Section 764. Crisis stabilization services

A. Service description. Crisis stabilization services involve direct interventions that provide temporary, intensive services and supports that avert emergency, psychiatric hospitalization or institutional placement of individuals who are experiencing serious psychiatric or behavioral problems that jeopardize their current community living situation. Crisis stabilization services shall include, as appropriate, neuropsychological, psychiatric, psychological and other functional assessments and stabilization techniques, medication management and monitoring, behavior assessment and support, and intensive care coordination with other agencies and providers. This service is designed to stabilize the individual and strengthen the current living situation so that the individual remains in the community during and beyond the crisis period.

These services shall be provided to:

1. Assist planning and delivery of services and supports to enable the individual to remain in the community;

2. Train family members, other care givers, and service providers in supports to maintain the individual in the community; and

3. Provide temporary crisis supervision to ensure the safety of the individual and others.

B. Criteria.

1. In order to receive crisis stabilization services, the individual must meet at least one of the following criteria:

a. The individual is experiencing marked reduction in psychiatric, adaptive, or behavioral functioning;

b. The individual is experiencing extreme increase in emotional distress;

c. The individual needs continuous intervention to maintain stability; or

d. The individual is causing harm to self or others.

2. The individual must be at risk of at least one of the following:

a. Psychiatric hospitalization;

b. Emergency ICF/IID placement;

c. Disruption of community status (living arrangement, day placement, or school); or

d. Causing harm to self or others.

C. Service units and service limitations. Crisis stabilization services must be authorized following a documented face-to-face assessment conducted by a qualified developmental disabilities professional (QDDP).

1. The unit for each component of the service is one hour. Each service may be authorized in 15-day increments, but no more than 60 calendar days in a plan of care year may be used. The actual service units per episode shall be based on the documented clinical needs of the individuals being served. Extension of services beyond the 15-day limit per authorization must be authorized following a documented face-to-face reassessment conducted by a qualified professional as described in subsection D of this section.

2. Crisis stabilization services may be provided directly in the following settings (the following examples are not exclusive):

a. The home of an individual who lives with family or other primary caregiver or caregivers;

b. The home of an individual who lives independently or semi-independently to augment any current services and support;

c. A day program or setting to augment current services and supports; or

d. A respite care setting to augment current services and supports.

3. Crisis supervision may be provided as a component of this service only if clinical or behavioral interventions allowed under this service are also provided during the authorized period. Crisis supervision must be provided one-on-one and face-to-face with the individual. Crisis supervision, if provided as a part of this service, shall be billed separately in hourly service units.

4. Crisis stabilization services shall not be used for continuous long-term care. Room and board and general supervision are not components of this service.

5. If appropriate, the assessment and any reassessments shall be conducted jointly with a licensed mental health professional or other appropriate professional or professionals.

D. Provider requirements. In addition to the general conditions and requirements for home and community-based waiver services participating providers as specified in 12VAC30-120-730 and 12VAC30-120-740, the following crisis stabilization provider requirements apply:

1. Crisis stabilization services shall be provided by entities licensed by DBHDS as a provider of outpatient, residential, supportive in-home services, or day support services. The provider must employ or utilize qualified licensed mental health professionals or other qualified personnel competent to provide crisis stabilization and related activities for individuals with related conditions who require crisis stabilization services. Supervision of direct service staff must be provided by a QDDP. Crisis supervision providers must be licensed by DBHDS as providers of residential services, supportive in-home services, or day support services.

2. Crisis stabilization supporting documentation must be developed (or revised, in the case of a request for an extension) and submitted to the case manager for authorization within 72 hours of the face-to-face assessment or reassessment.

3. Documentation indicating the dates and times of crisis stabilization services, the amount and type of service provided, and specific information about the individual's response to the services and supports as agreed to in the supporting documentation must be recorded in the individual's record.

4. Documentation of provider qualifications must be maintained for review by DMAS staff. This service shall be designed to stabilize the individual and strengthen the current semi-independent living situation, or situation with family or other primary care givers, so the individual can be maintained during and beyond the crisis period.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 17, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2001; amended, Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 20, eff. July 11, 2007; Volume 30, Issue 14, eff. April 10, 2014.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 1396.