Service Requirements:

Psychiatric evaluation including medication evaluation provided by a licensed psychiatrist and including pharmaceutical assessment and treatment or prescription medication intervention and ongoing care to prevent future crises of a psychiatric nature.

Comment: Often individuals who meet medical necessity for Crisis Stabilization services to avoid hospitalization or re-hospitalization are already connected with a psychiatric provider and/or recently participated in a psychiatric evaluation. Requiring a psychiatric evaluation would be redundant and unnecessary in some situations. Maintaining the original language of "where appropriate" is recommended.  Additionally, some individuals or guardians may refuse a psychiatric evaluation, but are agreeable to participating in a crisis stabilization service. Are these individuals still eligible for Crisis Stabilization services?

There is a significant shortage of licensed psychiatrists available to provide Medicaid funded services, especially for children and adolescents. Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants should be considered as qualified providers to meet this service requirement.