Behavioral health supervisory protocol for LCSWs and post-doctorate clinicians
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Governs submission and approval of supervisory protocols allowing Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Post Doctorate Clinicians to render outpatient behavioral health services under a BCBSRI‑credentialed supervising clinician; affects BCBSRI credentialed outpatient professional providers and their supervisees.
No material clinical or coverage changes in this revision.
Supervised Outpatient Service Coverage
Supervised outpatient service coverage criteria
Covered when ALL of the following are met:
Claim Modifiers and Submission Rules
| HO | Modifier to indicate services rendered by an LCSW |
| HP | Modifier to indicate services rendered by a Post Doctorate Clinician |
Provider Submission, Preauthorization, and Documentation
Preauthorization and supervisory protocol submission — notify Behavioral Health and submit protocol for approval
Notification of admission or preauthorization may be required for some behavioral health outpatient professional services; contact BCBSRI's Behavioral Health Utilization Management at 800-274-2958. Credentialed outpatient professional providers must submit a supervisory protocol and receive BCBSRI approval prior to a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Post Doctorate Clinician rendering any services for reimbursement. Submit all supervisory protocols to Behavioralhealth@bcbsri.org and include a cover sheet with: (1) documentation that the supervising clinician is credentialed with BCBSRI; (2) a written clinic supervisory policy; (3) the process by which the supervising clinician reviews patient documentation (assessment, treatment plan, and any diagnosis changes) and documents patient awareness that a non‑credentialed clinician is providing services; (4) the process for regular supervisor–supervisee meetings per Rhode Island Department of Health guidelines; (5) Tax ID; and (6) National Provider Identifier.
- Contact Behavioral Health Utilization Management for prior authorization questions: 800-274-2958.
- Send supervisory protocol and required documentation to Behavioralhealth@bcbsri.org before services are rendered.
- Include supervising clinician BCBSRI credential documentation, clinic supervisory policy, supervisor review process for patient records, evidence patient was informed, schedule for regular supervision, Tax ID, and NPI.
Key Definitions
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