Archive for the ‘Behavioral Health’ Category

Birth to 3 Program Family Communication Published

Friday, May 22nd, 2020

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is committed to keeping families informed during the COVID-19 pandemic. DHS has published a second Birth to 3 Program Family Communication, P-02654, which contains important information about COVID-19 for children and families who access early intervention services through the Birth to 3 Program.

County programs are asked to share this publication with families.

Wisconsin HIPAA Resources –

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

HIPAA Privacy:

Privacy Rule (HHS)
HIPAA Privacy Rule & Public Health (CDC)

HITECH Privacy regulation


Breach Notification for Unsecured Protected Health Information – Interim Final Rule (August 24, 2009)


HITECH Act Enforcement Interim Final Rule (October 29, 2009)


Individuals’ Right under HIPAA to Access their Health Information (February 25, 2016)


Updated Joint Guidance on Application of HIPAA and FERPA to Student Health Records (December 2019 Update) –


Other Privacy Guidance Documents

Privacy and Security Standards –
Security Rule


HIPAA Administrative Simplification Statute & Rules


NIST Security Resource


HHS Office of Civil Rights Security Rule


HHS Office of Civil Rights Security Guidance Documents and Other Important Links


State Confidentiality Law Links:

Wisconsin Stat. § 51.30 – State Alcohol, Drug Abuse, Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Act –


Wisconsin Stat. § 146.816 – Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information –


Wisconsin Admin. Code ch. DHS 92 – Confidentiality of treatment records –


Wisconsin Admin. Code ch. DHS 94 – Patients Rights & Resolutions of Grievances –


Medicaid

Wisconsin Stat. § 49.475 – Information about Medicaid Assistance beneficiaries –
Wisconsin Admin. Code ch. DHS 108 – General Medicaid Administration –
Provider

Wisconsin Stat. § 146.81-84 – Miscellaneous Health Provisions (health care records) –
Wisconsin Stat. § 146.816 – Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information –
Wisconsin Stat. § 252.15 – Communicable Diseases – Restrictions on Use of HIV Tests –


Long-Term Care (Family Care)

Wisconsin Stat. ch. 46 – Long-term Care (Confidentiality – Exchange of Information) –


Wisconsin Admin. Code ch. DHS 10 – Confidentiality and Exchange of Information (Family Care)
§ DHS 10.23(7) ADRCs
§ DHS 10.45(5)

CMOS
Other

HIPAA COW (HIPAA Collaborative of Wisconsin) –
Wisconsin Office of Privacy Protection
FTC Privacy Initiatives

Wisconsin Emergency Order #35 –

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

Tony Evers, Governor of Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm have issued another emergency order, Emergency Order #35 (Order #35), directed at suspending certain administrative rules in an attempt to remove unnecessary impediments to the fight against the virus.

A major focus of Order #35 is assuring that Medicaid members retain their coverage eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. This provision was required under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act as a condition of eligibility to receive federal funding. Order #35 contains provisions expanding the availability of telehealth in the mental health and substance abuse areas. The order also suspends the requirement that certain mental health and substance abuse services be provided only in a face-to-face setting. This is just one of the many ways in which telehealth received a “shot in the arm” from the pandemic.

A few additional areas touched in Order #35 include:

Temporarily permitting nurses to bill Medicaid for overtime.
Suspension of certain prior authorization requirements, number of refill limitations, and prescription duration limitations.

Waiver of the requirement for parents to make certain payments for the “Birth to 3” program which provides early intervention services for children with developmental delays and disabilities.

Permits supervision of occupational therapists by electronic means in situations where close supervision is required.

Removes the requirement for health departments to conduct a community health assessment resulting in a community health improvement plan at least every five years. The “five-year” requirement is removed but the general obligation remains.


Revises DHS 34.02 (8) relating to emergency mental health services. Reference is directed toward prioritization of services in cases where the need for services outweighs resources.


Extends the time from three months to six months for newly hired mental health training staff who have less than six months experience to complete their 40 hours of documented orientation training.


Makes it easier for volunteers to meet their 40 hour training requirement. Instead of requiring all 40 hours of training be completed before commencing direct client work, trainees must now complete eight hours before starting. Ten additional hours must be completed by the end of the first and second months of volunteer work. The 40 hours of training must be completed within three months of starting volunteer work.

Deleted the minimum staffing requirements for outpatient mental health clinics under Wis. Admin. Code DHS 35. The general requirement the clinic have “a sufficient number of qualified staff members available to provide outpatient mental health services to consumers admitted to care” remains. The two specific options for meeting the minimum staffing responsibility have been removed. Previously, clinics could meet their staffing requirement by meeting any of the three specific staffing scenarios included in the regulation.

