Medicaid is proposing language that would require “pre-authorization” of Crisis Intervention and Crisis Stabilization services. ChildSavers provides Crisis Intervention as part of our Immediate Response program. The proposal to require service pre-authorization is not client centered and does not support the service requirement that the provider be available 24/7 to provide Crisis services. The change is akin to telling emergency rooms that they need to treat the clients, but you will tell them later if they will be reimbursed or not. We recommend  continuing with the current process of requiring a service registration as a child in crisis cannot wait 3-5 days for a determination of covered services.