CBH Practitioner Conection
Volume XXIV, 4th Quarter

How To Increase CBH Referrals

At CIGNA Behavioral Health (CBH), we value our partnership with our participating practitioners. Ensuring that you receive the kind of referrals that suit your clinical strengths is of the utmost importance to us. To achieve this, you have the ability to modify your profile information to increase or shape the type of behavioral care referrals directed to you.

Updating Demographic/Specialty Information

Keeping information such as your office address and telephone number current with CBH is essential to the referral process. You should verify your demographic information periodically to ensure its accuracy. Along with the demographic information, you should also verify or update your specialty information on a regular basis. An incomplete or inaccurate list of specialties may have a negative impact on the number of referrals you receive. By updating specialties on a regular basis, you are ensuring that any referrals made will be align with your clinical expertise. You can verify and update your specialty and/or demographic information at www.cignabehavioral.com or by contacting your local Professional Relations Department.

Providing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Services

Participating practitioners can expand their practice by providing EAP services. The basic EAP service typically includes three (3) EAP sessions for the purpose of assessment and referral. If a participant needs additional treatment after EAP services have concluded, you can refer the CBH participant to yourself, as long as the participant has mental health benefits available through CBH. If you are interested in providing EAP services, the EAP specialty can be added to your profile. This EAP specialty will be used as part of the search criteria whenever a participant calls in requesting an EAP authorization.

In addition to assessment & referral, the EAP also includes other specialized services which require special training and certification. Those who have received training on Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) or are certified Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP) can submit copies of training certificates to their local Provider Education Specialist. Providing these specialized EAP services can be a successful way for you to expand your practice.

Crisis Stabilization, Intermediate Care, and Meet & Greet Services

Participating practitioners can also provide specialized appointments to participants who are currently hospitalized or in need of an escalated referral. Participants who call in with an escalated situation may be referred to a crisis appointment (within 6 hours of initial phone call) or an intermediate care appointment (within 48 hours of initial phone call). A care manager screens the call to determine the appropriate level of care needed by the participant, and authorizes the service accordingly.

Participants who are currently hospitalized may benefit from Meet & Greet services. In a Meet & Greet, a participating therapist is sent to a facility to “meet and greet” the participant while they are still hospitalized. Meet & Greet services do not require any type of therapy, assessments, or clinical work to be done at the facility. Those who perform a Meet & Greet are expected to schedule an outpatient appointment with the participant prior to leaving the facility. These services are coordinated and authorized by CBH care management staff. Collectively, Crisis, Intermediate Care, and Meet & Greet services provide you with an additional and diverse source of referrals.

Those who are interested in modifying their profile or providing any of these services should contact their local Provider Education Specialist (PES) or send an email to ProviderEducationSpecialist@cignabehavioral.com .

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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