Authorization Guidelines:
All services are subject to post-payment review.
Brief Service Description: RB-BHT is a research-based behavioral intervention service that demonstrates clinical efficacy in preventing or minimizing the disabilities & behavioral challenges associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). To the extent practical, RB-BHT promotes adaptive functioning of the member. The covered RB-BHT tx type & tx intensity (hrs requested) must be medically necessary & scientifically demonstrated to address adaptive functioning, and prevent & minimize ASD-related disabilities & behavioral challenges. RB-BHT must not be in excess of the member’s needs.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based, validated, RB-BHT modality that focuses on analyzing, designing, implementing, & evaluating social & other environmental modifications to produce meaningful changes in a member’s behavior. The core characteristics of ABA are: a) Objective evaluation and analysis of the beneficiary’s condition by examining how environmental factors influence behavior, as demonstrated through appropriate measurement; b)Consideration of the context surrounding the behavior and the significance of that behavior to the beneficiary, their Caregivers, and the broader community; c) Promotion of the beneficiary’s dignity; d) Application of the principles and methods of behavior analysis to enhance the beneficiary’s health, skills, independence, quality of life, and autonomy; and Ongoing, consistent, and objective analysis of data to guide clinical decision making.
Auth Submission/ Documentation Requirements
Initial Requests:
1. TAR: Prior authorization is required (including Telephonic and Telehealth services).
2. Assessments: Required. Member must receive all required assessments prior to the initial auth (see specifics below).
3. Diagnosis: Required (see specifics below).
4. Service Order: Required, signed by an MD, DO or LP. Must be based on a behavioral, adaptive, or functional assessment of the member’s needs & a Tx Plan based on the Assessment(s).
5. Complete Tx Plan: Services must be provided & supervised under an approved Tx Plan developed by an LQASP (see specifics below).
6. Submission of applicable records that support the member has met the medical necessity criteria.
Reauthorization Requests:
1. TAR: Reauth must be submitted prior to initial or concurrent auth expiring.
2. Complete Tx Plan: Tx Plan must be reviewed, modified, & submitted for reauth (see specifics below).
3. Submission of applicable records that support the member has met the medical necessity criteria.
Transition/ Discharge:
1) The provider must implement a tx program transition or discharge plan when a member meets at least one of the criteria in CCP 8F, section 3.2.8.
Authorization Parameters
Length of Stay: One unit = 1 event per day (a minimum of 3 hours per day is an event).
Units: One unit = 15 minutes
Age Group: Children, Adolescents and Adults
Place of Service: POS decisions must be documented in the Tx Plan & made on an individualized basis, in collaboration with the family. Settings may include clinic-, home-, school-, or community-based settings or any combo throughout tx. For services that initially begin in a structured setting, the goal should be to advance towards tx in the member’s natural setting.
Service Code(s)
97151 - Behavior Identification Assessment: Does not require a service order or Tx Plan for PA. Telehealth billable (w/ GT modifier) but provider must provide clinical justification in the Tx Plan if delivering via telehealth. For ABA services, must be rendered by an MD, DO, LP, LPA (under supervision), or LBA.
97152 - Behavior Identification Supporting Assessment: Does not require a service order or Tx Plan for PA. For ABA services, must be rendered by a Behavior technician (under MD/ DO direction), LPA (under supervision), LBA, Non-Licensed Behavioral Analyst (under supervision), Behavior technician (under LaBA direction w/ both under supervision), MD, DO, or an LBA.
97153 - Adaptive Behavior Tx by Protocol: Concurrent billing allowed w/ 97155, when the para is delivering 97153 w/ observation. For ABA services, must be rendered by a Behavior technician (under MD/ DO direction), LPA (under supervision), LBA, Non-Licensed Behavioral Analyst (under supervision), Behavior technician (under LaBA direction w/ both under supervision), MD, DO, or an LBA.
