471 NAC 20-015. PSYCHIATRIC Therapeutic Staff Standards

015. PSYCHIATRIC Therapeutic Staff Standards. Psychiatric therapeutic staff for adult services will meet the following requirements: 015.01 Supervising Practitioners. All psychiatric services must be provided under the supervision and direction of a supervising practitioner. The following are the professional designations of those who qualify as a supervising practitioner: (A) Must be licensed as a physician by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health or the appropriate licensing agency in the state in which they practice and must be enrolled with Nebraska Medicaid with a primary specialty of psychiatry; (B) Must be a licensed psychologist by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health or the appropriate licensing agency of the state in which they practice and must be enrolled with Nebraska Medicaid with a primary specialty of clinical psychology; (C) Must be a licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health or the appropriate licensing agency of the state in which they practice, must be enrolled with Nebraska Medicaid, and have proof of a current certification from an approved certification program in a psychiatric or mental health specialty; or (D) Licensed independent mental health practitioners (LIMP). 015.02 PRACTICE OF SUPERVISION. The critical involvement of the supervising practitioner must be reflected in the initial diagnostic interview, the treatment plan, and the interventions provided. 015.02(A) SUPERVISING PRACTITIONER. The supervising practitioner or their designated and qualified substitute must be available, in person or by telephone, to provide assistance and direction as needed during the time the services are being provided. 015.02(B) SUPERVISORY CONTACT. Supervisory contact may occur in a group setting. 015.02(C) SUPERVISION NOT BILLABLE. Supervision is not billable by either the therapist or the supervising practitioner as it is considered a mandatory component of the care. 015.02(D) SUPERVISOR LIMITATIONS. Psychiatric resident physicians may not supervise allied health therapists for Nebraska Medicaid services. 015.02(E) PERIODIC EVALUATION. The supervising practitioner must periodically evaluate the therapeutic program and determine if treatment goals are being met and if changes in direction or emphasis are needed. 015.03 LICENSED INDEPENDENT MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS (LIMHP). Licensed independent mental health practitioners (LIMHP) may provide direct care as allowed by the scope of practice requirements set by Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health. 015.04 ALLIED HEALTH THERAPISTS. All psychotherapy services provided by allied health therapists must be prescribed by the supervising practitioner and provided under their supervision. All allied health therapists must have knowledge of the interactional systems within families. Allied health therapists include: (A) SPECIALLY LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS. Persons who are specially licensed as psychologists through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health or the appropriate licensing agency of the state in which they practice; (B) LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS (LMHP). Persons who are licensed as mental health practitioners (LMHP) by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health or the appropriate licensing agency of the state in which they practice; (C) PROVISIONALLY LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS (LMHP). Practitioners who are licensed as a provisional mental health practitioner by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health or the appropriate licensing agency of the state in which they practice; (D) QUALIFIED REGISTERED NURSES (RN). A registered nurse (RN) with a bachelor's, master’s, or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), or certification as a psychiatric clinical specialist or nurse practitioner (NP) by the American Nurse Association who is licensed by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health or the appropriate licensing agency of the state in which they practice; and (E) QUALIFIED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OR MASTER’S EQUIVALENT. A holder of a master's degree in a closely related field that is applicable to the bio, psycho, or social sciences or to treatment for persons who are mentally ill and is actively pursuing licensure as a mental health practitioner as allowed by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health; or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) candidate who has bypassed the master's degree but has sufficient hours to satisfy a master's degree requirement. 015.05 SUBSTANTIATED DISCIPLINARY ACTION. Any Nebraska Medicaid provider who is licensed by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, and has a substantiated disciplinary action filed against the license that limits the provision of services will not be allowed to provide Nebraska Medicaid services. If a provider is licensed by another state, substantiated disciplinary action filed against that license that limits the provision of services will be cause for termination as a Nebraska Medicaid provider.