Service Definitions

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Service Definitions describe the services that providers can be paid for in the state's public system of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services (DMHDDSUS).

2024 State-Funded Enhanced Mental Health and Substance Use Services

Please note that the “substance use” language has not been changed to remain in compliance with General Statute. Utilization of more acceptable, less stigmatizing language is supported and used wherever possible.

• November 1, 2019: The State-Funded Enhanced MH/SU Services 2019 document revision removed the Community Support Team (CST) service definition from the document. Community Support Team is now a standalone service definition located below.
• December 15, 2019: The State-Funded Enhanced MH/SU Services 2019 document, State-Funded ACT Service, State-Funded Facility-Based Crisis-Child and State-Funded Community Support Team were amended to include a statement that the Division of MH/DD/SUS will not reimburse for conversion therapy per Executive Order # 97. Additionally, a statement providing guidance to providers utilizing the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC:0–5) manual was added to the State-Funded Enhanced MH/SU Services 2019 document and State-Funded Facility-Based Crisis-Child service definition.
• November 1, 2021: The State-Funded Enhanced Mental Health and Substance Use Services 2021 was amended to remove Diagnostic Assessment which is now a stand alone service definition policy, remove limit on billable units in a 24-hour period in MST and provide a clarification in the Outpatient Opioid treatment service definition policy. The State-Funded FBC-Child service definition policy was amended to include telehealth language, increase number of days the service can be provided in a 12-month period and amend supervision requirements. Additionally, the new standalone State-Funded Diagnostic Assessment service definition policy was published including telehealth clarification and ASAM language.
• April 1, 2022: The State-Funded Enhanced Mental Health and Substance Use Services 2022 document has several amendments, including but not limited to, the following: adding a Telehealth Services section (Section 3.1.1); updating the State-Funded Service Summary chart; replacing “face-to-face” with “in-person” language throughout the document; adding language regarding licensed and certified professionals in compliance with NCGA Session Law 2019-240 Senate Bill 537; revising length of stay in several service definition policies; and revising the Outpatient Opioid Treatment Payment Unit Section. Please see Section 8 Policy Implementation for a detailed list of amendments.
• May 15, 2022: The State-Funded Facility-Based Crisis- Child service definition clinical policy was amended as follows: Subsection 5.3 a.: Added “or Licensed Practical Nurse under the supervision of a registered nurse” and Subsection 6.2 c. & b.1.: Removed “on-site”.
• August 1, 2022: The State-Funded Enhanced MH/SU Services 2022 document revision deleted the following from Section 8: Attachment D, Medically Supervised or ADATC Detoxification Crisis Stabilization Deleted “30” and replaced with “45” in the Service Exclusions section.
• February 15, 2023: The State-Funded Enhanced Mental Health and Substance Use Services document was revised to include the following: 1) technical, non-substantive language changes throughout the policy and 2) substantive policy changes to the Mobile Crisis Management service definition clinical policy (see Section 8 pages 17-18 for a list of amendments).
• February 15, 2023: The State-Funded Diagnostic Assessment service definition clinical policy has been revised to include the following: 1) technical, non-substantive language changes, 2) to add Federally recognized tribal or Indian Health Service provider language, and 3) to add ASAM level of care requirement for diagnostic assessment, ASAM training clarification with required learning objectives and minimum training hours.
• March 6, 2023: On Feb. 15, 2023, NC Medicaid and DMH/DD/SUS issued a bulletin that outlined new requirements for Mobile Crisis Management for both Medicaid Clinical Coverage Policy 8A and State Funded Policy to be effective Feb. 15, 2023.
  • Due to workforce shortages, we are delaying the implementation of these new requirements. The previous policies have been posted to our clinical coverage/service definition pages and the previous requirements will continue effective Feb. 15, 2023, while we develop a path forward.
  • September 25, 2023: The State-Funded Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services 2023 document was revised effective September 15, 2023 to include technical changes to the following: 1) Intensive In Home, 2) Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 3) Child and Adolescent Day Treatment and 4) Partial Hospitalization. A summary of the technical changes can be found under Section 8.0 Policy Implementation (Page 17).

  2018-2019 State-Funded MH/DD/SUS Service Definitions

  The Division of MH/DD/SUS Service Definitions package has been revised based on DSM-5, ASAM, NC TRACKS and APSM language and other technical changes.

  Technical revisions to the document include the following:

  • DSM-IV to DSM-5 including "or any subsequent editions of this reference material" to be inclusive of future changes.
  • ASAM PPC-2-R to The ASAM Criteria language (e.g. ASAM changed from Roman numeral to numerical)
  • IPRS and Pioneer to NC TRACKS language.
  • Revised "substance use" language to better reflect DSM-5 language when possible. Changed substance use to substance use when it pertained to a disorder, diagnosis, symptom, condition, intervention, treatment, etc. The substance use language stayed in place if it pertained to a provider, professional, service, etc. due to licensure rules, general statutes, DMA SPA, etc.
  • Updated developmental disabilities language to IDD as appropriate.
  • Included the Supports Intensity Scale under Medical Necessity as appropriate.
  • Eliminated service definitions that have been end dated (e.g. assertive outreach, case support, case management, etc.) See Quick Reference Guide, Appendix A for more details.
  • Eliminated service definitions when the definition utilized for billing purposes are found in other service definition or policy documents (e.g. SAIOP is in the State-Funded Enhanced MH/SA Service Definition package and child residential services are in DMA Clinical
  • Coverage Policy 8-D-2)See Quick Reference Guide, Appendix A for more details.
  • The only clinically revised service definition in the package was Outpatient Services. DMH/DD/SUS currently follows the Division of Medical Assistance's 8C, Outpatient Behavioral Health Services Provided by Direct-Enrolled Providers for outpatient services provided by licensed (CPT codes) or associate level professionals (for H-Codes) with the exception of the "Incident to" criteria. However, DMH/DD/SUS also has a set of YP codes specifically for "Designated Non-Licensed Substance Abuse Counseling Professionals". As a result, the Outpatient Services (SA YP Codes) definition in this package is now specifically for the SA-specific YP codes.

