Misery or MasterySM
Documenting Medical Necessity for Psychotherapists
… teaches a set of skills combined with concrete tools that turn you into a Documentation Wizard!
A Special Day Long LIVE Training with Beth Rontal, LICSW
Friday, May 12, 2023 - 10AM - 6:00PM EDT
Purchase your LIVE Training Webinar for Misery or Mastery
TODAY!
LIVE TRAINING WEBINAR
$387.00Add to cart
6 CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
$25.00Add to cart
CLINICAL FORMS*
GET $60 OFF
$287.00Add to cart
* Get $60 Off the regular $287.00 price for Clinical Forms when combined with your LIVE Webinar purchase TODAY! That's almost 20% OFF. Discount will show at CHECKOUT.
You may never learn to love writing your notes but if you choose mastery over misery, your good clinical documentation will not only be meaningful, it will contribute to and reflect high quality care -- and protect your income at the same time.
-- Beth Rontal, LICSW
LIVE MISERY OR MASTERY WEBINAR TRAINING
If you’d rather clean the toilet than write your progress notes, you’re not alone. Mental health documentation is the subject almost every therapist loves to hate. For a good reason. It wasn’t taught in grad schools, and it’s rarely taught on the job. Even if you …
- Lose sleep about audits or legal involvement
- Wonder if you’re writing too little or too much
- Spend too much time writing notes, procrastinate or avoid them
- Wish you knew the regulatory standards
- Worry about how to preserve client confidentiality
- Think writing notes is a clinically irrelevant waste of time …
… every therapist knows that avoiding progress notes puts their practice in jeopardy.
The Misery or Mastery: Documenting Medical Necessity for Psychotherapists training, teaches a step-by-step approach to guide you through the process of writing treatment plans, session notes, and the other essential clinical documents needed in every clinical practice.
In this interactive webinar, all learning styles are incorporated because this is how people learn best. Every requirement is explained by providing content and context because learning is amplified by knowing the why of requirements. Concepts are explained in exquisite details, with lots of repetition, case examples, stories to illustrate the concepts, and two practice sessions.
Translate your intuition into a logical, insurance friendly review of treatment.
- Pass stringent audits.
- Reduce the time you spend on paperwork.
- Write clinically useful notes.
- Preserve client confidentiality.
- Maintain your professional standard of care.
- Reduce your anxiety.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
THE PROBLEM
Clinical Documentation has always been integral to the professional standard of care. Yet many psychotherapists are unsure how to document the good work they provide. As a result, they can feel at the mercy of insurance companies, spending an enormous amount of time justifying treatment, fighting rejected insurance claims, fearing or preparing for audits, writing disability reports and losing income.
Clinicians both in private practice and those working in agencies and group practices, as well as clinic owners and managers report there is little guidance about what to write while clinicians find that there is little time to write it.
Paperwork often seems unrelated to being helpful to the client.
Confusion over third-party expectations and often substandard paperwork is a common result, leaving both clinician and clinic vulnerable to a financial loss if records are audited, or to legal, ethical or professional issues if records are subpoenaed.
THE GOAL
With the growing concerns about addiction, child safety, family violence, legal issues, and the corresponding rise in oversight, whether from insurance companies, the department of social services, workman’s compensation, or the courts, or our professional boards, the more important good record keeping has become. Additionally, because the courts can mandate access to records, understanding issues of confidentiality and privacy in relationship to documentation requirements are critical.
Good documentation skills should help organize clinical thinking. Progress notes, treatment plans, case and collateral contact notes, discharge and diagnostic summaries should be able to be done quickly and efficiently and provide a vehicle for formulating and reflecting on high quality clinical work rather than being a detour or afterthought.
Good documentation supports good clinical practice, facilitates getting authorizations, and helps mental health professionals and clinics pass insurance audits, saving thousands of dollars in potential recoupments and lost productivity. It contributes to a marked reduction in work related anxiety and increased job satisfaction.
THE STANDARDS
Since psychotherapy is covered by medical insurance, the gold standard for documentation is now based on the need to satisfy insurance company requirements, even if you don’t take insurance. The most rigorous standards for clinical documentation are Federal, which is why most third-party payors base their requirements on Medicare standards.
