Behavioral Health Services Provider Manual Revision to Peer Support Services Chapter

Date: 09/13/23

Louisiana Healthcare Connections is sharing with providers revisions published in the Peer Support Services chapter of the LDH Behavioral Health Services Provider ManualExternal Link.

Summarized revisions include the following:

Evaluation of the Evidence Based Practice 

Research studies have supported the value and benefits of integrating PSS into the behavioral health services array as having a positive impact on outcomes, as well as the cost effectiveness of the service. The following are related studies: 

1. Annotated bibliography of current research on the effectiveness of peers. Conducted by BRSS TACS in November 2019. Available at: https://c4innovatesmy.sharepoint.com/:w:/p/jbushell/EZjrq0vGFLNDnGDmxBcGQDoBUrYr8wPq7 W21rSPUmk72aA?e=qZvI9B; and 

2. Recovery Research Review (2014). Conducted by BRSS TACS. Available at: https://c4innovates-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/p/jbushell/EZKFlEdnGQ9Pp0py6zxdZABBoJ661kkxYEBBg_U3KH43g?e=h7VXV9. 

Eligibility Criteria

Medicaid eligible members who meet medical necessity criteria may receive PSS when recommended by an LMHP or physician within their scope of practice. Members must meet the following criteria:   

1. Be 21 years of age or older; and 

2. Have a mental illness and/or substance use disorder diagnosis.   

In addition to the above criteria, to be eligible to receive PSS services from an Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS) certified Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) provider agency, members must: 

1. Be currently receiving PSH services; or   

2. Have been transitioned from a nursing facility or been diverted from nursing facility level of care through the My Choice Louisiana program.  

Supervision 

10. The supervision with the LMHP must be documented. Documentation should reflect the content of the training and/or clinical guidance. The documentation must include the following: 

a. Date and duration of supervision; 

b. Identification of supervision type as individual or group supervision; 

c. Name and licensure credentials of the LMHP supervisor; 

d. Name and credentials (provisionally licensed, master’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or high school degree) of the supervisees; 

e. The focus of the session and subsequent actions that the supervisee/s must take; 

f. Date and signature of the LMHP supervisor; 

g. Date and signature of the supervisee/s; 

Provider Qualifications

PSS must be provided under the administrative oversight of licensed and accredited local governing entities (LGEs) or an OAAS certified PSH providers (as determined by the LDH OAAS).  LGEs and OAAS certified PSH provider agencies must meet state and federal requirements for providing PSS.   

Staff 

Individuals providing PSS must operate under the administrative oversight of a licensed and accredited LGE or an OAAS certified PSH provider agency.   

Additional language edits are also included in the new information. Providers are encouraged to review the updated sectionExternal Link for all the changes.