Minimizing Regulatory Paperwork for Counselors and Improving SUD Systems

Challenge

Excessive paperwork burden is one of the leading causes of burnout among behavioral health providers, reducing the time they can spend on patient care and creating inefficiencies in the timely delivery of services. Nearly every step in the process of caring for an individual with substance use disorder (SUD) comes with multiple documentation requirements for counselors.

Solution

To address regulatory paperwork challenges, the team of NIATx and Advocates for Human Potential (AHP) has developed a process that evaluates the following types of paperwork-related issues: lengthy intake assessments, duplicate intake questions, duplicate assessments triggered by co-occurring conditions, group therapy requiring multiple entries in different places, and comprehensive assessments repeated upon readmission.

The AHP-NIATx team implemented the following steps to develop recommendations focused on helping the State of Minnesota minimize regulatory paperwork for counselors, while improving SUD systems:

• Assessed the current state of paperwork requirements.
• Conducted an environmental scan of alternative licensing approaches.
• Performed site visits and key informative interviews with stakeholders.
• Reviewed existing statutes and regulations.
• Assessed and mapped processes and requirements.
• Consulted with stakeholder groups.

Outcomes

Once recommendations from the process are implemented, counselors will be less burdened with inefficiencies related to regulatory paperwork, while consumers will have quicker access to treatment and receive more patient-centered treatment.