Health, Department of

Mental Health Division

Chapter 13: Bereavement Counseling

Effective Date: 03/20/2007 to Current

Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations

Reference Number: 048.0039.13.03202007

RULE AND REGULATIONS FOR

Wyoming Mental Health Division Bereavement Counseling CHAPTER 13

Section 1. Authority.

These rules and regulations are promulgated by the Department of Health pursuant to 2006 Budget Session Law, Chapter 40, Section 5, Enrolled Act No. 0021 to establish bereavement counseling rules for the payment of bereavement counseling services provided to surviving family members of deceased emergency responders who died while in the performance of their official duties responding to a civil or military emergency, or natural or human caused disaster.

Section 2. Purpose and Applicability.

(a) These rules have been adopted to ensure the availability of bereavement counseling services to the target population. These rules will establish a process by which funds authorized for bereavement counseling may be distributed and ensure quality care is provided.

(b) The Department may issue provider manuals, provider bulletins, or both, to interpret the provisions of these rules and regulations. Such provider manuals and provider bulletins shall be consistent with and reflect the policies contained in these rules and regulations. The provisions contained in provider manuals or provider bulletins shall be subordinate to the provisions of these rules and regulations.

(c) The incorporation by reference of any external standard is intended to be the incorporation of that standard as it is in effect on the effective date of these rules and regulations.

Section 3. Severability.

If any portion of these rules is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall continue in effect.

Section 4. Definitions.

The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of these rules. Where the context in which words are used in these rules indicates that such is the intent, words in the singular number shall include the plural and visa versa. Throughout these rules gender pronouns are used interchangeably, except where the context dictates otherwise. The drafters have attempted to utilize each gender pronoun in equal numbers, in random distribution. Words in each gender shall include individuals of the other gender.

For the purpose of these rules, the following shall apply:

(a) “Bereavement counseling” means focused individual or group therapy or interaction designed to mitigate the effects of traumatic events resulting from a civil or military emergency, or a natural or human caused disaster.

(b) “Civil or military emergency” means an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action.

“Emergency responder” means any Wyoming:

(i) Peace officer who has qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-709;

(ii) Firefighter working for a paid or volunteer fire department;

(iii) Emergency medical technician certified under W.S. 33-36-110 and working for a private or volunteer ambulance service, but not including employees of industrial ambulance services except when responding to assist in a civil or military emergency or a natural or human caused disaster.

(d) “Qualified provider” means a private, not-for-profit agency providing mental health services under contract with the Mental Health Division (MHD) that is nationally accredited to provided outpatient mental health services and who is certified by the Mental Health Division as meeting all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations and standards for mental health service delivery under the Rules and Regulations of the Division of Behavioral Health.

Section 5. General Provisions.

(a) Qualified providers are eligible to receive funding for bereavement counseling.

(b) Upon providing bereavement services, qualified providers must submit, on a form prescribed by the MHD, information describing the services provided, and information verifying that services were rendered to individuals of the target population. Services will be paid at the rate MHD has assigned to services under its contract with the provider.

(c) The Department of Health will verify that professional bereavement counseling services were provided through the review of client files and billing records.

(d) All other contract requirements are governed by current Rules already in place for the Department of Health, Rules and Regulations of the Division of Behavioral Health, Chapter I-XII.