Ohio Administrative Code
Title 5122 - Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Chapter 5122-29 - Requirements and Procedures for Mental Health Services Provided by Agencies
Section 5122-29-29 - Assertive community treatment (ACT)

(A) Assertive community treatment (ACT) services are provided to an individual with a major functional impairment or behavior which present a high risk to the individual due to severe and persistent mental illness and which necessitate high service intensity. ACT services are also provided to the individual's family and other support systems. A client receiving ACT services may also have coexisting substance use disorder, physical health diagnoses, and/or mild intellectual disability. The service is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

(B) The purpose of ACT team services is to provide the necessary services and supports which maximize recovery, and promote success in employment, housing, and the community.

(C) ACT service providers shall employ one or more teams of practitioners which meet the minimum fidelity criteria as described in paragraphs (D) and (E) of this rule using the tool for measurement of ACT (TMACT) or dartmouth assertive community treatment scale (DACTS).

(D) For initial certification, each ACT team must achieve a minimum average overall fidelity score of 3.0as determined by an independent validation entity recognized by the department. At its discretion, the Ohio department of mental health and addiction services (OhioMHAS) may lower the minimum score due to the COVID-19 state of emergency declared by the governor.

(E) For continuing certification, each ACT team must achieve and maintain a minimum average overall fidelity score of 4.0 within three years of initial certification as determined by an independent validation entity recognized by the department. At its discretion, OhioMHAS may lower the minimum score due to the COVID-19 state of aemergency declared by the governor.

(F) ACT teams shall have regular repeat fidelity reviews, no more than twelve months from the report date of the previous fidelity review, by an independent validation entity recognized by the department.

(G) At any time after certification of the ACT service, the department may request a new fidelity review based on specific findings of non-compliance with the rules in this chapter.

(H) For a minimum of ninety days, or until the client has stated their desire to discontinue ACT services, the ACT team shall attempt at least two contacts per month for a client who has discontinued ACT services unexpectedly. Such attempts and client response, if any, shall be documented in the individual client record.

(I) ACT shall be provided and supervised by staff who are qualified according to rule 5122-29-30 of the Administrative Code.