Mental Health Services in Montana IEPs
What mental health services are available through an IEP in Montana?
Mental health and behavioral health services are available to eligible students in Montana schools through multiple frameworks. Under Montana's special education rules, psychological services and counseling services are recognized related services when needed to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education (MCA § 20-7-401; 34 CFR 300.34). When mental health or counseling services are documented in a student's IEP, they may also be reimbursable through Montana Healthcare Programs (Medicaid) under ARM 37.86.2201–2221. Eligible Medicaid providers in school settings include credentialed school psychologists, licensed psychologists, licensed clinical professional counselors (LCPCs), and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs). Montana also operates Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) programs through the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), serving youth ages 6 through 19 enrolled in public schools, including individual therapy, family therapy, group psychoeducation, behavioral interventions, and crisis response. CSCT services must be made available to all eligible children regardless of Medicaid status. Montana's statewide Multi-tiered Behavioral Intervention (MBI) framework uses a three-tiered system of support modeled on Response to Intervention for behavioral and mental health concerns. IEPs may incorporate mental health services as related services when the IEP team determines such services are necessary for the student to benefit from special education, and a behavior management plan documenting the need is required for Medicaid billing (ARM 37.86.2201).
What Montana Requires
Psychological and counseling services are recognized related services under special education law when necessary for a student to benefit from special education (MCA § 20-7-401; 34 CFR 300.34(a)(10), (17)).
Mental health and counseling services documented in an IEP may be billed to Montana Medicaid when provided by eligible providers (school psychologists, licensed psychologists, LCPCs, LCSWs) under ARM 37.86.2201–2221.
Montana CSCT programs provide school-based individual therapy, family therapy, group psychoeducation, and crisis response for youth ages 6–19 in public schools regardless of Medicaid status (DPHHS CSCT rules).
A behavior management plan must be documented in the IEP for Medicaid billing of school-based mental health services (ARM 37.86.2201).
CSCT services may not be provided concurrently with IEP mental health services unless prior Medicaid authorization is obtained.
Montana's MBI three-tiered framework provides universal, targeted, and intensive behavioral/mental health supports in schools.
Key Timelines
Mental health services must begin on the projected start date specified in the IEP (34 CFR 300.323(a)).
CSCT core services include an annual assessment, and services are reviewed and updated at least annually.