General Definitions

As used in 101 CMR 305.00, unless the context requires otherwise, terms have the meanings in 101 CMR 305.02. Adult Community Crisis Stabilization (Adult CCS). A community-based program that serves as a medically necessary, less-restrictive alternative to inpatient psychiatric hospitalization when clinically appropriate and provides short-term staff-secure, safe, and structured crisis stabilization and treatment services for members 18 years of age or older with mental health and substance use disorders. Stabilization and treatment also include the capacity to provide induction onto and bridging for medication for the treatment of opioid use disorders (MOUD) and withdrawal management for opioid use disorders (OUD) as clinically indicated. Adult Mobile Crisis Intervention (AMCI). A community-based behavioral health service available 24/7/365 providing short-term mobile, onsite, face-to-face crisis assessment, intervention, and stabilization to members 21 years of age or older experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Services may be provided in community-based settings outside the CBHC, at the CBHC, or in emergency department sites of services to support stabilization for transition into the community, when necessary. Services may also be provided via telehealth. The purpose is to identify, assess, treat, and stabilize the situation and reduce the immediate risk of danger to the member or others consistent with the member’s risk management/safety plan, if any. American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). A professional society in the field of addiction medicine that sets diagnostic and dimensional criteria for the delivery of substance use disorder treatment which includes a continuum of five basic levels of care from Early Intervention to Medically Managed Inpatient Treatment. Care Coordination. The organization of a member’s care across medical and behavioral health providers, social service providers, and state agencies. Case Consultation. Intervention, including scheduled audio-only telephonic, audio-video, or in person meetings, for behavioral and medical management purposes on a member’s behalf with agencies, employers, or institutions which may include the preparation of reports of the member’s psychiatric status, history, treatment, or progress (other than for legal purposes) for other physicians, agencies, or insurance carriers. Certified Peer Specialist (CPS). A person who has been trained by an agency approved by the Department of Mental Health (DMH) who is self-identified as having lived experience of a mental health disorder and wellness who can effectively share their experiences and serve as a mentor, advocate, or facilitator for a member experiencing a mental health disorder. Community Support Program (CSP). Behavioral health diversionary services through community-based, mobile, paraprofessional staff to members, as set forth in 130 CMR 461.000: Community Support Program Services. Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS). A standardized tool that organizes information gathered during behavioral health clinical assessments. A Massachusetts version of the tool has been developed and is intended to be used as a treatment decision support tool for behavioral health providers serving MassHealth members younger than 21 years of age. Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC). An entity that serves as a hub of coordinated and integrated behavioral health disorder treatment for members of all ages, including routine and urgent outpatient behavioral health services, mobile crisis services for adults and youth, and community crisis stabilization services for adults and youth. Community Support Program (CSP). Behavioral health diversionary services through community-based, mobile, paraprofessional staff to members, as set forth in 130 CMR 461.000: Community Support Program Services. Co-occurring Disorder. A diagnosis of both a substance use disorder and one or more behavioral health disorders. Counselor. An individual who has earned a master's degree in counseling from a recognized educational program and who also meets conditions of participation which have been or may be adopted by a governmental unit purchasing mental health services from eligible providers or by purchasers of such services under M.G.L. c. 152. Couples Therapy. Psychotherapeutic services provided to a couple whose primary issue is the disruption of their marriage, family, or relationship. Diagnostic Evaluation Services. The examination and determination of a member’s physical, psychological, social, economic, educational, and vocational assets and disabilities for the purpose of designing a treatment plan. Eligible Provider. A community behavioral health center which meets the conditions of participation that have been or may be adopted by a governmental unit purchasing behavioral health services or by purchasers under M.G.L. c. 152. Encounter Bundle. A flat rate per date of services for the provision of any of a set of designated services, regardless of the number of services provided to the individual on that date. Enhanced Structured Outpatient Addiction Program (E-SOAP): American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Intensive Outpatient Services. A program that provides short-term, clinically intensive, structured day and/or evening substance use disorder (SUD) services. E-SOAP specifically serves specialty populations including homeless members and people at risk of homelessness, pregnant members, and adolescents. E-SOAP services must meet requirements in 130 CMR 418.000: Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services. EOHHS. