Community Integration Counseling (CIC)

Definition

Community Integration Counseling (CIC) is an individually designed service intended to assist waiver participants who are experiencing significant problems managing the emotional responses inherent in adjusting to a significant physical or cognitive disability while living in the community. It is a counseling service provided to the waiver participant who is coping with altered abilities and skills, a revision of long term expectations, or changes in roles in relation to significant others. This service is primarily provided in the provider's office or the waiver participant's home. It is available to waiver participants and/or anyone involved in an ongoing significant relationship with the waiver participant when the issues to be discussed relates directly to the waiver participant. It is expected that CIC will be conducted on a short-term basis. The need for CIC could occur at the time of transition from a nursing home or at various times during the participant's involvement in the NHTD waiver.

While CIC Services are primarily provided in a one-to-one session to either the waiver participant or a person involved in an ongoing relationship with the participant, there are times when it is appropriate to provide this service to the waiver participant or other in a family counseling or group counseling setting.

Regarding client confidentiality, the sharing of information obtained during a CIC session can only be disclosed in accordance with federal standards and accepted professional standards regarding client confidentiality.

CIC must not be used to assist the participant to become physically integrated into his/her environment. This function is the responsibility of other service providers, such as SCs, ILST and Home and Community Support Services (HCSS).

Provider Qualifications

CIC may be provided by any not-for-profit or for profit health and human services agency.

A CIC must be an:

    1. Licensed Psychiatrist - Licensed by the NYS Education Department;
    2. Licensed Psychologist - Licensed by the NYS Education Department;
    3. Master of Social Work;
    4. Master of Psychology;
    5. Mental Health Practitioner - Licensed by the NYS Education Department;
    6. Certified Rehabilitation Counselor - Certified by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification; or
    7. Certified Special Education Teacher- Certified by the NYS Education Department.

    Each of these individuals must have, at a minimum, two years of experience providing adjustment related counseling to individuals and/or seniors with physical and/or cognitive disabilities and their families. A significant portion of the provider's time which represents this experience must have been spent providing counseling to individuals with disabilities and/or seniors and their families in order to be considered qualifying experience.

    Individuals listed in (A) may supervise the following individuals to perform CIC services:

    1. Licensed Psychiatrist - Licensed by the NYS Education Department;
    2. Licensed Psychologist - Licensed by the NYS Education Department;
    3. Master of Social Work;
    4. Master of Psychology;
    5. Mental Health Practitioner - Licensed by the NYS Education Department;
    6. Certified Rehabilitation Counselor - Certified by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification; or
    7. Certified Special Education Teacher - Certified by the NYS Education Department.

    Individuals in section (B) may have less than two years of experience providing adjustment related counseling to individuals and/or seniors with physical, cognitive, developmental or psychiatric disabilities.

    Supervisors are responsible for providing ongoing supervision and training to staff. Supervision must occur no less than once a month when reviewing the caseload and must be more frequent when there is a new participant, a new provider or there has been a significant change in the participant's emotional, psychiatric or life situation.

Reimbursement

CIC services must be provided by a DOH approved provider and must be included in the SP to be reimbursed.

CIC is reimbursed in one hour units. Participation in Team Meetings is reimbursed at the hourly rate for this service.

If CIC is provided in a group setting, the hourly rate is divided evenly among the participants. For instance, if the participant is one of four people in the group, only one quarter of an hour is billable to that participant. Providers must accumulate billable units until a whole hour is reached before billing for the service.