Rural Spotlight

May 31, 2024

Substance Use Screenings – CMS Coding & Billing Update

Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based, early detection and intervention approach for people with non-dependent substance use before they need more extensive or specialized treatment. This approach is different for people who are already diagnosed with an SUD (substance use disorder).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pay 100% of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) for medically reasonable and necessary SBIRT services in both physicians’ offices and outpatient hospital settings, including public health centers, emergency departments, and primary and specialty care physicians’ offices. Download the revised Factsheet for more information on payment and coverage requirements.

What Been Added:

• Examples of locations where Medicare-eligible providers can perform these services
• Marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors to list of eligible providers

And Additional Information Added About:

• Telehealth flexibilities
• Evaluation and management for medication management

Eligible Providers:

CMS updated the eligible providers table with coverage requirements and payment information

May 31, 2024

Free Meals are Being Served to Children at Hundreds of Locations in Missouri – Online Map and Text Number

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Summer Food Service Program is designed to provide breakfast, lunch, suppers and/or snacks to children living in eligible areas during the summer months and during times of public emergencies, when children do not have access to free or reduced-price meals at school.

An online interactive map is provided to help families in Missouri find out where their children can receive free meals this summer. The map shows sites where children must sit and eat the meal, but the map also shows certain rural sites that are designated as non-congregate multi-day meal pick-up sites.

Community organizations serve the meals at schools, churches, parks, swimming pools, YMCA facilities, Boys and Girls Clubs, and other spots where children gather when school is not in session.

The meals are provided to all children who attend the meal service location. Children do not have to be registered and there is no fee to participate in the program.

The map and more information about the Summer Food Service Program can be found at health.mo.gov/sfsp/. For families without access to the internet, summer meal sites in the area can also be found by texting the phrase “Summer Meals” to 914-342-7744.

Meals will be served to children ages 18 and under and individuals ages 18 to 21 who have been determined by a state or local educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who participate in an established school program for the mentally or physically disabled.

Funding for the Summer Food Service Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

More information about the Summer Food Service Program is available online at health.mo.gov/sfsp or by telephone at 888-435-1464 (toll-free). Community organizations that would like to become sponsors may also email the Summer Food Service Program at sfsp@health.mo.gov or write to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Summer Food Service Program, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102 for more information.