Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, March 15, 2024
PURPOSE: This rule establishes the characteristics of
supervision for assistant behavior analysts.
(1) An assistant behavior analyst shall
assist a behavior analyst in the delivery of applied behavior analysis in
compliance with all state and federal statutes, regulations, and
rules.
(2) The assistant behavior
analyst may only perform services under the direct supervision of a behavior
analyst as set forth in this rule.
(A) The
manner of supervision shall depend on the treatment setting, patient/client
caseload, and the competency of the assistant behavior analyst as determined by
the supervising behavior analyst. At a minimum, supervision shall include
consultation of the assistant behavior analyst with the supervising behavior
analyst prior to the initiation of any patient's/client's treatment plan and
modification of treatment plan.
(B)
More frequent face-to-face supervision may be necessary as determined by the
behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst dependent on the level of
expertise displayed by the assistant behavior analyst, the practice setting,
and/or the complexity of the patient/client caseload.
(C) Supervision shall be an interactive
process between the behavior analyst and assistant behavior analyst. It shall
be more than peer review or co-signature. The interactive process shall include
but is not limited to the patient/client assessment, reassessment, treatment
plan, intervention, discontinuation of intervention, and/or treatment
plan.
(D) The supervising behavior
analyst or the supervisor's designee must be available for immediate
consultation with the assistant behavior analyst. The supervisor need not be
physically present or on the premises at all times.
(3) The supervising behavior analyst has the
overall responsibility for providing the necessary supervision to protect the
health and welfare of the patient/client receiving treatment from an assistant
behavior analyst. The supervising behavior analyst shall-
(A) Be licensed by the board as a behavior
analyst who is certified by the certifying entity;
(B) As of January 1, 2012, have a minimum of
one (1)-year experience as a licensed behavior analyst. Prior to January 1,
2012, the supervising behavior analyst shall have a minimum of one (1) year of
certification as a certified behavior analyst and shall obtain licensure prior
to January 1, 2012;
(C) Not be
under restriction or discipline from any licensing board or
jurisdiction;
(D) Not have more
than ten (10) full-time-equivalent (FTE) assistant behavior analysts under
his/her supervision at one (1) time without prior approval by the
board;
(E) Provide at least two (2)
hours of face-to-face, direct supervision for every eighty (80) hours worked.
Supervision in a group may be for not more than one (1) hour for each one
hundred sixty (160) hours worked;
(F) Be responsible for all referrals of the
patient/client;
(G) Be responsible
for completing the patient's evaluation/assessment. The assistant behavior
analyst may contribute to the screening and/or evaluation process by gathering
data, administering standardized tests, and reporting observations. The
assistant behavior analyst may not evaluate independently or initiate treatment
before the supervising behavior analyst's evaluation/assessment;
(H) Be responsible for developing and
modifying the patient's treatment plan. The treatment plan must include goals,
interventions, frequency, and duration of treatment. The assistant behavior
analyst may contribute to the preparation, implementation, and documentation of
the treatment plan. The supervising behavior analyst shall be responsible for
the outcome of the treatment plan and assigning of appropriate intervention
plans to the assistant behavior analyst within the competency level of the
assistant behavior analyst;
(I) Be
responsible for developing the patient's discharge plan. The assistant behavior
analyst may contribute to the preparation, implementation, and documentation of
the discharge plan. The supervising behavior analyst shall be responsible for
the outcome of the discharge plan and assigning of appropriate tasks to the
assistant behavior analyst within the competency level of the assistant
behavior analyst;
(J) Ensure that
all patient/client documentation becomes a part of the permanent record;
and
(K) Conduct at least one (1)
on-site observation per client per month.
(4) The supervising behavior analyst has the
overall responsibility for providing the necessary supervision to protect the
health and welfare of the patient/client receiving treatment from an assistant
behavior analyst. However, this does not absolve the assistant behavior analyst
from his/her professional responsibilities. The assistant behavior analyst
shall exercise sound judgment and provide adequate care in the performance of
duties. The assistant behavior analyst shall-
(A) Not initiate any patient/client treatment
program or modification of said program until the behavior analyst has
evaluated, established a treatment plan, and consulted with the behavior
analyst;
(B) Not perform an
evaluation/assessment, but may contribute to the screening and/or evaluation
process by gathering data, administering standardized tests, and reporting
observations;
(C) Not analyze or
interpret evaluation data;
(D)
Track the need for reassessment and report changes in status that might warrant
reassessment or referral;
(E)
Immediately suspend any treatment intervention that appears harmful to the
patient/client and immediately notify the behavior analyst; and
(F) Ensure that all patient/client
documentation prepared by the assistant behavior analyst becomes a part of the
permanent record.
(5)
The supervisor shall ensure that the assistant behavior analyst provides
applied behavior analysis as defined in section
337.300, RSMo,
appropriate to and consistent with his/her education, training, and
experience.
*Original authority: 337.310, RSMo
2010.