This is unlikely to be the last set of waivers issued. Providers who feel they might be restricted by state or federal regulatory requirements during the pandemic should communicate with the regulatory bodies. Federal and state regulators have been sensitive to the needs of providers that are necessary to enable them to address the unprecedented needs created by the COVID-19 virus.

I’ve recapped the highlights, the full Order #35 can be found here.

The Joint Commission COVID-19 Resources

Thursday, April 30th, 2020

The Joint Commission, one of the nation’s top accreditation organizations for health care providers, has published a variety of useful resources for health care organizations.  The resources provide some excellent coverage and are useful for all providers who are facing the Coronavirus pandemic.  The Joint Commission says that its goal in creating the resource page is to support health care professionals and organizations on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Perhaps the biggest highlight of general application is the Joint Commissions “Real Voices. Real Stories.”  The Real Voices includes stories from a variety of front-line health care workers. 

You can download a PDF file of “Real Voices. Real Stories” at the following link: Real Voices PDF Download

Some of the stories in the “Real Voices” section include coverage of a Joint Commission Life Safety Coach Surveyor  and an emergency department nurse at one of the largest hospitals in Chicago, among others.

The Joint Commission website includes a variety of other resources.   The Joint Commission does not have the largest list of resources.  Instead, the Joint Commission’s goal is to attempt to cut through the deluge of information on the COVID-19 virus and provide “only the information that best meets the needs of health care workers and leaders.”

Maneuvers and Techniques Prohibited in Community Based Programs and Facilities

Thursday, February 9th, 2017

Wisconsin Prohibited Maneuvers and Techniques in Community Based Programs

Wisconsin Behavioral Health Managing Aggressive Behaviors

Wisconsin Behavioral Health Lawyer

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) as released a memo that specifies maneuvers or techniques that may not be used at any time in community based programs and facilities. DHS deems the prohibited maneuvers or techniques to “present an inherently high risk of serious injury and even death.”  Providers are directed by DHS to immediately discontinue the use of any of the listed maneuvers.  Prohibited maneuvers, techniques, and procedures that may not be used under any circumstances include:

  • Any maneuver or technique that does not give adequate attention and care to protection
    of the head.
  • Any maneuver or technique that places pressure or weight on the chest, lungs, sternum,
    diaphragm, back, or abdomen.
  • Any maneuver or technique that places pressure, weight, or leverage on the neck or throat, on any artery, or on the back of the head or neck, or that otherwise obstructs or restricts the circulation of blood or obstructs an airway, such as straddling or sitting on the torso, or any type of choke hold.
  • Any maneuver or technique that involves pushing into a person’s mouth, nose, or eyes.
  • Any maneuver or technique that utilizes pain to obtain compliance or control, including punching, hitting, hyperextension of joints, or extended use of pressure points.
  • Any maneuver or technique that forcibly takes a person from a standing position to the floor or ground. This includes taking a person from a standing position to a horizontal (prone or supine) position or to a seated position on the floor.
  • Any maneuver or technique that creates a motion causing forcible impact on the person’s head or body, or forcibly pushes an individual against a hard surface.
  • The use of seclusion where the door to the room would remain locked without someone having to remain present to apply some type of constant pressure or control to the locking mechanism.

DHS explains in the memo that the ultimate goal is to replace such interventions with trauma-informed systems and settings, positive behavior supports, and non-coercive intervention strategies. DHS promotes recovery and healing that is consumer-driven, person-centered, trauma-informed, and recovery-based.

In addition to describing measures that are completely prohibited, DHS states that restrictive measures that are not prohibited may only be used in emergency situations in which there is an imminent risk of serious harm to self or others, or as part of an approved plan. Situations in which the person’s behavior was foreseeable based on his or her
history are not considered an emergency.   Even restrictive measures that are not directly prohibited must be avoided whenever possible and may only be used after all other feasible alternatives, including de-escalation techniques, have been exhausted. When necessary, restrictive measures may only be used with the minimum amount of force needed, and for the shortest duration possible, to restore safety.

Facilities should review their policies and practices to assure compliance with the guidelines set forth in the memo. Additional staff training should be conducted to assure compliance with these standards.   Additionally, providers should become familiar with the changing standards of care and best practices focused on building skills and techniques to de-escalate and redirect behaviors that present safety concerns, and work earnestly to promote a trauma-informed culture of care.