Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) IEP Services Provided in School

Revised: January 13, 2025

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· Overview

· Eligible Providers

· Eligible Members

· Covered Services

· Covered Evaluations, Reevaluations and Assessments

· Billing

· Resources

· Legal References

Overview

CTSS is a package of mental health services available for eligible children who require varying therapeutic and rehabilitative levels of interventions. CTSS addresses the conditions of a diagnosed emotional disturbance that impairs or interferes with a child’s ability to function independently.

Reimbursed IEP or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) mental health services are available through the CTSS benefit. Mental health services within an IEP or IFSP are covered when medically necessary and provided by qualified providers.

To be eligible for federal reimbursement for school-based CTSS, the service must be provided through the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) CTSS program.

Eligible Providers

Schools or school-contracted providers seeking reimbursement for CTSS mental health services within the IEP or IFSP must be certified CTSS providers.

CTSS providers are schools that are certified to provide CTSS services to students. CTSS services specified in an IEP or IFSP may be provided directly by mental health professionals and practitioners employed by the school, or the school may contract with certified community CTSS providers to deliver the services recommended by the IEP or IFSP.

Review the Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) webpage for more information.

If your school does not want to provide CTSS mental health or mental health services in special education (MH-SPED) , but plans to bill Medical Assistance (MA) for IEP or IFSP mental health evaluations, providers must complete and submit the Notice of Intent to bill for IEP Mental Health Evaluations (DHS-7840) (PDF) to the email address on the form. If you plan on billing MA for IEP mental health evaluations even if you will not provide mental health services available through the CTSS or mental health services in special education (MH-SPED) services benefit., you must submit the Notice of Intent to bill for IEP Mental Health Evaluations (DHS-7840) (PDF) to the email address on the form

If your school completed a certified CTSS community providers application in the past and has billed for IEP or IFSP evaluations, no action is needed iIf your school completed a certified CTSS community providers application in the past and has billed for IEP or IFSP evaluations.

Note: Districts may apply for a different option at any time. Schools certified to provide CTSS services do not have to complete the Notice of Intent to bill for IEP Mental Health Evaluations (DHS-7840) or IFSP evaluation.

Eligible Members

· Must be under 22 years old or have not graduated from the 12th grade

· Must have a current IEP or IFSP that identifies the covered IEP health-related service to be provided

· Must be actively enrolled in one of the following Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) major program codes:

· Medical Assistance (MA)

· NM – These covered services are similar to MA services for certain non-citizens and children with Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility types CB (infants from birth to 2 years old) or PC (pregnant people)

· Refugee Medical Assistance (RM)

Refer to MHCP Eligible Children under the IEP Services section in the MHCP Provider Manual for eligibility details.

Covered Services

CTSS eligible services include the following:  

· Psychotherapy

· Skills training

· Crisis planning

· Mental health behavioral aide services

· Direction of a mental health behavioral aide

· Mental health service plan development

· Children's day treatment

Refer to the Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) in the MHCP Provider Manual for information about provider qualifications, eligible recipients, covered services and requirements.

Refer to the IEP Services Providers section in the MHCP Provider Manual for more information about Covered and Noncovered IEP Health-Related services.

Covered Evaluations, Reevaluations and Assessments for IEP or IFSP

Diagnostic Assessments (DA) for CTSS services

· DA are used to establish a child’s medical necessity for CTSS services under the CTSS benefit.

· Only a mental health professional or a clinical trainee can complete aspects of the diagnostic assessment.

· Refer to Diagnostic Assessment under the Mental Health Services section of the MHCP Provider Manual for detailed information

Refer to Covered and Noncovered IEP Health-Related Services under the IEP Services section in the MHCP Provider Manual for more information on documentation and billing requirements. IEP and IFSP mental health evaluations, reevaluations and assessments.

These assessments are used to determine special education eligibility and to identify the health-related services needed for a child’s IEP or IFSP.

IEP or IFSP mental health evaluations may be provided by the following:

· Licensed school psychologists – licensed by the board of teaching (Minnesota Rules, 8710.6200)

· Licensed mental health professionals – (Minnesota Statutes, 245.462, subdivision 18)

· Clinical mental health trainees working under the supervision of a mental health professional (Minnesota Statutes, 245.462, subdivision 17)

Review the information in the IEP Services section of the Provider Manual under Covered and Noncovered IEP Health-Related Services. Also refer to the section Initial Evaluations, Reevaluations and Health-Related Assessments for more information.

Billing

Schools may bill for the time spent for service plan development and outcomes and measures reporting as part of the mental health service when applicable.

Review the IEP Billing and Authorization Requirements for more information about billing for CTSS services.

Resources

Minnesota Health Care Programs acronyms webpage.

Legal References

Minnesota Statutes, 245.462 (Definitions)
Minnesota Statutes, 256B.0625, subdivision 26 (Covered Services – Special education services)
Minnesota Statues, 256B.0943 (CTSS)
Minnesota Rules, 9505.2175 (Documentation)