Apply to be a Problem Gambling Services Provider

Pennsylvania continues to expand services for residents affected by problem or compulsive gambling, including family members and significant others. DDAP offers an Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) contract opportunity for eligible providers to deliver Compulsive Problem Gambling Treatment and Intervention Services.

The contract includes two core service categories:

• Gambling Outpatient Treatment
• Gambling Case Management 

Outpatient treatment and case management are separate and distinct services. Applicants should apply for the service type or types they are qualified to provide.

DDAP reimburses approved, authorized services provided to Pennsylvania residents in accordance with contract requirements.

To qualify to provide Problem Gambling Services funded through DDAP, an applicant must meet one of the following qualification categories:

• Qualified Trained Counselor
• Qualified Trained Case Manager
• Qualified Service Entity that employs at least one of the following:
  • Qualified Trained Counselor
  • Qualified Trained Case Manager
  • Authorized Counselor
  • Authorized Case Manager

A Qualified Service Entity may include:

• A facility licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to provide mental health treatment services
• A facility licensed by DDAP to provide substance use disorder treatment services
• A Single County Authority that has entered into a grant agreement with DDAP
• An agency that provides counseling for compulsive and problem gambling

Sole practitioners must meet the applicable Qualified Trained Counselor and/or Qualified Trained Case Manager requirements. Agencies and other Qualified Service Entities may qualify through eligible Qualified Trained or Authorized staff.

Outpatient gambling treatment qualifications

Providers applying to deliver outpatient gambling treatment services must meet DDAP’s applicable qualifications for the applicant type and service category.

A provider may qualify to provide outpatient gambling treatment as a Qualified Trained Counselor or as a Qualified Service Entity that employs at least one eligible counselor, which may include a Qualified Trained Counselor or an Authorized Counselor.

A Qualified Trained Counselor must be licensed in Pennsylvania as a physician, psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist, behavior specialist, or professional counselor.

A Qualified Trained Counselor must also meet at least one of the following gambling-specific training or certification requirements:

• Certificate of Competency in Problem Gambling from the Pennsylvania Certification Board
• International Certified Gambling Counselor Level I or II from the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization
• Progress toward International Certified Gambling Counselor Level I or II with at least 30 hours of gambling-specific training approved by the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization
• Certification as an Addiction Specialist with a specialization in Gambling Addiction issued by the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders

An Authorized Counselor may also provide outpatient gambling treatment services when employed by a Qualified Service Entity and when the individual meets DDAP’s credential and training requirements.

Sole practitioners applying to provide outpatient gambling treatment services must meet the Qualified Trained Counselor requirements listed in the application materials.

Gambling case management qualifications

Providers applying to deliver gambling case management services must meet DDAP’s applicable qualifications for the applicant type and service category.

A provider may qualify to provide gambling case management as a Qualified Trained Case Manager or as a Qualified Service Entity that employs at least one eligible case manager, which may include a Qualified Trained Case Manager or an Authorized Case Manager.

A Qualified Trained Case Manager must be licensed in Pennsylvania as a physician, psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist, behavior specialist, or professional counselor.

A Qualified Trained Case Manager must also complete at least 30 hours of gambling-specific training approved by the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization.

An Authorized Case Manager may also provide gambling case management services when employed by a Qualified Service Entity and when the individual meets DDAP’s credential and training requirements.

Case managers must complete DDAP-approved trainings in:

• Problem gambling motivational interviewing
• Problem gambling and finances
• Problem gambling case management

Sole practitioners applying to provide case management services must meet the Qualified Trained Case Manager requirements and the additional case management training requirements listed in the application materials.

The process to become a contracted outpatient gambling treatment provider typically takes 30 to 90 days after an application is submitted through JAGGAER.

Follow these steps to apply.

Review the contract documents and application materials before applying.

• Statement of Work
• Terms and Conditions
• Problem Gambling Services Provider Application — Agency 
• Problem Gambling Services Provider Application — Sole Practitioner