General Admission Requirements

(1) All admissions or transfers to an RMHI shall be subject to available suitable accommodations. (2) Verification of available suitable accommodations does not guarantee admission into an RMHI. Admissions for service recipients under T.C.A. Title 33, Chapter 6, Part 2 or 4 are dependent on the service recipient meeting admission criteria and being evaluated for admission by the receiving RMHI. (3) Priority for admission shall be given to persons referred for an emergency admission. (4) All admissions or transfers to an RMHI shall be subject to specific geographic catchment areas defined by the Commissioner or designee, unless the Commissioner or designee determines otherwise. (5) Before sending a service recipient to an RMHI, the referral source shall contact the RMHI’s Admission Office to determine whether there are available suitable accommodations. (6) If the RMHI has available suitable accommodations, the RMHI shall provide a verification of available suitable accommodations with a confirmation number to the referral source or designee. (7) The RMHI shall provide written verification of available suitable accommodations with a confirmation number to the referral source or designee by fax or email when possible. When it is not possible to provide written verification of available suitable accommodations, the RMHI may provide verification with a confirmation number by telephone to the referral source or the referral source’s designated contact person. ADMISSIONS TO A REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE (RMHI) CHAPTER 0940-03-13 (8) If a local RMHI does not have available suitable accommodations, the local RMHI shall offer to contact the other RMHIs to determine if there are available suitable accommodations in an alternate RMHI and to provide contact information for the RMHI with available suitable accommodations. (9) The referral source may decide to place a service recipient on a waiting list at a local RMHI if: (a) The local RMHI has no available suitable accommodations and the referral source declines a referral to an alternate RMHI; or (b) None of the RMHIs have available suitable accommodations. (10) If a service recipient is placed on a waiting list of a local RMHI, the RMHI shall check at least daily with other RMHIs until available suitable accommodations are located at either the local or other RMHIs, or the referral source requests that the service recipient be removed from the waiting list. (11) If a service recipient arrives at an RMHI without a written verification statement from the referral source or designee, including a confirmation number from the RMHI, a bed may not be available in the RMHI. (12) If during the evaluation for admission, it is determined that the service recipient has a physical disorder or medical condition that requires immediate medical care that the RMHI cannot appropriately provide, the service recipient shall be sent for treatment of the medical condition prior to being admitted to the RMHI. Any service recipient diverted for medical treatment with a valid confirmation number may be transported back to the RMHI for an evaluation for admission. (13) The RMHI may cancel a confirmation number when it is reasonable to do so. Prior to canceling a confirmation number, the RMHI shall contact the referral source or designee. When a service recipient’s confirmation number is canceled, that service recipient may be placed on a waiting list for possible future admission.