Crisis Stabilization Services
Crisis Stabilization services provide intensive short term mental
health care to nonhospitalized individuals (of all ages) experiencing
an acute crisis of a psychiatric nature. The goal is to address and
stabilize the acute mental health needs at the earliest possible time
with ongoing services, avert hospitalization or re-hospitalization;
provide a high assurance of safety and security in the least restrictive
environment, and mobilize the resources of the community support
system, family members, and others for ongoing maintenance,
rehabilitation, and recovery.
Crisis Stabilization Medical Criteria
Medical Criteria.
The Comprehensive Needs Assessment must document the need for crisis stabilization
services. To qualify for this service, individuals must demonstrate a clinical necessity for the
service arising from a condition due to an acute crisis of a psychiatric nature that puts the
individual at risk of psychiatric hospitalization.
Individuals must meet at least two of the following criteria at the time of admission to the
service:
- Experiencing difficulty in establishing and maintaining normal interpersonal relationships to such a degree that they are at risk of psychiatric hospitalization or homelessness or isolation from social supports.
- Experiencing difficulty in activities of daily living (ADLs) such as maintaining personal hygiene, preparing food and maintaining adequate nutrition, or managing finances to such a degree that health or safety is jeopardized.
- Exhibiting such inappropriate behavior that immediate interventions by mental health, social services, or the judicial system are or have been necessary.
- Exhibiting difficulty in cognitive ability (such that the individual is unable to recognize personal danger or recognize significantly inappropriate social behavior).
Individuals may not receive Crisis Stabilization when they meet the exclusion criteria
below:
Exclusion Criteria:
This service is not reimbursable for any of the following reasons:
- Individuals with medical conditions which require hospital care;
- Individuals with a primary diagnosis of substance use disorder;
- Individuals with psychiatric conditions which cannot be managed in the community, such as individuals who are of imminent danger to self or others.