Frequently Asked Questions

All information below is based on Apollo’s specific experience with ARMHS, and may not reflect official ARMHS statutory or industry standards. Apollo is not liable for any losses incurred based on this information. Please contact either DHS and/or the relevant insurance providers directly to obtain official information about providing ARMHS.

An ARMHS clinic is a business that has been authorized by the State of Minnesota to provide ARMHS services, and to bill those services to the state Medical Assistance (MA) insurance or one of the privately run state Pre-Paid Medical Assistance Plans (PMAPs).

Yes, as long as your business is structured correctly, and your staff and services meet all statutory criteria so auditors can’t claim you failed to perform to those standards.

From applying to the state for your business to having an ARMHS clinic able to serve clients with all private insurers will take a minimum of 9 months.

No. You can have the business based out of your home, with all services provided to clients in their home, community, and by telemedicine.

  1. Minnesota State Medical Assistance – (Required by all ARMHS providers)
  2. Blue Cross Blue Shield – (Metro & Greater MN)
  3. Health Partners – (Metro & Greater MN)
  4. Hennepin Health – (Metro only)
  5. Optum/Medica/United Health – (Metro & Greater MN)
  6. UCare – (Metro & Greater MN)
  7. Itasca Medical Care – (Itasca County only)
  8. Prime West Health – (South East MN only)
  9. South Country Health Alliance – (Greater MN only)
  1. Informed Consent & Privacy
  2. Diagnostic Assessment – (Including Whodas 12 and Cage-Aid)
  3. Functional Assessment
  4. Individual Treatment Plan
  5. Progress Note
  6. Discharge Summary
  7. Crisis Recovery Plan
  8. Release of Information
  9. Clinical Supervision Note
  1. No, ARMHS CANNOT bill to provide transportation for clients.  All services billed must be documented as rehabilitation of the client’s functional impairments identified in the FA and detailed in the ITP, and any documentation of ARMHS providing transportation for clients will be at risk of not meeting criteria for payment.
  1. Connecting with Case Managers such as:
    1. Avivo
    2. Catholic Charities
    3. Genevieve
    4. Hospitals (they have social workers who make referrals)
    5. Lutheran Social Services
    6. Vail Place
  2. Advertising directly to anyone who qualifies for Medical Assistance, such as at:
    1. Assisted Living Homes
    2. Charities
    3. Food Shelves
    4. Group Homes
    5. Religious organizations
    6. Substance use treatment centers

Site Visits are conducted by OIG usually within 30 days of your business’ completed application for Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) which is required to be authorized by the state to bill MA.  During the visit OIG will:

  1. Ask for official identification of all owners and staff with executive control (including the clinical supervisor).
  2. Take pictures of the office location.
  3. Request documentation for policies and procedures
  4. Request verbal confirmation from the relevant parties for legal responsibility for billing and clinical services.

ARMHS providers are required to submit to MHIS significant demographic information on all clients twice a year in January and July.  Please follow the link for more information https://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=mhis_home

  1. Records for clients either selected by the auditor or by your company to ensure they meet all criteria.
  2. Records for all staff for verification of qualifications
  3. Records of the companies Quality Assurance Plan

1. Have at least 2000 hours of experience providing services to those dealing with mental illness.
or
2. Currently in or graduated from a Master’s level internship relevant to mental health.

  1. Licensed Clinicians can create:
    1. Diagnostic Assessments
    2. Functional Assessments
    3. Individual Treatment Plans
    4. Basic Living and Social Skills
  2. Mental Health Practitioners can create:
    1. Functional Assessments
    2. Individual Treatment Plans
    3. Basic Living and Social Skills
  1. Not knowing how to bill correctly
  2. Not budgeting for the lag in billing services, paying staff, and getting reimbursed by insurers.
  3. Not enforcing required staff hiring qualifications, ongoing training, and treatment supervision.
  4. Not meeting standards for documentation of services or documentation being out of date.

Code

Description

Unit

90785

Interactive Complexity – Add on

Add on to 90791

90791

Diagnostic Assessment – Standard

1 session

90837

Individual Psychotherapy 53 mins

1 session

H0031

Functional Assessment

1 session

H0032

Individual Treatment Plan

1 session

H0046

Travel

1 minute

H2017

Social and Living Skills

15 minutes

90882

Community Intervention

1 session