A supervisor must approve a caseworker’s request for a billing service level (BSL) that is lower than the authorized service level (ASL) for any child or youth.

A CPS regional director (or designee) must approve, and document the approval of, a caseworker’s request for a BSL that is two or more service levels lower than the ASL.

Some examples of when lowering a child’s BSL may be appropriate are when:

• The child or youth is receiving specialized medical care and a move will disrupt the treatment.
• The child or youth needs to finish a semester of school, graduate, or stay in close proximity to his or her family or siblings.

Staff must document in the child or youth’s case record any special needs requiring this type of placement.

In addition, the caseworker must complete Form 2086 Service Level ApprovalPDF Document and submit it with the approved BSL to an eligibility specialist. If a child or youth who has an ASL of Specialized or Intense is placed at a lower BSL, the utilization review is still required within three months or before the expiration date of the ASL. The indicators for the ASL will continue to be met even after the BSL is lowered.