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OHCA Policies and Rules

317:30-5-95.35. Certificate of need requirements for children in psychiatric hospitals and PRTFs

[Revised 09-14-2020]

(a) General requirements.  This Section establishes the requirements for certification of the need for inpatient psychiatric services provided to individuals under twenty-one (21) years of age in psychiatric hospitals, in accordance with Section 1905(a) 16 and (h) of the Social Security Act, and in PRTFs, in accordance with 42 C.F.R. ' 483.354. Pursuant to this federal law, a team, consisting of physicians and other qualified personnel, shall determine that inpatient services are necessary and can reasonably be expected to improve the member's condition. These requirements do not apply to an admission to a psychiatric unit of a general hospital.

(b) Definitions.  The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) "Independent team" means a team that is not associated with the facility, such that no team member has an employment or consultant relationship with the admitting facility. The independent team shall include a licensed physician who has competence in diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, preferably child psychiatry, and who has knowledge of the member's clinical condition and situation. The independent team shall also include at least one (1) other LBHP.

(2) "Interdisciplinary team" means, as defined by 42 C.F.R. 441.156, a team of physicians and other personnel who are employed by, or who provide services to, SoonerCare members in the facility or program. The interdisciplinary team must include, at a minimum, either a board-eligible or board-certified psychiatrist; or, a licensed physician and a psychologist licensed by the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (OSBEP) who has a doctoral degree in clinical psychology; or, a licensed physician with specialized training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental diseases, and a psychologist licensed by the OSBEP. The interdisciplinary team must also include one (1) of the following:

(A) A licensed clinical social worker;

(B) A registered nurse (RN) with specialized training or one (1) year of experience in treating mentally ill individuals;

(C) A psychologist licensed by the OSBEP who has a doctoral degree in clinical psychology; or

(D) An occupational therapist who is licensed by the state in which the individual is practicing, if applicable, and who has specialized training or one (1) year of experience in treating mentally ill individuals.

(c) Certification of the need for services.  As described in 42 C.F.R. 441.152, the certification shall be made by a team, either independent or interdisciplinary, as specified in (d), below, and shall certify that:

(1) Ambulatory care resources available in the community do not meet the treatment needs of the member;

(2) Proper treatment of the member's psychiatric condition requires services on an inpatient basis under the direction of a physician; and

(3) Services can reasonably be expected to improve the member's condition or prevent further regression so that inpatient services would no longer be needed.

(d) Certification for admission.  The certification of the need for services, as stated in (c), above, shall be made by the appropriate team, in accordance with 42 C.F.R. 441.153 and as specified as follows:

(1) Certification for the admission of an individual who is a member when admitted to a facility or program shall be made by an independent team, as described in (b)(1), above.

(2) Certification for an inpatient applying for SoonerCare while in the facility or program shall be made by an interdisciplinary team responsible for the plan of care and as described in (b)(2), above.

(3) Certification of an emergency admission of a member shall be made by the interdisciplinary team responsible for the plan of care within fourteen (14) days after admission, in accordance with 42 C.F.R. 441.156.

Disclaimer. The OHCA rules found on this Web site are unofficial. The official rules are published by the Oklahoma Secretary of State Office of Administrative Rules as Title 317 of the Oklahoma Administrative Code. To order an official copy of these rules, contact the Office of Administrative Rules at (405) 521-4911.