942 ATTACHMENT AND BIOBEHAVIORAL CATCHUP

942.1 This rule shall govern the administration of Attachment and Biobehavioral Catchup (ABC) services under the District of Columbia Medicaid Program.

942.2 ABC is an evidence-based home-visiting program that targets key issues among parent(s) or caregiver(s) of infants and toddlers who have experienced early maltreatment and/or disruptions in parental care.

942.3 ABC services shall include counseling and education to help parent(s) or caregivers:

1. (a) Behave in nurturing ways when infants/toddlers are distressed;
2. (b) Target and understand infants/toddlers' self-regulatory issues;
3. (c) Create secure attachment with the infant/toddler; and
4. (d) Respond in ways to improve infant/toddler behavioral and biological regulation.

942.4 ABC shall be:

1. (a) Billed in one (1) hour units;
2. (b) Recommended by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts within their scope of practice under state law, pursuant to 42 C.F.R. § 440.130(c).
3. (c) Provided by Parent Coaches who meet the requirements outlined at Subsection 942.7.

942.5 Eligible beneficiaries, defined in Subsection 942.6 are limited to one (1) standard course of ABC per eligible child.

1. (a) The standard course of ABC services are one (1) hour sessions once a week for ten (10) weeks.
2. (b) The parent or caregiver must be present at each session.

942.6 In order to be eligible for ABC, a parent or caregiver receiving services must reside in the home, at least fifty percent (50%) of the time, with an infant or toddler that:

(a) Is an infant/toddler, as defined in this section;

(b) Has experienced or is at risk of experiencing, early maltreatment or disruption in care, which may include but is not limited to:

(1) Neglect and abuse;

(2) Involvement in foster care;

(3) Family risk factors such as homelessness;

(4) Residing in a home with interpersonal violence;

(5) Exposure to a caregiver with chemical dependence;

(6) Exposure to a caregiver with mental illness;

(7) Transition(s) between one (1) or more caregivers; and

(8) Socio-emotional or behavioral concerns.

942.7 Qualified Providers of ABC are Parent Coaches. Parent Coaches must:

(a) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;

(b) Possess at least a high school diploma or equivalent;

(c) Complete and possess a current certification from an ABC certification program approved by the Department of Health Care Finance;

(d) Be enrolled as a Medicaid provider pursuant to Chapter 94 of Title 29 DCMR; and,

(e) Comply with all provider screening and enrollment requirements set forth in Chapter 94 of Title 29 DCMR.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 50 DCR 8476 (October 10, 2003); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 2279 (March 7, 2008); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 851 (January 31, 2014); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 72 DCR 013719 (December 5, 2025).