New rules close gap between outpatient and acute care
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health announced new regulations and licensing requirements for crisis triage centers, according to a Nov. 27 press release.
This new type of health facility is designed to help individuals who voluntarily admit themselves to stabilize their behavioral health incidents.
Crisis triage centers will provide emergency behavioral health evaluations, as well as outpatient and short-term residential services. This new framework helps close the gap between the needs of patients with outpatient and acute care needs.
“Crisis triage centers will be an important safety net link to crisis intervention in New Mexico for years to come,” Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Lynn Gallagher said. “These will be locally based facilities providing crisis substance abuse and behavioral health services custom fit to the needs of their community.”
The rules and regulations fulfill legislation passed by the New Mexico Legislature and signed by Governor Susana Martinez earlier this year. The legislation required NMDOH’s Division of Health Improvement, which licenses health facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes, to ensure compliance with both state and federal requirements.
Community-based behavioral health providers will be able to establish licensed crisis triage centers designed to:
Offer youth ages 14 and older and adults outpatient and residential care services.
Provide emergency behavioral health triage and evaluation and may provide limited detoxification services from drugs or alcohol.
Manage residents at high risk of suicide or intentional self-harm.
For more information on the new crisis triage center regulations or the NMDOH Division of Health Improvement, visit: www.nmhealth.org/about/dhi.