That standard is conceptualized as “medical necessity.” A fundamental feature of medical necessity is, the “Golden Thread.” When the Golden Thread is employed, each element of the therapeutic process is clearly documented so that the connection between all aspects of clinical work flow logically from one record to the other. In-other-words, the criteria for a client needing services and the Golden Thread work together to justify medical necessity.
At the same time, it is important that the clinician’s voice be heard in a narrative so that it is clear how they conceptualize the treatment rather than relying solely on a template with boiler plate drop down menus for all aspects of the record. This includes effectively documenting clinical progress while maintaining confidentiality.
When clinical documentation is operationalized using this effective, efficient, and distinct procedure, medical records are clear, compliant and clinically useful. Documentation is necessary even for those psychotherapists who do not take insurance but still wish to meet professional, legal and ethical standards.
RESULT
Applying the Documentation Wizard® process to whatever system is used, increases accuracy and efficiency. It simultaneously reduces anxiety and resistance and contributes to quality care.
The concepts and practice of this system are taught to Medicare standards and have a proven track record of success. Implementation of this system helps pass stringent Medicare audits, potentially saving thousands of dollars.
Additionally, a reduction of time spent writing and rewriting paperwork, coupled with a significant increase in productivity and profits can lead to greater job satisfaction and less burnout.
Choose mastery over misery. Allow good clinical documentation to be a contribution to high quality care and protect your practice at the same time.
Becoming a Documentation Wizard Training
Course Outline
MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION - FUNDAMENTALS OF DOCUMENTATION
- The Topic Clinicians Love to Hate.
- You’re not crazy, or stupid. You’re just not trained.
- Why document?
- Writing for different “masters.”
- Documentation through the lens of medical necessity.
- “The Golden Thread” as the key element to medical necessity.
- Documentation as a contribution to good clinical work.
- Documentation as protection of income and agent of professional integrity.
- Anxiety-reducing answers to common questions.
- Avoiding documentation fatigue.
- Why private pay therapists need to know documentation requirements.
MODULE 2: THE TREATMENT PLAN
- Avoid the cookie cutter treatment plan and write ones that are clinically useful.
- What's needed in a treatment plan and why.
- Writing a treatment plan that justifies medical necessity.
- Implementing the Golden Thread with case examples.
- The Treatment Plan Formula.
- Operationalizing the presenting problem.
- How to describe the diagnostic criteria using behavioral language.
- Questions to ask.
- Creating a clear connection between the problem, goals, objectives, and interventions.
- The distinction between goals and objectives and why it’s important.
- Protecting client and therapist with a risk assessment.
- Evaluating and documenting progress.
- How to evaluate and document prognosis .
- Frequency of treatment plans
- How to avoid making yourself crazy writing your treatment plans
Practice writing a treatment plan with review
MODULE 3: THE SESSION NOTE
- Definition of a session note and how it relates to the treatment plan.
- What's needed in a session note for insurance companies and the law, and why.
- Writing a session note that justifies medical necessity using behavioral language and the “golden thread” with case examples.
- What to include in the “clinical content” part of the note.
- Why clinical assessments are necessary and how to write them.
- Writing intervention that represent your work rather than the one-size fits-all interventions found in treatment planning books
- Determining how much or how little to write.
- Documenting risk.
- Maintaining client confidentiality.
- How to justify the use of 90837.
- Justifying multiple sessions in one week.
Practice writing a session note and review
MODULE 4: Case/Collateral Contact Note, Discharge Summary, & Diagnostic Summary
Case/Collateral Contact Note
- The difference between a Case and Collateral Contact Note.
- Everything that’s needed in a Case and Collateral Contact Note and why.
- Relationship to the treatment plan.
- Maintain the “golden thread.”
- Justifies medical necessity with case examples.
- Clinical and legal Importance of Case/Collateral Contact Note.
Discharge Summary
- Definition of a discharge summary and how it relates to the treatment plan.
- Everything that’s needed in a discharge summary and why.
- How the discharge summary completes the Golden Thread.
- Legal considerations of a discharge summary.
- Termination letter or not.
Intake or Diagnostic Summary
- Establishing the connection between the diagnosis and treatment.
- Initiating the Golden Thread.
- Laying the ground for medical necessity.