  Additionally, a Quick Reference Guide: Revisions to 2003 State Service Definitions Package is included at the end of the document in Addendum A. This guide serves as a reference tool to determine which services are still in the package, services that are no longer in the package and where they can be found and services that were eliminated due to end dating.

  Additional State-Funded Service Definition Policies:

  • December 15, 2019: All state-funded services listed below were amended to include a statement that the Division of MH/DD/SUS will not reimburse for conversion therapy per Executive Order # 97. Additionally, a statement providing guidance to providers utilizing Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC:0–5) manual was added to the State-Funded DMHDDSUS Service Definitions 2003-2019 document, State-Funded Inpatient Behavioral Health & State-Funded Developmental Therapy service definitions.
  • November 1, 2021: Published the State-Funded Telehealth and Virtual Communications Services policy intended to provide definitions and overarching guidance related to the delivery of services via telehealth and virtual communications that are not otherwise included in a state-funded service definition specific policy. Also, posted amended State-Funded Peer Support Service which includes updated telehealth and telephonic language.
  • August 15, 2022: The State-Funded Peer Support Services policy was revised to remove the following from Section 3.2.1 Letter b.: “the Level of Care criteria for Locus Level 1”.
  • June 1, 2023: As a part of NC’s 1115 SUD Waiver implementation, the State-Funded Inpatient Behavioral Health Services have been amended to align with The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria: Treatment Criteria for Addictive, Substance-Related, and Co-Occurring Conditions (Third Edition, 2013). Policy amendment includes: addition of an attachment for The ASAM Level 4, Medically Managed Intensive Inpatient Services and revision of the attachment for The ASAM Level 4-WM, Medically Managed Intensive Inpatient Withdrawal Management Services. Please Section 8 of the policy for additional changes.
  • November 1, 2023: The State-Funded Individual Placement and Support standalone service definition has been amended to align closely with the new Medicaid IPS clinical coverage policy under the 1915(i) authority. A summary of the changes can be found under Section 8.0 Policy Implementation (Page 16).
  • June 26, 2024: The State-Funded Supported Employment Service Definition has been amended to change required training requirements to recommended training requirements.
  • June 28, 2024: The State-Funded Community Engagement Options (NCSWTCIE/SPARK Pilot) service definition and State-Funded Job Retention Services (NCSWTCIE/SPARK Pilot) have been posted below. Community Engagement Options is a range of community-based and comprehensive services that enable a recipient 18 years of age and older with a developmental disability as defined in G.S. 122-C-3(12a) who is enrolled in Adult Developmental Vocational Program (ADVP), Sheltered Workshop settings or considering enrollment to an ADVP or Sheltered Workshop settings earning sub-minimum wage to achieve competitive integrated employment (CIE). Job Retention is an individualized wraparound support service that enables a recipient 18 years of age and older with a developmental disability as defined in G.S. 122-C-3(12a) who is enrolled in Adult Developmental Vocational Program (ADVP), Sheltered Workshop settings or considering enrollment to an ADVP or Sheltered Workshop settings earning sub-minimum wage to achieve competitive integrated employment (CIE). Recipients must be enrolled in the NC Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment/Strength, Positivity, Access, Respect and Knowledge (NCSWTCIE/SPARK) Pilot.
  • July 1, 2024: The State-Funded Comprehensive Case Management Service clinical policy has been posted below and has an effective date of January 1, 2025 . This new service is for adults with: a primary mental health (MH) or primary substance use (SU) disorder, or co-occurring MH or SU disorder and IDD or TBI diagnosis, or other designated eligibility criteria as outlined in the policy that would benefit from time-limited case management assistance to access necessary behavioral health, physical health, health-related, and social services.
  • State-Funded Supported Employment Service Definition - 6/26/2024
  • State-Funded Supported Living Periodic IDD and TBI Service Definition - 12/4/2023
  • State-Funded Residential Supports IDD Service Service Definition - 12/4/2023
  • State-Funded Day Supports Service Definition - 12/4/2023
  • State-Funded Community Living and Support Service Definition - 9/28/23
  • State-Funded Respite Service Definition - 9/28/23
  • State-Funded Assertive Engagement Service Definition (will be added to the state-funded service array effective July 28, 2023) - 7/24/23
  • State-Funded Day Supports Service Definition - 6/1/22
  • State-Funded Residential Supports IDD Service Definition - 6/1/22
  • State-Funded TBI Long Term Residential Rehabilitation Service Definition - 6/1/22
  • State-Funded Telehealth and Virtual Communications Services - 11/1/21
  • State-Funded Peer Support Service - 8/15/22
  • State-Funded Inpatient Behavioral Health - 6/1/23
  • State-Funded Developmental Therapy Service - 12/15/19
  • State-Funded Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) Effective 2/1/2020 - 12/23/19
  • State-Funded IPS Service Definition - 11/1/23
  • State-Funded Outpatient Behavioral Health Services - 6/1/23
  • State-Funded Community Engagement Options (NCSWTCIE/SPARK Pilot) -12/22/23
  • State-Funded Job Retention Services (NCSWTCIE/SPARK Pilot) – 12/22/23
  • State-Funded Comprehensive Case Management Service – Effective 1/1/25