Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCERTs)

Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCERTs) A. Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCERTs) are operated by LMHAs and/or other service providers designated by DMH. Mobile Crisis Response Teams provide community-based crisis services that deliver solution-focused and recovery-oriented mental/behavioral health assessments and stabilization of self-defined crisis in the location where the person is experiencing the crisis whenever feasible. Teams consist of mental health personnel who can provide support to people experiencing a mental/behavioral health crisis. The teams ensure the person served has a follow-up appointment with their preferred provider and monitor the person until the appointment takes place. Mobile Crisis Response is available to all people in Mississippi regardless of insurance status, age, residency, or prior service utilization. Mobile Crisis Response Services must be able to serve mental health, IDD, and substance use disorder service populations. MCERTs provide a combination of crisis services, including emergency care (response immediately or within up to two (2) hours in a rural setting), urgent care (response within eight (8) hours), and crisis follow-up to children, adolescents, or adults in the community. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week within the provider’s catchment or service area. MCERTs must deliver community-based crisis intervention, screening, assessment, de- escalation and stabilization, safety planning, and coordination with and referrals to appropriate resources, including health, social, and other services and supports. B. Agency providers of MCERTs must also meet Rules 19.1 – 19.2. C. Mobile Crisis Response Services must have the capability to respond to multiple crisis calls at a time. D. Mobile Crisis Response Services must include a single toll-free telephone number which covers the agency provider’s entire catchment area or service area for crisis calls. E. Mental Health Professional(s) on the MCERTs consist of professionals who can provide support to people experiencing a mental/behavioral health crisis. MCERTs must: 1. Be able to respond within the timelines outlined above: immediately or within up to two (2) hours (rural setting) for emergency care and within eight (8) hours for urgent care. 2. Complete an assessment of the person’s risk and acuity using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale or the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit or another DMH-approved assessment tool. The assessment will include, but not be limited to, current risk level related to suicide/homicide, substance use, mental status, current and past mental health diagnoses and treatment, coping skills, and medical condition. 3. Utilize a team approach to Mobile Crisis Response to address the crisis. Teams should use provider-established risk and safety guidance measures and protocols to determine if and when to engage law enforcement; these measures should be adequately developed and agreed to by law enforcement. 4. Work to immediately stabilize the person’s crisis using solution-focused and recovery- oriented interventions designed to avoid unnecessary hospitalization, incarceration, or placement in a more segregated setting. 5. Assess current natural supports and make a determination if the person can safely remain in the community. 6. Transport or arrange transportation to the most appropriate treatment setting if the person is determined to be a danger to self or others. 7. Provide for the level of service the person requires, mitigate the crisis, and if known, support the person’s long-term recovery goals (Example: Crisis Support Plan, Advanced Directive.) F. MCERTs must have immediate access to medical and psychiatric support (licensed psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, licensed physician’s assistant, or licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner, as per the independent practitioner’s scope of practice) during emergency and urgent responses 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week. Medical and psychiatric support can be provided via telemedicine. If medical and/or psychiatric support is not available by a staff member of the LMHA, then a written Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) must be in place between the LMHA and the support provider with an agreement to respond via telemedicine to MCERT needs around the clock, as outlined above. MCERTs must have written procedures on how Teams can access medical and psychiatric support. G. Mobile Crisis Response involves two (2) levels of response intensity, as outlined below: 1. Emergency Response: Mental/behavioral health community services or other necessary interventions directed to address the immediate needs of a person in crisis to ensure the safety of the person in crisis and others who may be placed at risk by the person’s behaviors, including, but not limited to, psychiatric evaluations, administration of medications, hospitalization, stabilization, or resolution of the crisis. The response must occur immediately following the initial service contact (immediately or within up to two (2) hours in a rural setting, as defined in the glossary). 2. Urgent Response: Mental/behavioral health community services or other necessary interventions provided to people in crisis who do not need emergency care services but who are potentially at risk of serious deterioration; services provided may include, but are not limited to, the services outlined in one (1) above. The response (both urban and rural) must occur within eight (8) hours of the initial service contact.