N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-5.55

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 10:37-5.55 - Designation of responsibility

(a) Systemic use of local inpatient facilities:

1. Each agency receiving State mental health funding for IPU programs, and other mental health agencies in that Service Area, shall use that State-funded local IPU whenever feasible, rather than refer Service Area residents to county and State psychiatric hospitals for admission.

2. Affiliation agreements must be executed by IPU programs, with the Service Area's public psychiatric facilities and with other State-funded mental health agencies in the Service Area. Agreements shall clearly outline admission criteria and procedures and those circumstances for which transfers among the local, county and State inpatient units shall be appropriate.

(b) Admissions:

1. There shall be a well-defined, written admissions policy, including admissions criteria and referral procedures for the IPU program; once developed, these criteria and procedures shall be widely distributed to all Service Area mental health and mainstream referral agencies. Such criteria shall be developed jointly with the Division, the County Mental Health Board, and the State and county psychiatric hospitals, as part of a formal affiliation process. Private psychiatric hospitals and V.A. hospitals may be included in the process of system unification when desirable and appropriate.

2. Inpatient Programs must be made available to Service Area residents meeting the admission criteria. Service Area residents shall receive services as a first priority; an emergency admission of an out-of-Service Area client, however, shall be possible.

3. Clients previously hospitalized in either a State or county psychiatric facility cannot be denied admission to a local IPU, nor automatically be referred to the State or county facility, solely because of his/her hospitalization history in a State or county facility.

4. Admission to Inpatient programs shall be in compliance with laws governing the voluntary and involuntary commitment of adults and children.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-5.55