In this article, you'll find information on Rula's systematic approach to quality, including Rula's Network Quality Standards.
Delivery of high-quality care
Rula’s North Star is ensuring the delivery of high-quality care. Clinical quality standards play a pivotal role in safeguarding patient outcomes, maintaining provider competence, and upholding ethical standards.
Implementing network quality standards within telehealth practices is essential. It ensures consistency and uniformity in care delivery across providers. This consistency fosters trust among patients and facilitates seamless transitions in care. Adherence to network standards can also help mitigate risks associated with telehealth practice.
Network standards also serve as a benchmark for evaluating effectiveness and efficiency of the care provided. By establishing quality standards, Rula can continuously enhance services to better meet patient needs and expectations.
Implementing and prioritizing these standards is crucial for delivering equitable, accessible, and high-quality care to all patients which is core to Rula’s mission.
Below is the list of Network Quality Standards that Rula has set forth as part of a provider’s practice on Rula’s platform.
Network Quality Standards
Each of SUD Specialty Group -- CA; Mental Health Specialty Group, P.A.; Mental Health Specialty Group NJ, PC; and Mental Health Specialty Group KS, P.A. (collectively, the "Group") contracts with Path CCM, Inc. d/b/a Rula Health (the “Network”) for management and administrative support services. The Network Quality Standards apply to all providers contracted by Group entities who use the Network. All of the foregoing entities are collectively referred to as “Rula” herein.
Rula takes a structured, evolving approach to quality, focused on these core principles:
- Measurement Informed Care (MIC) is our standard, helping patients improve faster, easing documentation burden, and reducing provider risk.
- Safety planning is essential to delivering high-quality care.
- Timely responsiveness to patients is critical.
- Accurate, timely documentation and coding support patient care, billing, and risk mitigation.
We ask all medication management providers to uphold these values and meet the following expectations:
- Professionalism and Ethics: Providers must maintain a professional presence, conduct sessions in HIPAA-compliant settings, use accurate CPT codes with appropriate documentation, and consistently follow ethical and legal standards. Evidence-based practices are required, and harmful or inappropriate practices must be avoided.
- Measurement-Informed Care (MIC): Providers will demonstrate understanding and consistent use of MIC, educating patients, integrating measurement tools into sessions, documenting results clearly, and using data to guide treatment planning and monitor progress.
- Documentation: Documentation must be timely (within 48 hours of the visit), accurate, and compliant with legal and regulatory standards. This includes correct service dates and times, clear clinical content, demonstrated medical necessity, and accurate CPT code selection. Timely, accurate documentation is a core obligation under the Network Access Agreement.
- Communication & Patient Messaging: Providers must maintain respectful, collaborative communication. Responses to patient messages and refill requests should be completed as promptly as possible—ideally within one business day for general messages and within 24 hours for medication refill requests—to support continuity of care and minimize treatment disruptions.
- Patient Engagement and Experience: Providers should schedule follow-up visits during sessions when possible and maintain calendar availability for new and existing patients. A strong therapeutic alliance—built on empathy, trust, shared decision-making, and clear communication—is essential for effective care and improved outcomes.
- Clinical Risk and Safety: Providers must comply with all applicable laws and licensure requirements. Ongoing risk assessments (e.g., C-SSRS) must be performed, and safety plans created and shared with at-risk patients. All risk assessments and safety plans must be documented. Any adverse or potentially adverse events must be reported to Rula’s Quality/Safety Team within 24 hours of becoming aware.
- Scheduling and Attendance: Providers are expected to attend all scheduled appointments. If a provider is unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances, they must notify the Rula team as soon as possible so we can inform and support the patient. Initial psychiatric evaluations must be scheduled for 60 minutes, and follow-up visits for 30 minutes. These time frames are preset in the system and must not be modified. Providers should not shorten appointment durations (e.g., conducting 5-minute med checks or 20-minute initial visits), as adequate time is essential for safe, high-quality care.
- Medication Management and Lab Monitoring: Medications must be prescribed according to evidence-based standards. Rula providers may not prescribe opioids—including Suboxone—under any circumstances. Controlled substances (e.g., stimulants, benzodiazepines) must be prescribed cautiously and in alignment with best practices, including the use of medication agreements when appropriate. Medications requiring lab monitoring must be managed responsibly, with all labs ordered and reviewed as clinically indicated. All prescribing must comply with state and federal laws.
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