Article 2. Screening, Admission, Assessment, Service Planning, and Orientation
12VAC35-105-630. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 18, eff. September 19, 2002; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 5, eff. December 7, 2011.
12VAC35-105-640. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 18, eff. September 19, 2002; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 5, eff. December 7, 2011.
12VAC35-105-645. Initial contacts, screening, admission, assessment, service planning, orientation and discharge.
A. The provider shall implement policies and procedures for initial contacts and screening, admissions, and referral of individuals to other services and designate staff to perform these activities.
B. The provider shall maintain written documentation of an individual's initial contact and screening prior to his admission including the:
1. Date of contact;
2. Name, age, and gender of the individual;
3. Address and telephone number of the individual, if applicable;
4. Reason why the individual is requesting services; and
5. Disposition of the individual including his referral to other services for further assessment, placement on a waiting list for service, or admission to the service.
C. The provider shall assist individuals who are not admitted to identify other appropriate services.
D. The provider shall retain documentation of the individual's initial contacts and screening for six months. Documentation shall be included in the individual's record if the individual is admitted to the service.
Statutory Authority
§ 37.2-203 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 5, eff. December 7, 2011.
12VAC35-105-650. Assessment policy.
A. The provider shall implement a written assessment policy. The policy shall define how assessments will be conducted and documented.
B. The provider shall actively involve the individual and the individual's authorized representative, if applicable, in the preparation of initial and comprehensive assessments and in subsequent reassessments. In these assessments and reassessments, the provider shall consider the individual's needs, strengths, goals, preferences, and abilities within the individual's cultural context.
C. The assessment policy shall designate employees or contractors who are responsible for conducting assessments. These employees or contractors shall have experience in working with the needs of individuals who are being assessed, the assessment tools being utilized, and the provision of services that the individuals may require.
D. Assessment is an ongoing activity. The provider shall make reasonable attempts to obtain previous assessments or relevant history.
E. An assessment shall be initiated prior to or at admission to the service. With the participation of the individual and the individual's authorized representative, if applicable, the provider shall complete an initial assessment detailed enough to determine whether the individual qualifies for admission and to initiate an ISP for those individuals who are admitted to the service. This assessment shall assess immediate service, health, and safety needs, and, at a minimum, include the individual's:
1. Diagnosis;
2. Presenting needs, including the individual's stated needs, psychiatric needs, support needs, and the onset and duration of problems;
3. Current medical problems;
4. Current medications;
5. Current and past substance use or abuse, including co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders; and
6. At-risk behavior to self and others.
F. A comprehensive assessment shall update and finalize the initial assessment. The timing for completion of the comprehensive assessment shall be based upon the nature and scope of the service but shall occur no later than 30 days after admission for providers of mental health and substance abuse services and 60 days after admission for providers of developmental services. The comprehensive assessment shall address:
1. Onset and duration of problems;
2. Social, behavioral, developmental, and family history and supports;
3. Cognitive functioning, including strengths and weaknesses;
4. Employment, vocational, and educational background;
5. Previous interventions and outcomes;
6. Financial resources and benefits;
7. Health history and current medical care needs, to include:
a. Allergies;
b. Recent physical complaints and medical conditions;
c. Nutritional needs;
d. Chronic conditions;
e. Communicable diseases;
f. Restrictions on physical activities, if any;
g. Restrictive protocols or special supervision requirements;
h. Past serious illnesses, serious injuries, and hospitalizations;
i. Serious illnesses and chronic conditions of the individual's parents, siblings, and significant others in the same household; and
j. Current and past substance use, including alcohol, prescription and nonprescription medications, and illicit drugs.
8. Psychiatric and substance use issues, including current mental health or substance use needs, presence of co-occurring disorders, history of substance use or abuse, and circumstances that increase the individual's risk for mental health or substance use issues;
9. History of abuse, neglect, sexual or domestic violence, or trauma, including psychological trauma;
10. Legal status, including authorized representative, commitment, and representative payee status;
11. Relevant criminal charges or convictions and probation or parole status;
12. Daily living skills;
13. Housing arrangements;
14. Ability to access services, including transportation needs; and
15. As applicable, and in all residential services, fall risk, communication methods or needs, and mobility and adaptive equipment needs.
