Should I Use a Treatment Planning Book?Like many answers to questions about mental health, the answer to this common question on whether or not you should use a treatment planning book is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no.When discussing treatment plans during my trainings, I often hear … [Read more...] about Should I Use a Treatment Planning Book?
Questions & Answers: Audits
Questions & Answers: AuditsTherapists aren’t taught clinical documentation in school, leaving them vulnerable to audits and claw backs. The Documentation Wizard is here to help answer some of the most commonly asked questions about audits so you aren’t caught unprepared. QUESTION 1: Informing … [Read more...] about Questions & Answers: Audits
Questions & Answers: Treatment Plans
Questions & Answers: Treatment PlansTrying to figure out everything you need to know about clinical documentation can make your head spin! The good news is, I’m here to help! In this month’s blog post I answer some of the most commonly asked questions about treatment plans.QUESTION 1: Primary, … [Read more...] about Questions & Answers: Treatment Plans
No Surprise Act May Be a Surprise
No Surprises Act May Be a SurpriseHappy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday celebration and got some time to relax and recharge. Because change is here. Effective January 1, 2022, the new NO SURPRISE ACT (NSA) is an unwelcome surprise for many therapists!Very briefly, the primary goal of … [Read more...] about No Surprise Act May Be a Surprise
I’d Rather Clean the Toilet than Write Progress Notes: Making Peace With An Essential Task
Q: I love being a therapist, but I hate writing progress notes and sometimes can’t bring myself to do it. I know it’s risky not to write them. Is there a way to make this task less onerous?A: Every therapist knows that avoiding progress notes puts their practice in jeopardy. But of the thousands of … [Read more...] about I’d Rather Clean the Toilet than Write Progress Notes: Making Peace With An Essential Task
How to Document Prognosis for Mental Health
Medicare just added Prognosis to its list of documentation requirements. UGH! One more thing to think about and document. But how?What Is a Prognosis?Prognosis refers to making an educated guess about the expected outcome of treatment. Based on the medical model, it’s a prediction of a client’s … [Read more...] about How to Document Prognosis for Mental Health
How To Survive A Health Insurance Audit
The Insurance Vultures are CirclingInsurance companies have recently been conducting audits, like vultures looking for dinner. Especially Medicare.Fight, flight, freeze, or fawn! An audit letter from a health insurance company is enough to send shock waves through your body and make your mind go … [Read more...] about How To Survive A Health Insurance Audit
Can Adjustment Disorder be Billed for Longer Than 6 Months?
Is it possible to bill insurance for someone who has Adjustment Disorder for longer than 6 months? Will this be a red flag and trigger an audit? As is typical, when it comes to answers for psychotherapy – maybe and maybe not. To understand the answer to this question, it’s necessary to know the … [Read more...] about Can Adjustment Disorder be Billed for Longer Than 6 Months?
Documenting Safety Protocols for Face-to-Face Psychotherapy Sessions
Documenting Safety Protocols for Face-to-Face Psychotherapy SessionsMost people agree – change creates upset. Despite the restrictions we experience due to the Covid-19 pandemic, change seems constant. This pandemic will not let us rest in what we already know. Every week or so, there’s something … [Read more...] about Documenting Safety Protocols for Face-to-Face Psychotherapy Sessions