Clinician MH-PHP

The MH-PHP Clinician is responsible for providing clinical oversight and direct clinical services within Team Services’ Mental Health Partial Hospitalization Program (MH-PHP). This position ensures that all clinical services are delivered in accordance with Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) licensing requirements, Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) regulations, Medicaid medical necessity criteria, and applicable clinical documentation standards.

The clinician will oversee the clinical integrity of the program, facilitate therapeutic interventions, complete clinical assessments, develop and review individualized treatment plans, and ensure clients receive appropriate services based on their identified behavioral health needs.

The position requires an individual who can maintain strong clinical oversight while supporting daily program operations, staff communication, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Clinical Oversight and Treatment * Provide clinical oversight of all MH-PHP treatment activities. * Ensure clients meet DMAS medical necessity and admission criteria. * Complete or oversee comprehensive clinical assessments and diagnostic evaluations within professional scope. * Develop, approve, and review individualized treatment plans. * Ensure treatment goals are measurable, clinically appropriate, and tied to identified behavioral health needs. * Monitor client progress and determine when continued treatment, step-down, discharge, or referral is clinically appropriate. * Coordinate psychiatric oversight and medication management as part of the treatment program.

2. Daily Clinical Programming * Oversee the development and implementation of the daily PHP clinical schedule. * Ensure structured therapeutic programming is provided, including individual therapy, group therapy, psychoeducation, and other clinically appropriate interventions. * Facilitate or oversee therapeutic groups. * Ensure programming meets the minimum 20 hours per week of skilled treatment services. * Maintain an organized and consistent treatment environment. * Coordinate with nursing and other clinical professionals to address client needs.

3. DBHDS and DMAS Compliance * Maintain compliance with applicable DBHDS licensing regulations under 12VAC35-105. * Ensure services meet DMAS Mental Health Services Manual requirements, particularly Appendix F for MH-PHP. * Monitor medical necessity, service authorization, and continued stay documentation. * Ensure clinical records support the services billed. * Maintain timely assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, clinical reviews, and discharge summaries. * Ensure staff credentials, training, and supervision documentation are maintained. * Participate in regulatory reviews, audits, corrective action plans, and quality improvement activities.

4. Staff Coordination and Clinical Direction * Provide clinical direction to assigned PHP clinical personnel within the clinician’s scope and qualifications. * Coordinate with the Program Director and administrative leadership regarding staffing and program operations. * Ensure clinical staff understand documentation expectations and treatment standards. * Review clinical performance and identify training needs. * Maintain communication with nursing, psychiatric providers, and other members of the treatment team.

5. Quality Assurance and Documentation * Conduct routine clinical chart reviews. * Identify deficiencies in documentation and implement corrective action. * Ensure notes reflect actual interventions, client responses, progress toward treatment goals, and continued medical necessity. * Monitor treatment plan updates and required clinical reviews. * Prevent billing discrepancies by ensuring documentation accurately supports the service provided., * Maintain consistent clinical oversight of the MH-PHP program. * Ensure all clients have current and clinically appropriate treatment plans. * Ensure the program maintains its required weekly treatment hours. * Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation. * Support successful admissions and appropriate discharge planning. * Maintain readiness for DBHDS inspections and DMAS/MCO audits. * Identify compliance concerns before they become regulatory or financial issues. * Provide leadership with regular updates regarding census, clinical operations, staffing, and program performance.

Regulatory Reference and Program Standards

The position must be aligned with the following:

Regulatory area

Standard

DBHDS

12VAC35-105 licensing requirements

Service definition

MH-PHP minimum 20 hours weekly

DMAS

Mental Health Services Manual, Appendix F

Billing

H0035

Medical necessity

Initial and continued stay requirements

Clinical oversight

Physician direction and psychiatric oversight

Documentation

Assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, reviews and discharge documentation

Sources: DBHDS Service Definitions · DMAS Mental Health Services Manual · DMAS Appendix F Updates.

Organizational Expectations at Team Services

The clinician is expected to take ownership of the clinical component of the PHP program. This includes ensuring the program is not simply operating as a structured day program, but is delivering medically necessary, clinically supported treatment consistent with the level of care.

The clinician will work collaboratively with the Program Director and executive leadership to ensure:

• Clinical services are delivered consistently.
• Admissions meet appropriate medical necessity criteria.
• Treatment programming is structured and documented.
• Staff are following established clinical expectations.
• Regulatory and payer compliance remain a priority.
• The program maintains sustainable census growth without compromising quality of care.

Important distinction: The clinician’s license, scope of practice, and supervisory authority must be verified against DBHDS requirements and applicable DMAS and MCO contracts. The organization should also identify the physician responsible for the required physician direction and psychiatric oversight.

Overall Goal: Establish a clinically sound, fully operational MH-PHP program that meets DBHDS and DMAS expectations while maintaining quality treatment, proper documentation, and sustainable program growth.

Pay: $65,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

• Active Virginia clinical license appropriate to the position, such as LPC, LCSW, or LMFT.
• Experience providing behavioral health treatment in an outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, or inpatient setting.
• Knowledge of Virginia DBHDS licensing regulations and DMAS Medicaid requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with clinical assessments, treatment planning, group therapy, and clinical documentation.
• Ability to oversee interdisciplinary clinical programming.
• Strong understanding of medical necessity, utilization review, and clinical quality assurance.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.