESSMENT of a child or adolescent - including the short, easy-to-use FREE downloadable Risk Assessment Form. Protect yourself from legal vulnerability and critical incidents when working with clients who present a potential for harm to self or others.

NOTE: This course is a PDF DOCUMENT (Acrobat Reader) - not a slide show like our other courses.

Course 2B - 'They're Coming to Audit WHEN?' - a.k.a, 'What Can Go WRONG in That Chart?'

[2 CREDIT HOURS] Want to pass that TREATMENT RECORD AUDIT? Want to avoid RECOUPMENT of claims payments already paid to you, when the MCO calls for a client's record, or their auditors show up at your door? Here's how! This fast-paced slide show clearly describes 'what's DIFFERENT' about how we must DOCUMENT TREATMENT in MH and CD/AOD client records today, under the new behavioral health contracts. And we give you useful and do-able tips on how to audit your own records - so that you are ready BEFORE the MCO or State auditor arrives. Also provides a clear explanation about HOW managed care contract administrators make pre-authorization decisions to approve or deny your requests for treatment . . . and WHAT you must write in the client's chart to support that authorization.

Course 2C - Intro to Professional & Clinical Issues in Managed Care - Necessary Shifts in Program Design and Treatment Approach

Some of this course's material (related to managed care goals, how managed care companies THINK, and how we have to change what we write in treatment records) overlaps 2B material . . . but then moves ahead to include professional, clinical, and programmatic CHANGES in store for professionals who are working under a Managed Care Provider Agreement. Want more credits? Some of this material appears in MiniCourse 3A (3 credit hours total), and in FlexiCourse 5A (5 credit hours), and FlexiCourse 10A (10 credit hours).