Assessment

Assessment A. For all people receiving mental health services and/or substance use services, the initial assessment and subsequent assessments may be provided either in person or via telehealth (as per the practitioner’s scope of practice as well as the telehealth rules in this chapter). Assessment is the securing of information from the person receiving services and/or collateral contacts, of the person’s family background, educational/vocational achievement, needs, problem history, history of previous treatment, medical history, current medication(s), source of referral and other pertinent information in order to determine the nature of the person’s or family’s needs, barriers, strengths, and the most appropriate course of treatment for the person and/or family. B. The initial assessment and subsequent assessments must be completed by a DMH Credentialed Mental Health Therapist, DMH Credentialed IDD Therapist, DMH Credentialed Addictions Therapist or professionally licensed individual. C. The following priority groups of people must receive an initial assessment within 14 calendar days of the date that services are sought and/or the date the referral is made: 1. People discharged from an inpatient psychiatric facility. 2. People discharged from an institution. 3. People discharged or transferred from Crisis Residential Services. 4. People referred from Crisis Response Services. D. For people in need of Psychiatric/Physician Services, an appointment for these services must be made and documented during the initial assessment. E. For adults receiving Outpatient Mental Health Services, a DMH-approved functional assessment must be conducted within 60 calendar days of initial assessment and at least every 12 months thereafter. F. For children/youth receiving mental health services, a DMH-approved functional assessment must be conducted within 60 calendar days of initial assessment and at least every six (6) months thereafter. If a child/youth has been evaluated by the school district or other approved examiner to determine the need/eligibility for special education services, the mental health service provider must document their request and/or receipt of such evaluation results, provided that appropriate written consent was obtained from the parent(s)/legal representative(s) to do so. Copies of the request(s) for the release of information and any special education evaluation results received must be maintained in the person’s record. G. People with intellectual/developmental disabilities must be evaluated by one (1) of the Diagnostic and Evaluation Teams located at the IDD Regional Programs, to determine the need for/eligibility for ICF/IID level of care, ID/DD Waiver, IDD Community Support Program, and/or other IDD Services. People’s records must include documentation of a Certificate of Developmental Disability (if applicable), the psychological, and social summary. H. For people receiving substance use services, a DMH-approved functional assessment must be conducted within timelines according to the service(s) received. See Provider Bulletin PR0071 for the following timelines: 1. Administered within seven (7) days of admission. 2. Administered at least every 90 days thereafter. 3. Administered at the time of discharge from any Community Living Service, Outpatient Service, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), or Recovery Support Service. I. For substance use services, all people receiving substance use treatment services must receive the TB and HIV/AIDS Risk Assessment at the time of the intake/initial assessment except under the following circumstances: 1. For Clinically Managed High and Low Intensity Residential Services (previously referred to as Primary and Transitional Residential Services): The assessment form (or a copy) is in the person’s record verifying the assessment(s) was administered, with documentation of follow-up results, if applicable, in primary (high intensity) treatment services completed within the last 30 calendar days. 2. For Peer Support Specialist Services: The assessment form (or a copy) is in the person’s record verifying that both risk assessments were administered with documentation of follow-up and results, if applicable, during substance use treatment services completed within the last 30 calendar days. J. In addition to the initial assessment, a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Diagnostic Assessment for people in DUI services as second and subsequent offenders must contain the following information: 1. A motor vehicle report (or evidence of a written request) which is obtained by the service provider from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. This person’s record must contain: Previous DUIs and Moving Violations. 2. The results and interpretations of a DMH-approved diagnostic instrument.