Behavioral Health Services in Mississippi offer comprehensive support to individuals with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or co-occurring conditions. These services aim to enhance well-being through counseling, therapy, crisis intervention, and rehabilitation, and are provided under Mississippi’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers and community mental health programs.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH)

Role: Oversees the coordination of mental health and substance use services, including HCBS Waiver programs

Agency: Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM)

Role: Administers Medicaid and HCBS Waiver programs, including behavioral health services

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Provides federal oversight and ensures waiver compliance

2. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE OVERVIEW

Behavioral Health Services focus on improving mental health and substance use outcomes through individualized care. Services are guided by the Individual Service Plan (ISP) or Person-Centered Plan (PCP) and may include:

• Individual and group counseling
• Crisis intervention and stabilization
• Substance use disorder treatment
• Case management and care coordination
• Medication management and psychiatric services
• Peer support and rehabilitation services

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

• Register business with the Mississippi Secretary of State
• Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
• Enroll as a Medicaid provider with the Mississippi Division of Medicaid
• Obtain a Behavioral Health Facility License from the Mississippi Department of Mental Health
• Maintain liability insurance and clinical staff qualifications

4. MEDICAID PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Pre-Application Contact

• Contact the Mississippi Division of Medicaid to understand behavioral health provider requirements

Step 2: Application Submission

• Submit business registration, behavioral health license, liability insurance, and service descriptions

Step 3: License Verification

• Ensure Behavioral Health Facility License is valid and compliant

Step 4: Approval and Medicaid Number Assignment

• Once approved, receive a Medicaid provider number and authorization to deliver services

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

• Articles of Incorporation or Business Name Registration
• IRS EIN Letter
• NPI confirmation
• Behavioral Health Facility License
• Liability insurance certificate

Policy & procedure manual including:

• Client intake and assessment protocols
• Risk management and crisis intervention plans
• Staff training and supervision logs
• Therapy notes, progress tracking, and discharge planning
• Confidentiality, HIPAA compliance, and client rights policies

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Clinical Director / Program Manager

Requirements: Licensed mental health professional (e.g., LCSW, LPC, LMFT)

Role: Behavioral Health Clinician / Counselor

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in counseling, social work, or psychology
• State licensure (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, or equivalent)
• Background check and TB clearance

Training Requirements:

• Crisis intervention and trauma-informed care
• Ethics, HIPAA compliance, and client confidentiality
• Cultural competency and mental health recovery principles
• Annual refreshers on de-escalation and harm reduction

7. MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES

Behavioral Health Services in Mississippi are available through:

• 1915(c) HCBS Waiver for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
• Mississippi Mental Health Waiver
• Substance Use Disorder Waiver

Approved providers may deliver:

• Individual and group therapy
• Crisis response and stabilization services
• Substance use recovery programs
• Peer support and case management

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation

Timeline: 1–2 weeks

Phase: Medicaid Provider Enrollment

Timeline: 60–90 days

Phase: Staff Hiring and Training

Timeline: 30–45 days

Phase: Facility Licensing and Setup

Timeline: 2–4 weeks

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM)

Website: https://medicaid.ms.gov

Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH)

Website: https://www.dmh.ms.gov

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10. SCOPE OF WORK

• Business registration and licensure
• Medicaid provider enrollment
• Policy & procedure manual for behavioral health operations
• Templates for therapy plans, progress notes, and crisis protocols
• Website, domain, and email setup
• Staff credentialing and training documentation
• Client intake packet and treatment records
• Risk management and incident reporting systems
• Referral networking with mental health professionals and community agencies