Virginia Law

A. In the event of a change in an individual's circumstances necessitating immediate, short-term care for an individual with an intellectual disability, a parent, guardian, or authorized representative may request emergency admission by calling the CSB serving the area where the individual, or in the case of a minor, the minor's parent or guardian resides. Under these circumstances if the CSB, in consultation with the RST, determines that services for the individual are not available in the community, the CSB may request an emergency admission to a training center serving individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The CSB shall make every effort to obtain the same case information required for respite admissions, as described in 12VAC35-200-20 A, before the training center assumes responsibility for the care of the individual in need of emergency services. However, if the information is not available, this requirement may temporarily be waived if, and only if, arrangements have been made for receipt of the required information within 48 hours of the emergency admission.

B. Acceptance for emergency admission shall be based upon the following criteria:

1. A change in the individual's circumstances has occurred requiring immediate alternate arrangements to protect the individual's health and safety;

2. The individual has a diagnosis of an intellectual disability and meets the training center's regular admissions criteria;

3. All other alternate care resources in the community have been explored and found to be unavailable;

4. Space is available on a residential living area with appropriate resources to meet the individual's needs;

5. The training center's health services personnel have determined that the individual's health care needs can be met by the training center's resources; and

6. The length of the emergency stay at the training center shall not exceed the limits established in § 37.2-807 of the Code of Virginia.

C. Within 24 hours of receiving a request for emergency admission, the training center director or the director's designee, in consultation with the assistant commissioner responsible for the training center or his designee, shall inform the CSB whether the individual is eligible for emergency admission and whether the training center is able to provide emergency services.

If the training center is able to provide emergency services, arrangements shall be made to effect the admission as soon as possible.

If the training center is unable to provide emergency services to an eligible individual, the training center director or designee shall provide written notice of this determination to the CSB and may offer in consultation with department staff to try to obtain emergency services from another appropriate facility.

If for any reason a person admitted to a training center for emergency services is not discharged at the agreed upon time, the CSB shall develop a discharge plan as provided in §§ 37.2-505 and 37.2-837 of the Code of Virginia.