Behavioral Health Services Provider Manual Revision to ACT Appendix

Date: 10/13/23

Louisiana Healthcare Connections is sharing with providers revisions published in the ACT appendix of the LDH Behavioral Health Services Provider Manual.

Summarized revisions include the following:

Target Population 

Must have at least three (3) of the following: 

1. Evidence of co-existing mental illness and substance use disorder; 

2. Significant suicidal ideation, together with a plan and the ability to carry out such a plan, within the last two (2) years; 

3. Suicide attempt in the last prior two (2) years; 

4. History of violence due to untreated mental illness and/or substance use within the last prior two (2) years; 

5. Lack of support systems; 

6. History of inadequate follow-through with treatment plan, resulting in psychiatric or medical instability; 

7. Threats of harm to others in the priorpast two (2) years; 

8. History of significant psychotic symptomatology, such as command hallucinations to harm others; or 

9. Minimum LOCUS score of three (3) at admission.  
 

Assessment

Utilizing the comprehensive person centered needs assessment, an initial vocational assessment (referred to as the “career profile”) in addition to member interviews, shall be completed on all individuals participating in the ACT program within thirty (30) calendar days after program entry for members admitted on or after 10/01/2023, or within ninety (90) calendar days for existing members.  (This is a change from 7/1/2023.)

Additional language and grammatical edits are also included in the new information. Providers are encouraged to review the updated section for all the changes.