Behavioral health and addiction treatment providers face many complexities. Clients often present with a variety of concurrent conditions. Treatment plans may involve multiple providers recommending various long-term solutions. This can also make documentation and billing more complex for behavioral health and addiction treatment. Additional complications come from the use of multiple documentation codes. This primarily…
The SOAP (subjective, objective, assessment, and plan) note is one of the most commonly used forms of documentation in the healthcare industry today. Changing needs and increasing complexity in medical care have prompted questions about SOAP’s ongoing relevance. With the appropriate EHR integration, SOAP remains useful for current healthcare needs. History and Origins of the…
Healthcare leaders frequently use the term “population health management,” despite persistent confusion about what it means and how it is applied. Here we offer the basics of population health management and what it means for your behavioral health practice. What is population health management? Despite its widespread use, many experts disagree on the precise definition…
Not all electronic health record (EHR) software solutions are created equal. As a substance abuse professional, you should be able to choose a software solution that has your specialty and facility’s specific needs in mind. Here are six things to look for in a substance abuse EHR: 1. Designed for Substance Abuse Substance abuse professionals…
When addiction treatment professionals are able to follow a client from intake through different services and treatments to an outcome, they are said to be following a “Golden Thread” of information. This Golden Thread should be able to “pull” relevant client data from one service or stage of treatment to the next. Proper documentation and…
Sending offenders to rehab instead of prison could have numerous benefits, some research suggests. Drug and alcohol rehabilitation may provide some relief for the ongoing opioid crisis, prison overpopulation, and rising government debt. Drug rehab and addiction treatment for offenders saves money for communities and individuals. An estimated 50 percent of the U.S. prison population…
As opioid overdose plagues many areas of the United States, addiction treatment remains out of reach for many individuals. The result is a growing black market for buprenorphine, used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Buprenorphine in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) MAT combines prescribed medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to help treat opioid use disorders (OUD). The…
Did you know there’s an association for EHR developers in the United States? When looking for an EHR provider, there are good reasons to first consider a member of the Electronic Health Record Association (EHRA). What is EHRA? The EHRA was created in 2004 to help EHR developers collaborate and resolve common concerns among their…
As behavioral health and addiction treatment gets more attention across the nation, Idaho is taking steps to tackle mental health issues. Here’s the latest behavioral-health news across the state. Idaho Receives “F” Grade for Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment Coverage Idaho has received an “F” on compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity…
In October 2018, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and the accreditation nonprofit CARF International (CARF) announced a partnership to launch a pilot program for certification of addiction treatment programs. The pilot program will assess treatment programs on their ability to adhere to a specific level of care, based on ASAM criteria. To start,…