(1) The department will not reimburse providers for two services that duplicate one another on the same day.

(2) The department will reimburse providers of Medicaid mental health youth services if they meet the prior authorization or continued stay review requirements specified in the Children's Mental Health Medicaid Services Provider Manual, referenced in (7).

(3) Youth are not required to have a serious emotional disturbance to receive the following outpatient therapy services:

(a) the first 24 sessions of individual, family, or both outpatient therapies per state fiscal year. Group outpatient therapy is not included in the 24-session limit; and

(b) group outpatient therapy.

(4) The department may waive a requirement for prior authorization or continued authorization when the provider submits documentation that:

(a) there was a clinical reason why the request for prior authorization or continued authorization could not be made at the required time, and the provider submitted a subsequent authorization request within ten business days; or

(b) a timely request for prior authorization or continued authorization was not possible because of an equipment failure or malfunction of the department or its designee that prevented the transmittal of the request at the required time and the provider submitted a subsequent authorization request within ten business days.

(5) In computing any time period specified in this subchapter, every day is counted, including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. If the last day falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day.

(6) If the department finds exceptional circumstances that reasonably justify a provider's failure to timely request prior authorization or continued authorization, it may extend the deadline for meeting the requirement.

(7) In addition to the requirements contained in rule, the department has developed and published a provider manual entitled Children's Mental Health Medicaid Services Provider Manual (manual), dated May 12, 2023, for the purpose of implementing requirements for utilization management. The department adopts and incorporates by reference the Children's Mental Health Medicaid Services Provider Manual, dated May 12, 2023. A copy of the manual may be obtained at https://dphhs.mt.gov/bhdd/cmb/Manuals.

(8) The department may review the medical necessity of services or items at any time either before or after payment in accordance with the provisions of ARM 37.85.410. If the department determines that services or items were not medically necessary or were otherwise not in compliance with applicable requirements, the department may deny payment or may recover any overpayment in accordance with applicable requirements.

(9) The department or its designee may require providers to report outcome data or measures regarding mental health services, as determined in consultation with providers and interested persons.