- What’s needed in a diagnostic summary and why.
- What relevant history to include.
- What kind of risk to document and how.
- Legal requirements.
- Ethical requirement
- Demonstrating culturally competent treatment with a thorough risk assessment..
- When to write a diagnostic summary.
MODULE 5: RED FLAGS & LEGAL ISSUES - AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
- common mistakes that will trigger an audit.
- What diagnoses can trigger an audit.
- How to fail an audit.
- What Medicare does not cover.
- Documenting “poor self-esteem.”
- Documentation mistakes that appear as insurance fraud.
- Avoiding legal nightmares.
- Documenting unusual clinical issues.
- How to choose a documentation template.
- To EHR or not? Are paper notes OK?
- And much more.
Your Teacher for this LIVE Workshop
Beth Rontal, MSW, LICSW, is a nationally recognized and engaging speaker on mental health documentation for private practice clinicians, group practices and clinics. She mastered her teaching skills with thousands of hours supervising and training both emerging and seasoned professionals at a clinic for 11 years. Her Misery & Mastery TM trainings and documentation forms have been used world-wide. Beth writes blogs on clinical documentation, co-chairs the NASW Private Practice Shared Interest Group, and has a private practice in Brookline, MA specializing in working with people who struggle with emotional eating and early mother loss. She also loves the theater and is writing a one-woman play called, My Mother’s Daughter.
Here’s What You’ll Receive in this Online Training…
#1 FIVE LIVE TRAINING MODULES WITH BETH RONTAL, LICSW
You will be registered to join Beth during her live training sessions on ZOOM on Friday, May 12 from 10am - 6pm EDT. Beth's training sessions are interactive and provide multiple opportunities for asking your specific questions.
#2 POWERPOINT SLIDE DECK
Take notes on these information packed slides. Includes even more information than discussed!
#3 SAMPLE TREATMENT PLAN & SAMPLE SESSION NOTE
Practice writing a treatment plan and session note based on a recorded interview. We provide you with blanks of each to practice with. (These are not the actual treatment plan and session note. These contain the information needed to create the Golden Thread. They do not include all the administrative requirements.)
#4 ACCESS TO VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDINGS
7- 10 days after the LIVE ZOOM Training session (to give us enough time to get them edited for you), you'll be able to watch and listen to the sessions to catch anything you may have missed or would like to review. Your access will continue for one year.
PLUS You’ll Receive these Special Bonuses
Bonus #1
15% discount on all paperwork packages until 6/12/2023: Clinical Forms, Administrative Forms, Diagnostic & Assessment Forms, Supervision & Consultation Forms. That’s up to a $75 savings.
Why wait? If you purchase the Clinical Forms at the same time as registering for the webinar, you'll save almost 20%!
Bonus #2
A list of 101 open ended “Intervention Prompts” to help jump start your personally created list. Treatment planning books are full of jargon and can create cookie cutter documentation. They are developed to address a diagnosis not the person sitting in front of you. Once you become a Documentation Wizard, you will be able to write what you do using language anyone can understand. Valued at $25.
Bonus #3
Two 1-hour follow up Q & As! Scheduled a few weeks after the course to give you time to integrate the DW system into your current work. One will be scheduled in the afternoon and one in the evening to maximize everyone’s ability to participate. For those who can’t attend live – get access to the recording for another 30 days. A $450 value (but priceless if you have a pressing question!).
Bonus #4
All the No Surprises Act Forms
Under the Federal No Surprises Act, all health care providers are required to give clients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance, an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. The intent is to provide accurate information regarding their expected health care spending and to prevent unexpected or surprise billing. You’ll need 3 forms to fulfill this requirement.
- The Good Faith Estimate (GFE) explanation of the law. It’s necessary to put it on your website and display it in your office.
- The Good Faith Estimate for Behavioral Health Care and Disclaimer This form explains in detail, the estimated cost of treatment for 1 year and is signed by the client.
- A No Surprises Act letter or email that explain the GFE to your existing private clients.
These forms have been reviewed by an attorney and a bioethicist. They have been developed to meet the needs of psychotherapists. Cues are provided so you know where and how to customize them for your practice and clients. Attorney and bioethicist approved for psychotherapists! Valued at: PRICELESS! Can't live without it!