G. Providers of short-term intensive services, including inpatient and crisis stabilization services, shall develop policies for completing comprehensive assessments within the time frames appropriate for those services.
H. Providers of nonintensive or short-term services shall meet the requirements for the initial assessment at a minimum. Nonintensive services are services provided in jails, nursing homes, or other locations when access to records and information is limited by the location and nature of the services. Short-term services typically are provided for less than 60 days.
I. Providers may utilize standardized state or federally sanctioned assessment tools that do not meet all the criteria of this section as the initial or comprehensive assessment tools as long as the tools assess the individual's health and safety issues and substantially meet the requirements of this section.
J. Individuals who receive medication-only services shall be reassessed at least annually to determine whether there is a change in the need for additional services and the effectiveness of the medication.
K. This section does not apply to crisis services as crisis services shall comply with Part VIII of this chapter.
Statutory Authority
§§ 37.2-302 and 37.2-400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 18, eff. September 19, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 5, eff. December 7, 2011; Volume 36, Issue 22, eff. August 1, 2020; Volume 40, Issue 22, eff. July 17, 2024.
12VAC35-105-660. Individualized services plan (ISP).
A. The provider shall actively involve the individual and the individual's authorized representative, as appropriate, in the development, review, and revision of a person-centered ISP. The individualized services planning process shall be consistent with laws protecting confidentiality, privacy, human rights of individuals receiving services, and rights of minors.
B. The provider shall develop and implement an initial person-centered ISP for the first 60 days for developmental services or for the first 30 days for mental health and substance abuse services. This ISP shall be developed and implemented within 24 hours of admission to address immediate service, health, and safety needs and shall continue in effect until the ISP is developed or the individual is discharged, whichever comes first.
C. The provider shall implement a person-centered comprehensive ISP as soon as possible after admission based upon the nature and scope of services but no later than 30 days after admission for providers of mental health and substance abuse services and 60 days after admission for providers of developmental services.
D. The initial ISP and the comprehensive ISP shall be developed based on the respective assessment with the participation and informed choice of the individual receiving services.
1. To ensure the individual's participation and informed choice, the following shall be explained to the individual or the individual's authorized representative, as applicable, in a reasonable and comprehensible manner:
a. The proposed services to be delivered;
b. Any alternative services that might be advantageous for the individual; and
c. Any accompanying risks or benefits of the proposed and alternative services.
2. If no alternative services are available to the individual, it shall be clearly documented within the ISP, or within documentation attached to the ISP, that alternative services were not available as well as any steps taken to identify if alternative services were available.
3. Whenever there is a change to an individual's ISP, it shall be clearly documented within the ISP, or within documentation attached to the ISP that:
a. The individual participated in the development of or revision to the ISP;
b. The proposed and alternative services and their respective risks and benefits were explained to the individual or the individual's authorized representative; and
c. The reasons the individual or the individual's authorized representative chose the option included in the ISP.
E. This section does not apply to crisis services as crisis services shall comply with Part VIII of this chapter.
Statutory Authority
§§ 37.2-302 and 37.2-400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 18, eff. September 19, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 24, eff. September 18, 2003; Volume 23, Issue 10, eff. February 21, 2007; Volume 28, Issue 5, eff. December 7, 2011; Volume 36, Issue 22, eff. August 1, 2020; Volume 40, Issue 22, eff. July 17, 2024.
12VAC35-105-665. ISP requirements.
