D.C. Mun. Regs. r. 22-A6342

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 25, June 21, 2024

Rule 22-A6342 - CORE SERVICE: SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER COUNSELING/THERAPY

6342.1

SUD Counseling/Therapy includes Individual, Family, and Group, and enhanced with Group-Psychoeducation Counseling.

6342.2

SUD Counseling/Therapy shall be provided in certified SUD treatment programs or community settings.

6342.3

Qualified Practitioners of SUD Counseling/Therapy are:

(a) Physicians;

(b) Psychologists;

(c) LICSWs;

(d) LGSWs;

(e) APRNs;

(f) LISWs;

(g) LPCs;

(h) LGPCs;

(i) Psychology Associates;

(j) LMFTs; and

(k) CACs I and II.

6342.4

Individual SUD Counseling/Therapy is a face-to-face service for symptom and behavior management, development, restoration, or enhancement of adaptive behaviors and skills, and enhancement or maintenance of daily living skills to facilitate long-term recovery.

6342.5

Individual SUD Counseling/Therapy addresses the specific issues identified in the Plan of Care. Individual counseling/therapy shall:

(a) Be documented in an encounter note; and

(b) Not be conducted within the same or overlapping time period as Medication Management.

6342.6

Group Counseling/Therapy includes Cognitive Behavioral Groups, Support Groups, and Interpersonal Process Groups. Cognitive Behavioral Groups have a trained facilitator utilizing a specific therapeutic model to alter thoughts and actions that lead to substance use. Support Groups up lift members and provide a forum to share pragmatic information about managing day to day life. Interpersonal Process Groups delve into major developmental issues that contribute to SUD or interfere with recovery.

6342.7

The following provisions apply to Group SUD Counseling:

(a) Group SUD Counseling/Therapy addresses the specific issues identified in the Plan of Care;

(b) The focus of the group SUD Counseling/Therapy session shall be driven by the participants;

(c) A maximum of fifteen (15) individuals may participate in a single group SUD counseling/therapy session; and

(d) Group SUD Counseling/Therapy shall not be billed during recreational activities.

6342.8

Group SUD Counseling-Psychoeducation promotes help-seeking and supportive behaviors by working in partnership with clients to impart current information and facilitate group discussion through lecture, audio-visual presentations, handouts, etc. This service assists with developing coping skills that support recovery and encourage problem-solving strategies for managing issues posed by SUDs, and presents structured, group specific content taught by a trained facilitator. This service should also provide education about HIV, STDs, and other infectious diseases, though clients are not required to have one of these diseases to receive this education. Psychoeducational groups provide information designed to have a direct application to clients' lives that include but are not limited to developing self-awareness, suggesting options for growth and change, identifying community resources that can assist clients in recovery, developing an understanding of the process of recovery, and encouraging clients to take action on their own behalf toward recovery.

6342.9

Group Counseling-Psychoeducation requires the following:

(a) The subject of the counseling must be relevant to the client's needs as identified in his or her Plan of Care;

(b) This service must include facilitated group discussion of the relevant topic or topics;

(c) An encounter note for each participant shall be completed, which includes the client's response to the group; and

(d) A maximum of thirty (30) clients may participate in a single session.

6342.10

Family Counseling/Therapy is a planned, goal-oriented therapeutic interaction between a Qualified Practitioner and the client's family, with or without the client present. The aim of Family Counseling/Therapy is to improve the client's functioning with his or her family and to cultivate the awareness, skills, and supports to facilitate long term recovery. Family Counseling/Therapy must address specific issues identified in the Plan of Care. The following provisions apply to Family Counseling/Therapy:

(a) Family Counseling/Therapy shall be documented using an encounter note; if the client is not present for the service, the note must explain how the session benefits the client;

(b) A service encounter note documenting Family Counseling/Therapy shall clearly state the relationship of the participant(s) to the client; and

(c) Family Counseling/Therapy participants other than the client must meet the definition of "family member" in § 6351.

6342.11 Deleted

D.C. Mun. Regs. r. 22-A6342

Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 12056 (9/4/2015); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 11585 ( 10/9/2020); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 68 DCR 012400 (11/26/2021)