N.M. Code R. § 8.321.2.22 - FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES (FSS) (MCO reimbursed only)

Family support services are community-based, face-to-face interactions with children, youth or adults and their family, available to managed care members only. Family support services enhance the member family's strengths, capacities, and resources to promote the member's ability to reach the recovery and resiliency behavioral health goals they consider most important. See Subsections A and B of 8.321.2.9 NMAC for MAD general provider requirements.

A. Eligible providers:

(1) Family support service providers and staff shall meet standards established by the state of NM and documented in the New Mexico BH policy and billing manual.

(2) Family support service staff and supervision by licensed behavioral health practitioners must be in accordance with their respective licensing board regulations or credentialing standards for peer support workers or family peer support workers.

(3) Minimum staff qualifications for peer support workers or family peer support workers includes maintenance of credentials as a peer support worker or family peer support worker in New Mexico.

(4) Minimum staff qualifications for the clinical supervisor:

(a) Must be a licensed independent practitioner (i.e., psychiatrist, psychologist, LISW, LPCC, LMFT, or psychiatrically certified nurse practitioner) practicing under the scope of their NM licensure;

(b) Have four years' relevant experience in the delivery of case management or comprehensive community support services or family support services with the target population;

(c) Have one year demonstrated supervisory experience; and

(d) Have completed both basic and supervisory training regarding family support services.

B. Identified population:

(1) Members with parents, family members, legal guardians, and other primary caregivers who are living with or closely linked to the member and engaged in the plan of care for the member.

(2) Members are young persons diagnosed with a severe emotional disturbance or adults diagnosed with serious mental illness as defined by the state of New Mexico.

C. Covered services:

(1) Minimum required family support services activities:

(a) review of the existing social history and other relevant information with the member and family;

(b) review of the existing service and treatment plans;

(c) identification of the member and family functional strengths and any barriers to recovery;

(d) participation in service planning and delivery with the member and family; and

(e) adherence to the applicable code of ethics.

(2) The specific services provided are tailored to the individual needs of the member and family according to the individual's treatment or service plan and include but are not limited to support needed to:

(a) prevent members from being placed into more restrictive setting; or

(b) quickly reintegrate the member to their home and local community; or

(c) direct the member and family towards recovery, resiliency, restoration, enhancement and maintenance of the member's functioning; or

(d) increase the family's ability to effectively interact with the member.

(3) Family support services focus on psycho-education, problem solving, and skills building for the family to support the member and may involve support activities such as:

(a) working with teams engaged with the member;

(b) engaging in service planning and service delivery for the member;

(c) identifying family strengths and resiliencies in order to effectively articulate those strengths and prioritize their needs;

(d) navigating the community-based systems and services that impact the member's life;

(e) identifying natural and community supports;

(f) assisting the member and family to understand, adjust to, and manage behavioral health crises and other challenges;

(g) facilitating an understanding of the options for treatment of behavioral health issues;

(h) facilitating an understanding of the principles and practices of recovery and resiliency; and

(i) facilitating effective access and use of the behavioral health service system to achieve recovery and resiliency.

(4) Documentation requirements:

(a) notes related to all family support service interventions to include how and to what extent the activity promoted family support in relationship to the member's recovery and resilience goals and outcomes;

(b) any supporting collateral documentation.

D. Non-covered services: This service may be billed only during the transition phases from these services:

(a) accredited residential treatment center (ARTC);

(b) adult accredited residential treatment center (AARTC);

(c) residential treatment center services;

(d) group home services;

(e) inpatient hospitalization;

(f) partial hospitalization;

(g) treatment foster care; or

(h) crisis triage centers.

E. Reimbursement: To help an eligible MCO member receive medically necessary services, the centennial care MCOs pay for family support services.

Notes

N.M. Code R. § 8.321.2.22

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXX, Issue 23, December 17, 2019, eff. 1/1/2020, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 15, August 10, 2021, eff. 8/10/2021