Feds To Allow Medicaid & CHIP To Directly Reimburse Behavioral Health Specialists For Consultations With Primary Care Professionals

Under a new federal policy, state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plans can reimburse behavioral health specialists for consultations provided to primary care professionals on behalf of a beneficiary. In a reversal of previous policy, consultations can take place when the beneficiary is not physically present. In the event of a consultation, both the primary care professional and the behavioral health specialist can be paid for the encounter. The goal is to link routine care with specialty care and increase access to specialty behavioral health professionals. The new policy aligns with Medicare standards, which have had a . . .