97154 - Group Adaptive Behavior Tx by Protocol: Concurrent billing allowed w/ 97155, when the para is delivering 91754 w/ observation. For ABA services, must be rendered by a Behavior technician (under MD/ DO direction), LPA (under supervision), LBA, Non-Licensed Behavioral Analyst (under supervision), Behavior technician (under LaBA direction w/ both under supervision), MD, DO, or an LBA.
97155 - Adaptive Behavior Tx w/ Protocol Modification: Concurrent billing allowed w/ 97153 or 97154. A single rendering provider may not bill 97153 or 97154 & 97155 simultaneously. Telehealth billable (w/ GT modifier), up to a max of 50% of total 97155 billing per 180-day period. For ABA services, must be rendered by an MD, DO, LP, LPA (under supervision), LBA, Non-Licensed Behavioral Analyst (under supervision), LaBA, or Non-licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst (under supervision).
97156 - Family Adaptive Behavior Tx Guidance: Telehealth billable w/ GT modifier. Telephonic billable (w/ KX modifier) provided criteria in CCP 8F, section 3.1.2 & 3.2.5 are met. For telephonic/ KX services, provider must document the caregiver cannot participate in in-person or telehealth services because: 1) The caregiver’s PH or BH status prevents it; or 2) Access issues (transportation, telehealth technology) prevent it. For ABA services, must be rendered by an MD, DO, LP, LPA (under supervision), or LBA.
97157 - Multiple‑family Group Adaptive Behavior Tx Guidance: Telehealth billable w/ GT modifier). Telephonic billable (w/ KX modifier) provided criteria in CCP 8F, section 3.1.2 & 3.2.5 are met. For telephonic/ KX services, provider must document the caregiver cannot participate in in-person or telehealth services because: 1) The caregiver’s PH or BH status prevents it; or 2) Access issues (transportation, telehealth technology) prevent it. For ABA services, must be rendered by an MD, DO, LP, LPA (under supervision), or LBA.
Psychological Assessment & Other Assessments:
Assessments must be based on the member’s strengths & interests, describe the core & associated deficits of ASD for the member, and describe how those deficits impact the member. Assessment must include:
1) Documentation of relevant family or other caregiver resources, stressors, & strengths.
2) Developmental & medical history, including member’s age, developmental milestones, biopsychosocial history, functional abilities, presence of any co-occurring medical-psychiatric-genetic conditions, hx of services received, and response to current or prior treatments.
3) Available & relevant supplementary info including interviews, chart reviews, and observation notes.
4) An intake or interview session that identifies any available & relevant supplementary information.
Provider must submit the following REQUIRED assessments and supporting info:
1) A Skills assessment using either the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment & Placement Program, the Assessment of Basic Language & Learning Skills-Revised, or the ESDM Curriculum Checklist.
2) A functional behavior assessment or a functional behavioral analysis.
3) At least one of the following adaptive behavior assessments completed within the last 3 years: Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS-3), Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-3), or Developmental Profile 4 (DP-4) or subsequent editions of these tools.
Assessment results must be used to inform Tx Plan development, including the type of tx modality & scope of tx to be delivered, and intensity of the tx delivered (number of service hrs per week).
Diagnosis:
1) A non-provisional, current ASD dx determined using either the Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA), the Tele-ASD-Peds (TAP), the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2); or the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS2-ST & CARS2-HF). Non-provisional dx must be made by an LP, LPA, MD, or DO.
2) For members under 3, a provisional dx of ASD is acceptable. Provisional dx may be made by an LP, LPA, MD, DO, or a master’s-level licensed clinician who has completed the required training & supervision to administer the dx tools.
3) Evaluations conducted by a Licensed School Psychologist that include the required testing to meet non-provisional diagnoses criteria may be used by an eligible provider to meet Clinical Coverage Policy diagnostic criteria if there is no clinical indication to repeat testing.
4) Members must have an ASD diagnosis within 6 months of the provisional diagnosis.
