Behavioral Health Services, Inc.
Subject: ADOLESCENT SERVICES
Policy#: 4.4.2
Title: Assessment & Admission Criteria for Youth and Young Adults
Effective Date of This Revision: July 1, 2017
Contact: Divisional Director 310-679-9126
Applies to:
Officers
Other agents
Staff
Visitors
Student clinicians
Contractors
Volunteers
Subcontractors / Business Associates
PURPOSE:
To ensure the consistent and impartial application of admission criteria, including determination of medical necessity and level of care placement, for prospective adolescent youth and young adult patients to be admitted into Behavioral Health Services, Inc.’s Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment system of care.
POLICY:
Admission Policy 4.6.2.6 applies to youth/adolescents as well as to adults. However, eligibility for services and the definition of medical necessity are broadened for youth and young adults to include individuals who are determined to be “at risk” for developing a SUD. The “at-risk” designation is a component of medical necessity for youth and young adults, and must be either determined by an LPHA, or a registered or certified counselor with signature approval from an LPHA.
Definitions
Youth – Persons of age 12 to 17 years. This is synonymous with the term, “adolescent.”
Young Adult – Persons of age 18 – 20 years.
“At Risk” for Youth and Young Adults – Youth or young adults under the age of 21 may be determined to be “at risk” if they meet the following criteria:
If the substance use does NOT meet the minimum criteria for a substance use disorder from the DSM-V (with the exception of Tobacco-Related Disorders and Non-Substance- Related Disorders
AND
Determined to be at-risk of developing a substance use disorder based on reports of experimental or early-phase substance use, associated biopsychosocial risk factors and information gathered from the full ASAM assessment and At-Risk Determination Tool.
PROCEDURES
Upon an “at-risk” determination, youth and young adults are eligible for short-term intervention services (e.g. counseling and case management) for their substance use through the Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Medi-Cal benefit, provided in the outpatient setting.
Medical necessity will be determined using a full ASAM assessment approved for youth and young adults.
Assessment
An assessment is conducted for each adolescent. In addition to the standard assessment areas discussed in the general program policies, the adolescent assessment includes:
Developmental history including growth patterns and coordination
Self reported medical history including immunization record
Speech, hearing and vision problems
Intellectual functioning
School history
Interactions with peers
Parental/guardian custodial status
These areas will be documented on an addendum to the standard assessment form.
