Behavioral Health

Integrating behavioral and physical health

Members with behavioral health disorders may also experience physical health conditions that complicate the treatment and diagnosis of both behavioral and physical health conditions. AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana understands that coordination of care for these members is imperative. AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana's integrated health care management platform will, to the extent permissible under law, be delivered across the physical and behavioral health and social service spectrum.

AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana staff will work with the appropriate primary care provider and behavioral health providers to develop an integrated treatment plan for members in need of physical and behavioral health care coordination.

Care managers will also assure that communication between physical and behavioral health providers occurs routinely and, with appropriate consent, for all members with physical and behavioral health issues. Care managers will also work to coordinate with alcohol and drug use providers and community resources, as permitted under the law. Care managers will proactively and regularly follow-up on required physical and behavioral health services, joint treatment planning and provider-to-provider communication to ensure that members' needs are continuously reviewed, assessed, and documented in the treatment plan.

Learn more about our behavioral health programs and services

Become a participating provider

If you are interested in becoming a contracted behavioral health provider with AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, please reach out to your account executive for contracting and credentialing information.

Behavioral health resources

Behavioral Health-Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

As of March 1, 2025, DBT is a Medicaid-covered service with rates provided on the Specialized Behavioral Health Fee Schedule (Prior tthat date, DBT claims were reimbursed via temporary ARPA funding, which ended on February 28, 2025.

A DBT practitioner may receive reimbursement for the DBT service, when delivered as part of a DBT team that is:

  • Trained and qualified tdeliver DBT demonstrated by either:
    • Certification from the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification (DBT-LBC)
    • OBH-approved DBT qualification
    • Engaged consistently and in good standing in an OBH-sponsored DBT training program that will lead to an OBH-approved DBT qualification, following the agency and practitioner’s completion of the initial didactic training sessions, while in consultation with an OBH-approved DBT trainer
  • Following initial qualification to deliver DBT, the team also must complete periodic fidelity reviews
  • Only direct staff face-to-face time with the individual or family may be billed 
  • DBT is a face-to-face intervention with the individual present.
  • Telehealth delivery is allowed if it includes synchronous, interactive, real-time electronic communication comprising both audio and visual elements
  • Services provided using telehealth must be identified on claims submission by appending the modifier “95” to the applicable procedure code and indicating the correct place of service, either POS 02 (other than home) or 10 (home)
  • The DBT model is delivered in three modalities:
    • Individual therapy
    • DBT skills training group sessions
    • Therapeutic coaching (24-hour availability), not billed
  • The group therapy session must be co-led by two DBT practitioners, and must be delivered for a minimum of 90 minutes; in standard practice, the DBT skills training group typically has a duration of 120-150 minutes
  • For DBT skills training groups, which are co-led by two practitioners; one practitioner submits the group therapy claim for a client, with progress notes to be co-signed by both group co-leaders
  • The co-leader of the DBT skills training group who does not submit the claim may not have completed the DBT qualification, but must complete initial DBT didactic training within six months of beginning to co-lead DBT skills training groups.

Billing guidelines

  • H2021- DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, INDIVIDUAL (Per Visit)
  • H2021 with HQ modifier- DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, GROUP (Per Visit)
  • Age Range 0+
  • Degree level modifiers are required according to the SBH Fee Schedule
  • PLPCs/PLMFTs and LMSWs may be rendering providers only for DOS on or after August 1, 2024. They must not bill independently.

Billing and claims

Psychosocial rehabilitation services (PSR) materials

AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana recommends the websites listed below as resources for skill-building manuals, protocols, and workbooks. AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana will not recommend specific skill-building materials as it is the provider's responsibility to thoroughly evaluate each member and develop an individualized treatment plan with input from the member. The treatment plan should identify the symptoms and/or behaviors that require PSR interventions. The provider should then select skill-building materials that help a member attain treatment goals for each symptom and/or behavior.

Workbooks and games for ages 0 to 18

Mental health workbooks

We also recommend searching Amazon or other mental health professional sites for other available resources.

Complete the Behavioral Health Training Attestation Form

Network monitoring elements

Specialized behavioral health credentialing packet

Provider toolkits

Quality monitoring elements