1. (1) To bill and receive reimbursement for services rendered by an in-training mental health professional, a provider must be a licensed mental health center or meet the criteria outlined in this rule.

2. (2) For the purposes of this rule:

   1. (a) "Face-to-face" has the meaning provided in ARM 24.219.301.
   2. (b) "In-training mental health professional" refers to an individual providing in-training mental health professional services, as that term is defined in this rule.

   3. (c) "In-training mental health professional services" refers to services provided by a candidate for licensure who:

      1. (i) has completed all academic requirements for licensure as a psychological resident (as defined in ARM 24.189.301(8)), licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, or licensed marriage and family therapist;
      2. (ii) is under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional approved by the candidate's licensing board;
      3. (iii) is in the process of completing the supervised experience requirement for licensure, in accordance with ARM Title 24, chapter 189 or 219; and
      4. (iv) has an approved supervision plan through the candidate's licensing board.

3. (3) The provider's practice setting must:

   1. (a) provide medication management;
   2. (b) provide outpatient mental health services; and

   3. (c) provide crisis telephone services that comply with the following requirements:

      1. (i) the service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week;
      2. (ii) an answering service or unlicensed employees may answer calls and transfer calls to individuals trained to respond to crisis calls;

      3. (iii) written policies and procedures that include:

         1. (A) training requirements for individuals responding to crisis calls;
            
         2. (B) a policy requiring a mental health professional to be on-site for consultation and backup for unlicensed individuals receiving crisis calls; and
            
         3. (C) utilization of community resources.
   4. (d) employ or contract with a licensed health care professional who is licensed to prescribe medication for mental health/behavioral health disorders;
   5. (e) employ or contract with the licensed mental health professional who is approved by the candidate's licensing board to serve as supervisor to the candidate; and
   6. (f) have at least one licensed mental health professional on-site or available for face-to-face supervision of the candidate when the supervisor is not available.
4. (4) The supervisor must provide face-to-face supervision of the licensure candidate in accordance with the licensure board's approved supervision plan and as needed. The designated supervisor must be a supervisor of record with the candidate's licensing board and have assumed responsibility for the candidate's continued training and for services provided by the candidate.
5. (5) The provider must provide professional liability insurance for the candidate's professional services.
6. (6) An in-training mental health professional may not engage in independent practice.

Authorizing statute(s): 53-2-201, 53-6-113, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 53-2-201, 53-6-101, 53-6-111, 53-6-113, MCA

History: NEW, 2024 MAR p. 2014, Eff. 8/10/24.