N.H. Admin. Code § He-M 613.10

Current through Register No. 45, November 7, 2024

Section He-M 613.10 - Voluntary Admission of Minors to NHH

(a) To be eligible for voluntary admission to NHH, an applicant shall:

(1) Be a minor;

(2) Be referred by his or her regional CMHP subsequent to a review by a professional team not employed by NHH which shall include at least the following:

a. A doctor of psychology, a master's level social worker, or a registered nurse certified in mental health by the American Nursing Association; and

b. A psychiatrist licensed to practice in NH; and

(3) Have a determination by the medical director or designee that:

a. The applicant has a mental illness;

b. Ambulatory care resources available in the community do not meet the treatment needs of the recipient;

c. Proper treatment of the recipient's psychiatric condition requires services on an inpatient basis under the direction of a practitioner;

d. The services can reasonably be expected to improve the recipient's condition or prevent further regression so that the services will no longer be necessary; and

e. NHH is the least restrictive alternative among the available treatment options.

(b) An application for voluntary admission shall be made by, or with the written consent of, a parent or legal guardian of the minor requesting to be admitted.

(c) An application for voluntary admission shall be made in writing and include:

(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the parent or legal guardian requesting the admission;

(2) The name and birth date of the minor whose admission is requested;

(3) A request for the admission signed by the minor's parent(s) or legal guardian and witnessed in writing; and

(4) If applicable, a copy of the court order granting the legal guardian authority to place the ward.

(d) An applicant for voluntary admission shall be reviewed by a professional team not employed by NHH that includes, at a minimum:

(1) A doctor of psychology, a master's level social worker, or a registered nurse certified in mental health by the American Nursing Association; and

(2) A psychiatrist licensed to practice in New Hampshire.

(e) Following a review pursuant to (d) above, a written report shall be issued that includes:

(1) The name, address, telephone number, and professional qualifications of the persons conducting the review;

(2) The name, birth date, and address of the minor;

(3) The name, relationship to the minor, address, and telephone number of the parent(s) or legal guardian;

(4) The following information regarding the minor being reviewed:

a. A developmental and social history;

b. An evaluation of the family situation;

c. A psychiatric history and the results of a mental status examination conducted personally by the team psychiatrist;

d. An evaluation of school functioning;

e. Any appropriate medical evaluations; and

f. A preliminary diagnosis of the type of mental illness from which the minor suffers;

(5) A statement regarding the purpose for the admission and any recommendations for treatment that have been developed;

(6) A copy of form "Certification of Need for Inpatient Services under 21" MR #109 (8/31/2016) completed with:

a. The minor's name; and

b. A statement signed and dated by the team psychiatrist:

1. Certifying that the minor requires inpatient care; and

2. Estimating whether the minor will require such care for either 30 days or more or 29 days or less; and

(7) A statement by the professional team performing the review that the admission criteria identified pursuant to He-M 613.03(d) have been met.

(f) The medical director or his or her designee shall:

(1) Review each application for voluntary admission within one business day;

(2) Attempt to obtain the required information by telephone if the application materials are not complete;

(3) Approve the application if:

a. The application is complete or the required information has been obtained; and

b. The information received demonstrates that the criteria in He-M 613.10(a) have been met; and

(4) Deny the application if the criteria have not been met.

(g) If an application for voluntary admission is denied, the medical director or designee shall refer the minor as follows:

(1) If denial is based on a reasonable belief that the minor would not benefit from inpatient treatment at NHH, then referral shall be made to a program or services that would most likely benefit the minor; or

(2) If denial is based on a reasonable belief that NHH is not the inpatient facility best suited to providing treatment to the minor or is not the least restrictive alternative, then referral shall be made to another mental health program.

(h) Following admission, NHH shall conduct periodic reviews of each voluntarily admitted minor to determine if the admission criteria continue to be met. The reviews shall be conducted:

(1) In a manner approved by the medical director;

(2) In consultation with the treatment staff assigned to the minor; and

(3) No later than the first business day following admission and at least every 30 days thereafter until discharge.

(i) If a determination is made pursuant to (h) above that a voluntarily admitted minor no longer meets the admission criteria, the medical director shall discharge the minor to the custody of the legally responsible party.

N.H. Admin. Code § He-M 613.10

#4838, eff 6-15-90, EXPIRED: 6-15-96

New. #7050, eff 6-29-99, EXPIRED: 6-29-07

New. #9191, eff 6-26-08

Amended by Volume XXXVI Number 41, Filed October 13, 2016, Proposed by #11183, Effective 9/20/2016, Expires 9/20/2026.