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CMS proposes new rule for community mental health centers

Accreditation Connection, July 1, 2011

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would provide conditions of participation for community mental health centers (CMHCs).

Medicare beneficiaries who receive care from a CMHC have an alternative to inpatient treatment, and are provided with partial hospitalization services, including physician services, psychiatric nursing, counseling, and other social services.

CMS’ new rule includes the following standards:

• Establishing qualifications for CMHC employees and contractors.
• Mandating CMHCs to notify clients of their rights and to investigate and report violations of client rights. These proposed requirements also promote continuity of care by highlighting the need for communication of client needs when they are discharged or transferred.
• Organizing a treatment team, developing an active treatment plan, and coordinating services to ensure an interdisciplinary approach to individualized client care.
• Creating a Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program. This will require CMHCs to identify program needs by evaluating outcome and client satisfaction data and making changes based on that data to improve their quality of care.
• Put into place organization, governance, administration of services, and partial hospitalization services requirements, with special attention to governance structure.

CMS is accepting comments until August 16, 2011. If you’d like to submit one, visit http://www.regulations.gov and search for rule “CMS-3202-P.”

To view the press release, click here.

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