A. The comprehensive ISP shall be based on the individual's needs, strengths, abilities, personal preferences, goals, and natural supports identified in the assessment. The ISP shall include:
1. Relevant and attainable goals, measurable objectives, and specific strategies for addressing each need;
2. Services and supports and frequency of services required to accomplish the goals, including relevant psychological, mental health, substance abuse, behavioral, medical, rehabilitation, training, and nursing needs and supports;
3. The role of the individual and others in implementing the service plan;
4. A communication plan for individuals with communication barriers, including language barriers;
5. A behavioral support or treatment plan, if applicable;
6. A safety plan that addresses identified risks to the individual or to others, including a fall risk plan;
7. A crisis or relapse plan, if applicable;
8. Target dates for accomplishment of goals and objectives;
9. Identification of employees or contractors responsible for coordination and integration of services, including employees of other agencies;
10. Recovery plans, if applicable; and
11. Services the individual elects to self-direct, if applicable.
B. The ISP shall be signed and dated, at a minimum, by the person responsible for implementing the plan and the individual receiving services or the individual's authorized representative in order to document agreement. If the signature of the individual receiving services or the individual's authorized representative cannot be obtained, the provider shall document attempts to obtain the necessary signature and the reason why he was unable to obtain it. The ISP shall be distributed to the individual and others authorized to receive it.
C. The provider shall designate a person who shall be responsible for developing, implementing, reviewing, and revising each individual's ISP in collaboration with the individual or individual's authorized representative, as appropriate.
D. Employees or contractors who are responsible for implementing the ISP shall demonstrate a working knowledge of the objectives and strategies contained in the individual's current ISP, including an individual's detailed health and safety protocols.
E. Providers of short-term intensive services such as inpatient and crisis services that are typically provided for less than 30 days shall implement a policy to develop an ISP within a timeframe consistent with the length of stay of individuals.
F. When a provider provides more than one service to an individual, the provider may maintain a single ISP document that contains individualized objectives and strategies for each service provided.
G. Whenever possible, the identified goals in the ISP shall be written in the words of the individual receiving services.
H. This section does not apply to crisis services as crisis services shall comply with Part VIII of this chapter.
Statutory Authority
§§ 37.2-302 and 37.2-400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 5, eff. December 7, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 22, eff. August 1, 2020; Volume 40, Issue 22, eff. July 17, 2024.
12VAC35-105-670. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 18, eff. September 19, 2002; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 5, eff. December 7, 2011.
12VAC35-105-675. Reassessments and ISP reviews.
A. Reassessments shall be completed at least annually and any time there is a need based on changes in the medical, psychiatric, behavioral, or other status of the individual.
B. Providers shall complete changes to the ISP as a result of the assessments.
C. The provider shall update the ISP at least annually and any time assessments identify risks, injuries, needs, or a change in status of the individual.
D. The provider shall complete quarterly reviews of the ISP at least every three months from the date of the implementation of the comprehensive ISP.
1. These reviews shall evaluate the individual's progress toward meeting the ISP's goals and objectives and the continued relevance of the ISP's objectives and strategies. The provider shall update the goals, objectives, and strategies contained in the ISP, if indicated, and implement any updates made.
2. These reviews shall document evidence of progression toward or achievement of a specific targeted outcome for each goal and objective.
3. For goals and objectives that were not accomplished by the identified target date, the provider and any appropriate treatment team members shall meet to review the reasons for lack of progress and provide the individual an opportunity to make an informed choice of how to proceed. Documentation of the quarterly review shall be added to the individual's record no later than 15 calendar days from the date the review was due to be completed, with the exception of case management services. Case management quarterly reviews shall be added to the individual's record no later than 30 calendar days from the date the review was due.
Statutory Authority
§ 37.2-203 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 5, eff. December 7, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 35, Issue 12, eff. March 21, 2019; amended, Volume 36, Issue 22, eff. August 1, 2020; Volume 37, Issue 12, eff. March 4, 2021.
12VAC35-105-680. Progress notes or other documentation.
The provider shall use signed and dated progress notes or other documentation to document the services provided and the implementation of the goals and objectives contained in the ISP.
Statutory Authority
§ 37.2-203 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 18, eff. September 19, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 5, eff. December 7, 2011.
12VAC35-105-690. Orientation.
A. The provider shall implement a written policy regarding the orientation of individuals and their authorized representatives, if applicable to services.