Bonus #5
List of Client Strengths
Quality care includes documenting client strengths and how they will use them in therapy. Clients often have a difficult time identifying their strengths. Use this list of 35 positive qualities in session to help prompt your client if they’re struggling. Or send them the list to complete with the Intake packet. Valued at $20.
Bonus #6
How to Catch up on Your Notes
In this video, Beth walks through her step-by-step process for catching up on your clinical notes and provides you with practical tips. Whether you’re 10 notes behind or 220, you can catch up (and stay caught up) without it making you want to quit being a therapist. Valued at $67.
Here's Everything You'll Receive in
Misery or Mastery: Documenting Medical Necessity for Psychotherapists
#1: Five LIVE Zoom Training Modules with Beth Rontal, LICSW
on Friday, May 12, 2023
#2: Power Point Slide Deck
#3: Sample Treatment Plan and Sample Session Note
#4: Access to Video and Audio Recordings
PLUS
Bonus #1: 15% discount on all paperwork packages
That’s up to a $75 savings.
Bonus #2: A List of 101 Open Ended "Intervention Prompts"
Valued at $25.
Bonus #3: TWO 1-Hour Follow-up Q & As
A $450 value (but priceless if you have a pressing question!).
Bonus #4: All three No Surprises Act Templates
Attorney and bioethicist approved for psychotherapists!
Bonus #5: List of Client Strengths
Valued at $20.
Bonus #6: How to Catch up on Your Notes
Valued at $67.
Purchase your LIVE Training Webinar for Misery or Mastery
TODAY!
LIVE TRAINING WEBINAR
$387.00Add to cart
6 CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
$25.00Add to cart
CLINICAL FORMS*
GET $60 OFF
$287.00Add to cart
* Get $60 Off the regular $287.00 price for Clinical Forms when combined with your LIVE Webinar purchase TODAY! That's almost 20% OFF. Discount will show at CHECKOUT.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
"Beth's documentation workshop is an unexpected gem: documentation made bearable by a group setting, clear and useful outlines, and the hidden surprise that it all improves one's thinking and thus conscious treatment of clients. I highly, highly recommend it."
- Zonda Mercer, MD.
"This is the best course and instruction I've ever received on documentation. It's given me the framework/structure I've been looking for to conceptualize and help my client's and a sense of inner peace that gives me confidence in what I'm doing for my clients, myself, and for insurance. I no longer feel like I am floundering. I'd highly recommend this investment."
- Sara Karlich, LPC
"I am delighted that I no longer feel that being an intuitive, attuned therapist trained in the Internal Family Systems Model is a barrier for accomplishing this goal! This was in large part because of Beth’s ability to teach documentation skills with confidence, curiosity, compassion and a LOT of clarity! Thank you, Beth!"
- Debbie Armstrong, LICSW
"Huge thanks for the great workshop yesterday, Beth. It was a wonderful and worthwhile program, and we very much appreciated how smooth and easy you made the whole process. I know that I personally learned a lot and found your presentation style and organization really helpful. Evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. Here are a few of the comments that stood out to me:
--Such an anxiety-reducing course!
-- Lives up to the hype!
--Very informative and great that the presenter has such in-depth knowledge of therapy."
- Barbara Burka, LICSW,
Director of Clinical Practice and Therapy Matcher for NASW MA
"I want to personally say thank you! This was one of the best courses I have ever attended. As you indicated, unfortunately, we are not taught this invaluable information in our educational programs and this training has literally been life changing for me both personally and professionally. I truly appreciate the gift you are to the world and the profession. Please know that you are beyond appreciated."
- Jatera Maing
"In January I received notice of a Medicare audit of 40 claims (for 90834). I am in Florida. I got the results today - 0% error rate and no clawback. I used Beth's forms. Just wanted to share this good news with everyone. Thank you, Beth Rontal, for simplifying the process. The auditor had nothing to say except 'keep up the good documentation.' Yay!!"
-- Linda Brant, Ph.D.
