What’s Missing From Your Charts: Writing Great Notes

2.5 CE credit Live Interactive Webinar Friday August 25, 2023
11 am – 1:30 pm Pacific Time/2-4:30 Eastern Time
Presenter: Barbara Griswold, LMFT
Fee: $60

For those who register but are unable to attend, CE credits (though not Live) will be available by viewing the recording and completing the post-test and evaluation. Distance Learning Board Approvals

This webinar satisfies requirements for live interactive CE credits for all professions.

DESCRIPTION: While you may shiver at the idea of an insurance plan, ethics committee, or licensing board reviewing your charts, this is happening more frequently — even to psychotherapists who don’t work with insurance. Poor notes may even be considered fraud or unprofessional conduct, or lead insurance plans to refuse claim payments or ask for money back.

In these cases, well-written records are essential, can be your only defense, and can be a deciding factor in whether a client gets necessary treatment or disability approval.

But like most therapists, you probably never received training in how to write notes. And you may not realize how your current note-keeping habits can hurt you – and your clients.

This course will teach you how to write BRIEF notes that satisfy legal, ethical, and insurance expectations, so that you’ll feel confident when you receive a records request.

Plus, we’ll outline new documentation requirements for telehealth. You’ll be introduced to 2 note templates, which you can download and use immediately in your practice. Best of all, you will get the rare opportunity to see examples of what “good” progress notes look like.

Other topics will include:

• Is “the less you write, the better” a good policy?
• 11 things insurance plans and licensing boards require in notes
• Documenting “medical necessity,” the key to treatment approvals
• Dealing with notes that are late or missing
• Audits: Why notes may be requested — even if you are not in-network
• Possible negative consequences of poor notes
• Preventive steps you can take now to avoid “clawbacks”
• If time: how to keep from falling behind in your notes
• Plus — time for you to ask YOUR questions about notes.

Target audience: This course is appropriate for all mental health professionals

Content level: Introductory/Intermediate