Reimbursement Available for Safety Planning and Follow-up Interventions

Practice

Effective Jan. 1, clinical social workers are able to seek reimbursement for safety planning and follow-up interventions. Establishment of these payment services is an important step by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to help address increases in suicides and overdoses, said Mirean Coleman, LICSW, director of clinical practice at NASW.

A safety planning intervention involves working with a patient to develop a personalized list of coping and response strategies, and sources of support to use when experiencing thoughts of harm to themselves or others, Coleman notes. “It is not a suicide risk assessment, but an intervention provided with a patient who may have an elevated risk for suicide.”

Safety planning intervention also is used to reduce the risk of overdose. Components of a safety plan include the following:

• Engaging the patient in the identification of personalized elements of a safety plan.
• Recognizing warning signs of an impending suicidal or substance use-related crisis.
• Employing internal coping and response strategies.
• Using social contacts and settings as a means of distraction to reduce suicidal thoughts or risky substance use.
• Involving family members and significant others to help resolve the crisis.
• Making referrals to appropriate crisis services and community organizations.
• Creating a safe environment, including restricting access to lethal means.

Learn more: socialworkers.org/Practice/Tips-and-Tools-for-Social-Workers