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

$17.50 - [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.

Ethics 4D - When Insurance and State Contracts Are Paying the Bill – The Ethics of Treatment Documentation and Other Ethical Dilemmas in Today’s World.

$28.00 - Four (4) Credit Hour Ethics CEUs for Professional Counselors, MFTs, Social Workers, Substance Abuse Counselors, and other behavioral health practitioners in ALMOST EVERY STATE.

Ethics 4D is a fast-paced SLIDESHOW with content that's easy to understand and never boring - regarding the ETHICAL DILEMMAS (and PRESSURES) encountered on a daily basis by those whose clients' fees are paid by insurance, managed care, or closely monitored state or local contracts.

Ethics 4D contains the same core material as the 3 credit-hour Ethics Course 3D, except that 4D includes additional material regarding these ethical issues. [Want to watch a short Ethics COURSE DEMO, with material from Ethics 4D and 3D? Click here.]

The first part of the course is a close-up view of that sticky issue ... what to write (and not write) in a client's treatment record, from an ETHICS perspective, in this new era of tightly controlled health care. How much do you divulge about your assessment of the client's diagnosis, his prognosis, his functional status, and his response to treatment? What's ETHICAL - when the payor is demanding details? What's NECESSARY?

In Ethics 4D we ALSO take a look at such ethical questions as the contract manager's focus upon YOUR effectiveness in the treatment process - i.e., is your approach to treatment effective (or not)? Is such scrutiny legitimate and ethical, or is it an invasion of your (and your client's) privacy? And is it ethical to provide the requested information? And .... does this emphasis upon YOUR EFFECTIVENESS have anything to do with your own ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY, as required by your license standards? ?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Understand the ETHICAL AND PRACTICAL impact of CARE MANAGEMENT upon WHO gets treatment, WHAT treatments they may receive, and HOW MUCH of each treatment is allowed.

2. Identify the new ETHICAL ISSUES faced by providers as a function of this new approach to authorization - i.e., JUSTIFYING and DELIVERING treatment services to our clients within this environment, and DOCUMENTING the ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSIS, and RESPONSE TO TREATMENT.

3. Learn HOW we can ETHICALLY accommodate these new treatment and documentation requirements, while simultaneously meeting the requirements of our Provider Agreements.

4. Identify additional ETHICAL DILEMMAS encountered in treatment of mental health and substance abuse clients, including the ethics of the Quality Management - Treatment Effectiveness scrutiny which HMOs and other such contract managers place upon the work we do. Is it ETHICAL activity, or is it invasive?

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

$24.00 - Three (3) Credit Hour Ethics CEUs for Professional Counselors, MFTs, Social Workers, Substance Abuse Counselors, and other behavioral health practitioners in ALMOST EVERY STATE.

Ethics 3D is a fast-paced SLIDESHOW with content that's easy to understand and never boring - regarding the ETHICAL DILEMMAS (and PRESSURES) encountered on a daily basis by those whose clients' fees are paid by insurance, managed care, or closely monitored state or local contracts.

NOTE: Ethics 3D contains the same core material as the 4 credit-hour Ethics Course 4D, except that 4D includes additional material regarding these ethical issues. [Want to watch a short Ethics COURSE DEMO, with material from Ethics 4D and 3D? Click here.]

This course is a close-up view of that sticky issue ... what to write (and not write) in a client's treatment record, from an ETHICS perspective, in this new era of tightly controlled health care. How much do you divulge about your ASSESSMENT of the client's DIAGNOSIS(ES), his prognosis, his functional status, and his response to treatment? What's ETHICAL - when the payor is demanding details? What's NECESSARY?

Is such scrutiny legitimate and ethical, or is it an invasion of your (and your client's) privacy? And is it ethical to provide the requested information? Do your own licensure standards SUPPORT - or OVERRULE - this type of documentation of a client's treatment information?

SUMMARY OF GOALS:

1. Understand the ETHICAL AND PRACTICAL impact of CARE MANAGEMENT upon WHO gets treatment, WHAT treatments they may receive, and HOW MUCH of each treatment is allowed.

2. Identify the ETHICAL ISSUES faced by providers due to this new approach to authorization - in both the delivery of treatment services AND in the DOCUMENTATION of the ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSIS, and TREATMENT RESPONSE.

3. Learn how we can ETHICALLY accommodate these new treatment and documentation requirements, while simultaneously meeting the requirements of our Provider Agreements.

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

$24.00 - [3 Credit Hours] THIS IS A PDF DOCUMENT which can be viewed with Adobe Reader or any other pdf reader program. Move 'beyond the yellow legal pad' when assessing and diagnosing children and adolescents with CD-SA and Mental Health issues. This course presents a structured, 1-2-3 approach to Mental Health and Substance Abuse (AOD) Assessment of minor clients - emphasizing and demonstrating the features of assessment which facilitate a CORRECT DIAGNOSIS and APPROPRIATE TREATMENT PLANNING. It comes with a FREE DOWNLOADABLE ASSESSMENT FORMAT! Includes critical assessment and diagnostic ERRORS to avoid which can result in legal complications and professional liability issues.

Also includes a structured approach to RISK ASSESSMENT of a child or adolescent - including a 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.

And, for you TEXAS professionals, the course and the assessment content FULLY SUPPORT YOUR TEXAS' TDHS TRAG and UA requests for children and adolescents. Be documented beyond question in that child's chart!
Get FREE Downloadable Forms which you can tailor to your own needs if you have software to modify pdf documents. NOTE: This course is a PDF DOCUMENT (Acrobat Reader) - not a slide show like our other courses.

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

$23.00 - [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, DOCUMENTATION, 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 and DOCUMENT the treatment - have CHANGED under Managed Care ..... and how to constructively adapt when it's ethically possible.

SUMMARY: This course includes material on the following:

1. the BACKGROUND of why treatment approach and documentation of need for treatment have changed so significantly in the AOD field.

2. understanding how managed care contractors (such as HMOs, BHOs, MCOs, state operated plans, and commercial insurance companies) THINK about WHO needs treatment and WHAT kind of treatment they need ..... in other words, what are the new criteria for establishing the need for treatment, and how can we accommodate to it?

3. the role that treatment DOCUMENTATION plays in obtaining and maintaining treatment authorization and funding for our clients .... for example, the four KEY CONCEPTS in authorization and documentation of treatment.

4. how to design AOD treatment programs and treatment plans within the new managed care environment, which will be approved and will get the OUTCOME results that insurance carriers and state programs are looking for.


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.

Also provides 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.

We also present 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 of funds already paid to you (which typically occurs due to inadequate DOCUMENTATION in client records). The course explains how to AUDIT your own professional documentation, so that it fits in well 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.