HomeMy WebLinkAboutMH-201 Mental Health Priority Populations1
FRANKLIN/FULTON COUNTY
MENTAL HEALTH/INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES/EARLY INTERVENTION
425 Franklin Farm Lane
Chambersburg, PA 17202
(717) 264-5387
MH/IDD/EI PROCEDURE STATEMENT
PROCEDURE SUBJECT: Mental Health Priority Populations
PROCEDURE NUMBER: MH-201
Effective Date: October 29, 2014
Date Revised: December 26, 2019
Reference: OMHSAS-19-03 Serious Mental Illness: Adult Priority Group
INTRODUCTION:
MH/IDD/EI prioritizes the provision of mental health services to those persons who have a
serious mental illness (SMI). The presence of Behavioral Health Managed Care currently
implemented in our area clearly defines our priority populations based on the HealthChoices and
Consolidated Community Reporting System/Performance Outcome Measurements (POMS)
definitions.
Serious Mental Illness: Adult Priority Group
In order to be in the Adult Priority Group, a person must meet the federal definition of
serious mental illness, must be age 18+, (or age 22+ if in Special Education); must have a
diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Schizophrenia,
Schizoaffective Disorder, Other Specified Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic
Disorder, or Borderline Personality Disorder (Reference DSM-V, ICD-10 codes, as
designated by the American Psychiatric Association for the diagnostic codes), and must
meet at least one of the following criteria:
A. Treatment History
1. Current resident in or discharge from a state mental hospital within the past
two (2) years; or
2. Two (2) admissions to community or correctional inpatient psychiatric units
or crisis residential services totaling twenty (20) or more days within the past
two (2) years; or
3. Five (5) or more face-to-face contacts with walk-in or mobile crisis or
emergency services within the past two (2) years; or
4. One (1) or more years of continuous attendance in a community mental health
or prison psychiatric outpatient service [at least one (1) unit of service per
quarter] within the past two (2) years; or
2
5. History of sporadic adherence to treatment as evidenced by at least three (3)
missed appointments within the past six (6) months, inability or unwillingness
to maintain medication regimen, one (1) or more court orders for an
involuntary outpatient commitment or assisted outpatient treatment within the
past two (2) years.
B. Functioning Level
1. World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0
with an overall score in the severe difficulty range; or
2. The use of an equivalent assessment of functioning instrument to determine
severity.
C. Co-Occurring Disorder or Condition
1. Concurrent Substance Use Disorder; or
2. Intellectual or Developmental Disability; or
3. HIV/AIDS; or
4. Physical disability; or
5. Homelessness
i. An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime
residence, such as those living in emergency shelters, transitional
housing, or place not meant for habitation. (SAMHSA Definitions of
Homelessness used by SOAR and SSA)
6. Release from Criminal Detention
i. Applicable categories of release from criminal detention are jail
diversion, final date of maximum expiration (FDME),
probation/parole.
In addition to the above, any adult who met the standards for involuntary treatment (as
defined in Chapter 5100 Regulations Mental Health Procedures) within twelve (12)
months preceding the assessment is automatically assigned to the high priority group.
Child and Adolescent Target Groups 1, 2 & 3 (54, 55, 56)
The Child and Adolescent Priority Group One (1) includes persons who meet all four (4)
criteria below:
A. Age: birth to less than 18 years (or age 18 to less than 22, if enrolled in special
education services)
B. Currently, or at any time in the past year, have had a DSM-V (or its successor
documents as designated by the American Psychiatric Association) diagnosis
(excluding those whose sole diagnosis is Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities or
psychoactive substance use disorder or a “V” code) that resulted in functional
impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits the child’s role or
functioning in family, school, or community activities.
C. Receive services from mental health and one or more of the following:
1. Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
2. Children and Youth
3. Special Education
4. Drug and Alcohol
5. Juvenile Justice
6. Health (the child has a chronic health condition requiring treatment)
3
D. Identified as needing mental health services by a local interagency team, e.g., Child
and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP).
In addition to the above, any adolescent who met the standards for involuntary treatment within
the twelve (12) months preceding the assessment (as defined in Chapter 5100 -Mental Health
Procedures) is automatically assigned to this priority group.
Priority Group Two (2) is associated with children at-risk of developing a serious
emotional disturbance by virtue of:
A. A parent’s serious mental illness
B. Physical or sexual abuse
C. Drug dependency
D. Homelessness
E. Referral to the Student Assistance Programs (SAP)
Priority Group Three (3):
Children and Adolescents who currently or at any time during the past year have had a
DSM-V diagnosis (or its successor documents as designated by the American Psychiatric
Association) (excluding those individuals whose sole diagnosis is Intellectual &
Developmental Disabilities, or psychoactive substance use disorder or, a “V” code) that
resulted in functional impairment, which substantially interferes or limits the child’s role
or functioning with family, school or community activities, and who do not meet criteria
for child and adolescent target groups 1 & 2.
PROCEDURE:
When a request for services is received at the Base Service Unit (BSU) Case Management
(Service Access and Management in Franklin County and True North Wellness Services in
Fulton County), the case manager will, to the best of their ability, given the information received,
make a determination as to the status of the presenting problem and whether or not the individual
meets the eligibility criteria for serious mental illness. If the person has documentation which
supports this criteria, as well as financial criteria for Mental Health (MH) as payer of last resort,
they will be assigned a case manager. If the person appears to meet the criteria, but has no
documentation to support that a psychiatric evaluation has been completed, one will be
scheduled to verify the individual’s diagnosis prior to them being opened with MH for ongoing
services.
When the individual does not meet the above criteria, they will be referred to an agency/program
as the case manager determines appropriate. If at any time the diagnosis indicates that they meet
the criteria of serious mental illness, a referral may be made again to MH for services. If a
request for services is received that does not meet these guidelines, but the individual has
extenuating circumstances, eligibility may be considered on an individual basis, but must be
approved by the MH/IDD/EI Administrator. The case management unit would forward a written
request for a waiver of the requirement to the MH/IDD/EI Administrator for review.