Behavioral Health

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is formally launching its school-based mental health services initiative effective July 1, 2022. The SCDHHS policy changes announced in this bulletin are consistent with the recommendations made by SCDHHS to improve access to school-based mental health services for children across the state.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is announcing updates to several behavioral health policies. The updates are described below and are effective for dates of service beginning July 1, 2022.  

Change in the Child and Adolescent Level of Care Utilization System (CALOCUS) Guidance

During the initial response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) announced dozens of temporary policy changes designed to ensure ongoing access to care for Healthy Connections Medicaid members and children enrolled in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part C program, which is commonly known as BabyNet. The majority of these policy changes were issued using emergency authorities derived from the federal public health emergency (PHE) and were issued for the duration of the federal PHE.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will increase the reimbursement rate for all contracting Medicaid PRTFs to $500 per patient day for services provided to South Carolina Medicaid-eligible children. The change is being made in order to address the impact of market forces affecting the South Carolina Medicaid PRTF program and will be effective for dates of service on and after April 1, 2022.

Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will increase the reimbursement rates for the services and supplies mentioned below. These rate increases apply to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes included in this bulletin.

Incontinence Supplies

SCDHHS will increase the reimbursement rates for incontinence supplies billed using the HCPCS codes listed below by 10%.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is announcing updates to two behavioral health policies. The updates are described below along with their effective dates.  SCDHHS is also announcing a new supplement to three behavioral health provider manuals.

Progress Summaries for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)