"I attended Beth Rontal's workshop, Misery or Mastery: Documenting Medical Necessity, and it was extremely helpful for me, changing how I document for my clinical practice for good. I've been using her forms for the last few months and I must say, they've been quite helpful. My session notes force me to be shorter, sweeter and to the point; and I finish them in a few minutes. The intake form is also good for the same reason, and it covers many bases. Her training and her forms are worth every penny. Don't worry about the price - the quality of the forms and the training are priceless."
-- Po Wi
COST FOR LIVE MISERY OR MASTERY WEBINAR TRAINING
Registration: $387
6 CEs will be available at an additional cost of $25 paid upon registration for social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists and marriage and family therapists. CE Certificate will be available after LIVE Webinar. Participants must attend 100% of the program to earn 6 CEs approved for eligible professions. Please click here for accreditation by profession and state. It is up to each professional to determine if they are eligible for CEs. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE OUR CE APPROVALS MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS OF YOUR STATE LICENSING BOARD.
Get $60 OFF the Clinical Forms when you purchase them at the same time as your LIVE Training. That's almost 20% OFF the regular price!
Purchase your LIVE Training Webinar for Misery or Mastery
TODAY!
LIVE TRAINING WEBINAR
$387.00Add to cart
6 CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
$25.00Add to cart
CLINICAL FORMS*
GET $60 OFF
$287.00Add to cart
* Get $60 Off the regular $287.00 price for Clinical Forms when combined with your LIVE Webinar purchase TODAY! That's almost 20% OFF. Discount will show at CHECKOUT.
TARGET AUDIENCE
social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, creative arts therapists, addictions professionals, and other interested human service staff.
CONTENT LEVEL
Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced
TRAINING CEs
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Documentation Wizard (DD). Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Participants must attend 100% of the program to earn 6 CEs approved for eligible professions. Please click here for accreditation by profession and state. It is up to each professional to determine if they are eligible for CEs.
Here's Everything You'll Receive in
Misery or Mastery: Documenting Medical Necessity for Psychotherapists
#1: Five LIVE Zoom Training Modules with Beth Rontal, LICSW
On Friday, May 12, 2023
#2: Power Point Slide Deck
#3: Sample Treatment Plan and Sample Session Note
#4: Access to Video and Audio Recordings
PLUS
Bonus #1: 15% discount on all paperwork packages
That’s up to a $75 savings.
Bonus #2: A List of 101 Open Ended "Intervention Prompts"
Valued at $25.
Bonus #3: TWO 1-Hour Follow-up Q & As
A $450 value (but priceless if you have a pressing question!).
Bonus #4: All three No Surprises Act Templates
Attorney and bioethicist approved for psychotherapists!
Bonus #5: List of Client Strengths
Valued at $20.
Bonus #6: How to Catch up on Your Notes
Valued at $67.
Purchase your LIVE Training Webinar for Misery or Mastery
TODAY!
LIVE TRAINING WEBINAR
$387.00Add to cart
6 CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
$25.00Add to cart
CLINICAL FORMS*
GET $60 OFF
$287.00Add to cart
* Get $60 Off the regular $287.00 price for Clinical Forms when combined with your LIVE Webinar purchase TODAY! That's almost 20% OFF. Discount will show at CHECKOUT.
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
- Payment: by credit or debit card online only.
- During checkout you will enter your name and email to register for the training with Zoom.
- Email acknowledgments will be sent to confirm receipt of registration. If you don't see an email from support@documentationwizard.com or webmaster@documentationwizard.com, please check your junk mail.
- During checkout please be sure to check the box for our newsletter so you can receive the followup and reminder emails for the training.
- You'll also receive emails with reminders, how to access the Zoom webinar, and other important information needed for the training.
Yes, SIX (6) Continuing Education Credits are available to purchase with this LIVE Webinar.
Participants must attend 100% of the program to earn 6 CEs approved for eligible professions. Please click here for accreditation by profession and state. It is up to each professional to determine if they are eligible for CEs. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE OUR CE APPROVALS MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS OF YOUR STATE LICENSING BOARD.
Payments for the LIVE Webinar can be made with most credit or debit cards. We do not offer PAYPAL, Vemno, check, or a payment plan.
The price of the LIVE Webinar Training does NOT include CEs. Because of the cost of CEs to us and because some clinicians take the course without needing them, the CEs are a SEPARATE purchase from the LIVE Webinar Training.