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services established under M.G.L. c. 6A. Family Consultation. A scheduled meeting with one or more of the parents, legal guardian, or foster parents of a child who is being treated by clinical staff at the CBHC, when the parents, legal guardian, or foster parents are not clients of the CBHC. Family Therapy. The psychotherapeutic treatment of more than one member of a family simultaneously in the same visit. Governmental Unit. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of its departments, agencies, boards, commissions, or political subdivisions. Group Therapy. The application of psychotherapeutic or counseling techniques to a group of persons, most of whom are not related by blood, marriage, or legal guardianship. Individual Consideration (IC). Payment rates to eligible providers for services authorized in accordance with 101 CMR 305.03(2), but not listed herein, or authorized services performed in exceptional circumstances are determined on an individual consideration basis by the governmental unit or purchaser under M.G.L. c. 152 upon receipt of a bill which describes the services rendered. The determination of rates of payment for authorized individual consideration procedures will be in accordance with the following criteria: (a) time required to perform the service; (b) degree of skill required for service rendered; (c) severity and/or complexity of the client's disorder or disability; (d) policies, procedures, and practices of other third-party purchasers of care; and (e) such other standards and criteria as may be adopted from time to time by EOHHS under 101 CMR 305.03(4). Individual Therapy. Psychotherapeutic services provided to an individual. Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). A mental health treatment service that provides time- limited, multidisciplinary, multimodal structured treatment in an outpatient setting for members requiring a clinical intensity that exceeds outpatient treatment. Services include individual, group, and family therapy as well as case management services. Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT). Use of a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of a substance use disorder. Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). Use of a medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Medication Visit. A member visit specifically for prescription, review, and monitoring of psychotropic medication by a psychiatrist, psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant or administration of prescribed intramuscular medication by a physician, nurse, or physician assistant. Modifiers. Listed services may be modified under certain circumstances. When applicable, the modifying circumstances should be identified by the addition of the appropriate two-digit number or letters. Multiple-family Group Therapy. The treatment of more than one family unit, at the same time in the same visit, by one or more authorized staff member. There is more than one family member present per family unit and at least one of the family members per family unit must be an identified patient of the center. Peer Recovery Coach. An individual in addiction recovery who brings lived experience and has completed specialized training to provide nonclinical peer recovery support to individuals in or seeking recovery. Peer recovery coaches serve as mentors to build hope, explore recovery pathways, and achieve self-directed life goals. Peer recovery coaches also help members navigate systems, overcome barriers, build recovery capital, establish community connections, and link to supportive resources. Peer recovery coaches must meet requirements in 130 CMR 418.000: Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services. Psychiatric Nurse. An individual who is currently registered by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing and who has earned a master's degree from an accredited graduate school of psychiatric nursing or who meets the conditions of participation which have been or may be adopted by a governmental unit purchasing mental health services from eligible providers or by purchasers of such services under M.G.L. c. 152. Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist. A licensed registered nurse who is authorized by the Board of Registration in Nursing as practicing in an expanded role and who meets the requirements of 244 CMR 4.05(4): Psychiatric Nurse Mental Health Clinical Specialist (PNMHCS). Psychiatric Social Worker. An individual who has earned a master's degree from an accredited graduate school of social work or who meets the conditions of participation which have been or may be adopted by a governmental unit purchasing mental health services from eligible providers or by purchasers of such services under M.G.L. c. 152. Psychiatrist. An M.D. or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine who is registered in Massachusetts and who is certified or eligible for certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry who meets such conditions of participation as have been or may be adopted by a governmental unit purchasing mental health services from eligible providers or by purchasers of such services under M.G.L. c. 152. Psychological Associate. A staff member trained in the field of clinical or counseling psychology or a closely related specialty who meets the conditions of participation which have been or may be adopted by a governmental unit purchasing mental health services from eligible providers or by purchasers of such services under M.G.L. c. 152, and who (a) has a minimum of a master's degree or the equivalent graduate study in clinical or counseling psychology or a closely related specialty from an accredited educational institution; (b) is