B. As appropriate to the scope and level of services the policy shall require the provision to individuals and authorized representatives the following information:
1. The mission of the provider or service;
2. Service confidentiality practices and protections for individuals receiving services;
3. Human rights policies and protections and instructions on how to report violations;
4. Opportunities for participation in services and discharge planning;
5. Fire safety and emergency preparedness procedures, if applicable;
6. The provider's grievance procedure;
7. Service guidelines including criteria for admission to and discharge or transfer from services;
8. Hours and days of operation;
9. Availability of after-hours service; and
10. Any charges or fees due from the individual.
C. In addition, individuals receiving treatment services in a correctional facility shall receive an orientation to the facility's security restrictions.
D. The provider shall document that the individual and authorized representative, if applicable, received an orientation to services.
Statutory Authority
§ 37.2-203 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 18, eff. September 19, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 5, eff. December 7, 2011.
12VAC35-105-691. Transition of individuals among service..
A. The provider shall implement written procedures that define the process for transitioning an individual between or among services operated by the provider. At a minimum the policy shall address:
1. The process by which the provider will assure continuity of services during and following transition;
2. The participation of the individual or his authorized representative, as applicable, in the decision to move and in the planning for transfer;
3. The process and timeframe for transferring the access to individual's record and ISP to the destination location;
4. The process and timeframe for completing the transfer summary; and
5. The process and timeframe for transmitting or accessing, where applicable, discharge summaries to the destination service.
B. The transfer summary shall include at a minimum the following:
1. Reason for the individual's transfer;
2. Documentation of informed choice by the individual or his authorized representative, as applicable, in the decision to and planning for the transfer;
3. Current psychiatric and known medical conditions or issues of the individual and the identity of the individual's health care providers;
4. Updated progress of the individual in meeting goals and objectives in his ISP;
5. Emergency medical information;
6. Dosages of all currently prescribed medications and over-the-counter medications used by the individual when prescribed by the provider or known by the case manager;
7. Transfer date; and
8. Signature of employee or contractor responsible for preparing the transfer summary.
C. The transfer summary may be documented in the individual's progress notes or in information easily accessible within an electronic health record.
Statutory Authority
§§ 37.2-302 and 37.2-400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 5, eff. December 7, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 22, eff. August 1, 2020.
12VAC35-105-693. Discharge.
A. The provider shall have written policies and procedures regarding the discharge or termination of individuals from the service. These policies and procedures shall include medical and clinical criteria for discharge.
B. Discharge instructions shall be provided in writing to the individual, the individual's authorized representative, and the successor provider, as applicable. Discharge instructions shall include, at a minimum, medications and dosages; names, telephone numbers, and addresses of any providers to whom the individual is referred; current medical issues or conditions; and the identity of the treating health care providers.
C. The provider shall make appropriate arrangements or referrals to all service providers identified in the discharge plan prior to the individual's scheduled discharge date.
D. The content of the discharge plan and the determination to discharge the individual shall be consistent with the ISP and the criteria for discharge.
E. The provider shall document in the individual's service record that the individual, the individual's authorized representative, and the individual's family members, as appropriate, have been involved in the discharge planning process.
F. A written discharge summary shall be completed within 30 days of discharge and shall include, at a minimum, the following:
1. Reason for the individual's admission to and discharge from the service;
2. Description of the individual's or the individual's authorized representative's participation in discharge planning;
3. The individual's current level of functioning or functioning limitations, if applicable;
4. Recommended procedures, activities, or referrals to assist the individual in maintaining or improving functioning and increased independence;
5. The status, location, and arrangements that have been made for future services;
6. Progress made by the individual in achieving goals and objectives identified in the ISP and summary of critical events during service provision;
7. Discharge date;
8. Discharge medications prescribed by the provider, if applicable;
9. Date the discharge summary was actually written or documented; and
10. Signature of the person who prepared the summary.
G. This section does not apply to crisis services as crisis services shall comply with Part VIII of this chapter.
Statutory Authority
§ 37.2-203 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 5, eff. December 7, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 40, Issue 22, eff. July 17, 2024.