Treatment Plans:
The Treatment Plan must:
1) Be signed & dated by the LQASP responsible for the Tx Plan & the individual responsible for consenting to Tx prior to delivery of services.
2) Be person-centered, developmentally appropriate, and individualized to the member’s strengths, functional impairments, and adaptive skill levels.
3) Must not include default recommended service hours. Recommended tx dosage must reflect the behavioral support needs of each member.
4) Providers must offer members a range of hrs in their Tx Plan. Providers may not require a member to receive a minimum number of hrs in order to access tx unless clinically necessary to make progress against goals in the authorized Tx Plan. Providers shall not apply uniform minimum thresholds across all members regardless of member clinical need.
The Treatment Plan must include the following required elements (unless those elements have been obtained through the formal assessment). When not included, the provider must submit written justification for its exclusion:
1) Member Background Info & Case Conceptualization:
a) Member’s age;
b) Member’s dx (ASD & any co-occurring PH-BH conditions);
c) Referring provider/ agency & referral reason (including presenting concerns of the patient & family);
d) BH or dev skills & challenges to be treated;
e) Frequency, intensity, & social significance of challenging behaviors;
f) Biopsychosocial hx, including family structure, social support sys, meds (with prescriber), school placement, and IEP or Individualized Family Service Plan status;
g) Environmental factors that may inform tx, including neighborhood & community resources;
h) Potential barriers to full participation in tx & corresponding solutions;
i) Hx of services received by the & current BH-PH services
2) Treatment Interventions, Scope, & Goals must include
a) The covered RB-BHT modalities & interventions, supported by credible scientific or clinical evidence as demonstrated by meeting one or more of the criteria detailed in CCP 8F, section 3.1.3.
b) The scope of tx (focused or comprehensive, according to the CCP guidelines), as relevant to the specific modality
c) Defined, measurable tx goals with current baselines & measurement methods for each goal, including starting points, progress milestones & target dates, & intervals for frequency of measurement;
d) Goals must be specific, behaviorally defined, tied to developmental improvements, measurable, & based upon clinical observation;
e) Included goals must be updated when the goals & objectives are achieved or no longer appropriate;
f) Included goals must identify the caregivers’ priorities across home, school, & community settings and include Caregiver training objectives to promote generalization & maintenance of skills
g) Outcome measurement assessment criteria
h) Frequency at which the member’s progress is evaluated & reported
i) Behavior reduction & acquisition procedures, including the conditions under which the behavior is to be demonstrated, & improvement criteria achieved, to include the date of introduction, estimated date of targeted improvement, & a plan for generalization of skill(s)
j) Location of the service & tx settings
3) Treatment Intensity must include:
a) The number of hrs of direct service, observation & direction not including case supervision, caregiver training, & non-billable services. Providers must indicate which activities will be performed by a paraprofessional.
b) The targeted ratio of observation with protocol modification to adaptive behavior treatment.
c) Clinical justification for service intensity that includes how service hrs will be used. Tx must not be in excess of the member’s needs.
d) Clinical justification for each service location identified in the Tx Plan as the most appropriate for the member based on individual needs & goals.
e) If applicable, clinical justification for use of telehealth or telephone.
4) Staffing must:
a) Identify by name all providers responsible for the delivery of services.
b) Paraprofessionals may be identified by role & title. Providers must maintain a list of all paraprofessionals involved in service provision for each member to be made available upon request by Trillium.
c) Staffing changes require the individual responsible to consent to tx, as applicable.
5) Titration Plan must:
a) Contemplate appropriate reduction in service intensity & generalization of skills across settings; and transition to natural & other paid supports (as needed, including any training needed);
b) Consider caregiver involvement required to modify/reduce service intensity; and
c) Be in place at the start of tx & modified as indicated based upon progress.
