The Mental Health Unit of the Division of Behavioral Healthcare is concerned with the monitoring and development of community and hospital mental health services, which include community support programs, general outpatient programs, housing and vocational programs, client operated business, complaint investigation and resolution, consumer rights, utilization review, Pre Admission Screening and Residential Review (PASRR) and program administration for clients entering or residing at a nursing home, consumer group liaison and criminal justice system program development.

The staff of the Mental Health Unit performs monitoring functions specific to the delivery of quality mental health treatment. The unit utilizes Licensing Behavioral Health Regulations and Medicaid Audits to assure compliance with treatment regulations and quality outcomes from the state’s licensed providers. Performance improvement issues, program development and monitoring concerns are reviewed with licensed providers at scheduled quarterly liaison meetings.

The unit also provides oversight to inpatient psychiatric hospitals under the auspices of the mental health law and approves and reviews all applications of inpatient psychiatric hospitals for facility status. Without facility status psychiatric hospitals are unable to admit clients on an involuntary basis to their inpatient psychiatric units.

Lastly, the unit is also responsible for the program administration of the PASRR program (Pre Admission Screening and Residential Review). Responsibilities include evaluating and approving coordinated hospital discharge planning for nursing home placement based on the completion of PASRR screening instrument; review of annual residential reviews completed on clients living in nursing homes; and overseer of state and federal PASRR guidelines.

Please follow this link for the Governor's Council on Behavioral Health meeting minutes and agendas.