The health care system and psychiatry is undergoing a revolution in transparency.
This is our contribution to that effort. In psychiatry there’s a joke,”When they
don’t know what it is they call it psychiatric.” But this is not a joke to consumers
attempting to locate a good day program for someone they love dearly.In fact, it
can be all too accurate and tragic.
Psychiatric Day Program Selection
Mental health professionals are oriented to the prevention of recurring a hospital
stay. Important mental health interventions should be done by master’s level personnel
that is not custodial. Custodial care is recognized where there’s no evidence of
an attempt at outpatient and community supports (those at the place of residence).Relapse
prevention and treatment always involves a psychiatric treatment plan (which you
can request) and review; it should also include diagnosis, medication, and a very
detailed step by step goals & objectives and by whom. There should be an expiration
date, if there is an expectation of improvement.
Reasonable Expectation of Improvement for Mental Health Services Furnished under
Partial Hospitalization
Programs Services furnished under partial hospitalization programs must be for the
purpose of diagnostic study or be reasonably expected to improve the patient's condition.
The treatment must, at a minimum, be designed to reduce or control the patient's
psychiatric symptoms so as to prevent relapse or hospitalization and improve or maintain
level of functioning. The goal of a course of therapy is not necessarily restoration
of the patient to the level of functioning exhibited prior to the onset of illness,
although this may be appropriate for some patients. The overall intent of the partial
hospital program admission is to treat the serious presenting psychiatric symptoms.
Continued treatment in order to maintain a stable psychiatric condition or functional
level requires evidence that less intensive treatment options (e.g. intensive outpatient,
psychosocial, day treatment, and/or other community supports) cannot provide the
level of support necessary to maintain the patient and to prevent hospitalization.
Medicare Payments for Part B Mental Health Services Note: This article was revised
on November 14, 2008, to show that the “Reasonable Expectation of Improvement” for
psychiatric day programs. It serves as an excellent standard for consumers to discuss
with the psychiatric day program leadership & staff.