currently enrolled in or has completed a doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology or a closely related specialty; and (c) has had two years of full-time supervised clinical experience after obtaining a master's degree in a multidisciplinary mental-health setting. (One year of supervised clinical work in an organized graduate internship program may be substituted for each year of experience.) Psychological Assessment. The use of standardized test instruments and procedures to evaluate aspects of a member’s functioning. Psychological assessment includes intelligence, neuropsychological and developmental, and personality assessments. Test instruments used for psychological assessment must be published, valid, and in general use as defined by listing in the Mental Measurement Yearbook or successor publication, or by conformity to the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing of the American Psychological Association. Psychologist. An individual who by training and experience meets the requirements for licensing by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Psychologists and is duly licensed to practice psychology in the Commonwealth or who meets the requirements of education and experience in psychology that have been or may be adopted by a governmental unit purchasing mental health services from eligible providers or by purchasers of such services under M.G.L. c. 152. Psychotherapy for Crisis. An urgent assessment and history of a crisis state, a mental status exam, and a disposition. The treatment includes psychotherapy, mobilization of resources to defuse the crisis and restore safety, and implementation of psychotherapeutic interventions to minimize the potential for psychological trauma. Recovery Support Navigator. A paraprofessional specialist who receives specialized training in the essentials of substance use disorder and evidence-based techniques such as motivational interviewing, and who supports members in accessing and navigating the substance use disorder treatment system through activities that can include care coordination, case management, and motivational support. Recovery support navigators must meet requirements in 130 CMR 418.000: Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services. Staff Member Authorized to Render Billable Mental Health Services. An individual who provides the services referred to in 101 CMR 305.00 under the auspices of an eligible provider and meets the qualifications of any of the following professions: psychiatrist, psychologist, psychological associate, social worker, psychiatric nurse, psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, counselor, or occupational therapist. This also includes staff members meeting the qualifications which have been or may be adopted by a governmental unit purchasing behavioral health services from eligible providers or by purchasers of such services under M.G.L. c. 152. Structured Outpatient Addiction Program (SOAP): ASAM Level 2.1 Intensive Outpatient Services. A substance use disorder treatment service that provides short-term, multi-disciplinary, clinically intensive structured treatment to address the subacute needs of members with substance use disorders and/or co-occurring disorders. These services may be used as a transition service in the continuum of care toward lower intensity outpatient services or accessed directly. SOAP services must meet requirements in 130 CMR 418.000: Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services. Telehealth. The use of synchronous or asynchronous audio, video, electronic media, or other telecommunications technology, including, but not limited to (a) interactive audio-video technology; (b) remote patient monitoring devices; (c) audio-only telephone; and (d) online adaptive interviews, for the purpose of evaluating, diagnosing, consulting, prescribing, treating, or monitoring of a member’s physical health, oral health, mental health, or substance use disorder condition. Uniform Financial Statements and Independent Auditor’s Report (UFR). The set of financial statements and schedules required of many human, social service, and health care providers who deliver services to publicly aided clients. Youth Community Crisis Stabilization (YCCS). Staff-secure, safe, and structured crisis stabilization and treatment services in a community-based program that provides active treatment that includes restoration of functioning; strengthening the resources and capacities of the youth, family, and other natural supports; and ensuring a timely return to previous living environment to members 18 years of age and younger. Where participating as an independently enrolled provider of youth community crisis stabilization services, these providers are referred to as YCCS programs. Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention (YMCI). A community-based behavioral health service available 24/7/365 providing short-term mobile, onsite, face-to-face crisis assessment, intervention, and stabilization to members younger than 21 years of age experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Transition-aged youth 18 through 20 years of age may be served by adult-trained clinicians with a certified peer specialist instead of a family partner based on the member’s clinical needs. Services may be provided in community-based settings outside the CBHC, at the CBHC, or in emergency department sites of services to support stabilization for transition into the community. Services may be provided via telehealth. The purpose is to identify, assess, treat, and stabilize the situation and reduce the immediate risk of danger to the youth or others consistent with the youth’s risk management/safety plan, if any.