6) Crisis Management Plan must include:
a) Early warning signs & triggers;
b) Prevention & response strategies, involving both formal & natural supports;
c) Preferred communication methods & emergency contacts;
d) A post-crisis follow-up; and
e) A debriefing process for plan review & updates.
f) The crisis management plan should not be duplicative of the existing care management crisis plans.
g) If a member does not require a crisis management plan, the provider must provide clinical justification.
7) Caregiver Involvement. The Tx Plan must:
a) Reflect meaningful Caregiver engagement. A provider shall provide a justification in circumstances when the caregiver cannot or chooses not to participate in training/treatment, and identify alternative person(s) who can support implementation of the Tx Plan.
b) Include a list of the member’s caregiver(s), indicating which are primary.
c) Include at least 2 specific & measurable caregiver goals. At least one specific, measurable goal must be tied directly to how the primary caregiver will support delivery of services to reduce maladaptive behaviors or build functional skills in the member. Each Caregiver goal must include: Baseline data; Behavior the caregiver is expected to demonstrate; Mastery criteria that specify the conditions under which the caregiver must demonstrate a skill; Timelines, and; caregiver-identified priorities across home, school, & community settings.
8) The Caregiver Involvement & Training Plan must include:
a) Training procedures, to include how the following aspects of caregiver training will be conducted, as applicable:
• Instructional content tailored to member needs;
• Skill demonstration through guided examples;
• Hands-on practice for each skill with real-time support or, continued supports, including ongoing oversight & coaching, collaborative problem solving, promoting generalization & maintenance of skills, and assistance with applying strategies across new settings;
• A barrier analysis (indicating potential barriers to Caregiver involvement & a plan to address these barriers);
• A plan for generalization of skills across settings; and
• As appropriate, a plan for engaging other individuals who provide care or support to the member on a regular basis.
b) A minimum of 6 caregiver training sessions must be completed per 180-day authorization period. The provider must submit written justification in the Tx Plan if caregiver training is not incorporated or the number of training hrs and/or goals are below the required minimum, including documented efforts to engage the caregiver in treatment.
Service Specifics, Limitations, & Exclusions (not all inclusive):
1) Services rendered without adequate diagnostic documentation may be subject to service denial, recoupment, or termination of services.
2) RB-BHT services shall not be initiated based solely on screening tools, educational determinations, or informal clinical impressions.
3) Medicaid will not cover time spent on the member activities that are not explicitly part of a goal in the approved Tx Plan.
4) Medicaid will not cover custodial or respite care under RB-BHT activities.
5) Medicaid will not cover RB-BHT activities primarily intended to provide direct assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental ADLs (iADLs) (personal care services).
6) Medicaid will not cover services that are not based in credible scientific or clinical evidence.
7) Medicaid will not cover non-RB-BHT Medicaid services billed at the same time as RB-BHT service. Same-day delivery is allowable.
8) Providers must ensure that tx intensity considers opportunities for unstructured or non-therapeutic time needed for meals, snacks, hydration, toileting, & rest or naps, as clinically appropriate for the member’s age & individual needs.
9) The provider responsible for the Tx Plan must share information and coordinate with the member’s’ primary care providers(s) and other providers on the member’s care team, obtaining all legally required consent.
10) At least ten percent (10%) of all services under CCP-8F that are provided by a paraprofessional must involve the observation & direction of the paraprofessional by a LQASP. For members who receive more than 200 hrs of RB-BHT services from paraprofessionals in a 180-day period, the ratio of LQASP-delivered services to paraprofessional-delivered services should be no less than 1 hr for every 10 hrs of service (10 percent) and no more than 2 hrs for every 10 hrs of services (20 percent). The ratio is measured over a 180-calendar day authorization period.
11) This ratio must be documented in the Tx Plan.
12) Any tx Plan requesting a ratio outside the 10 to 20 percent range is required to include a written clinical justification.
13) The health plan may conduct compliance reviews & monitor provider organizations under the authority of DHB. Tribal providers are not subject to health plan audits. All services are subject to post-payment review.