Pennsylvania Code
Title 55 - HUMAN SERVICES
Part III - MEDICAL ASSISTANCE MANUAL
Chapter 1181 - NURSING FACILITY CARE
Subchapter D - NURSING HOME REFORM-STATEMENT OF POLICY
PREADMISSION SCREENING PROGRAM
Section 1181.542 - Who is required to be screened

Universal Citation: 55 PA Code ยง 1181.542

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024

(a) OBRA-87 requires only that individuals who are mentally ill or mentally retarded, including persons with other related conditions, as defined by the law, be screened prior to admission. This requirement applies to all those individuals, whether or not the individual is eligible or applying for MA or Medicare benefits. However, this requirement does not displace the existing preadmission assessment requirements for persons eligible or applying for MA-for example, LAMP. This subchapter deals with the OBRA-87 requirement, which is in addition to existing preadmission screening requirements.

(b) OBRA-87 applies only to persons seeking admission to nursing facilities, but it does not apply to persons seeking admission to intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded (ICF/MR). It also does not apply to persons seeking admission to inpatient psychiatric facilities, institutions for mental diseases, community placement or nursing facilities which are not providers participating in the MA Program or the Medicare Program.

(1) Who is mentally ill as defined by OBRA-87.
(i) OBRA-87 defines an individual who is mentally ill and therefore subject to screening as an individual who has a primary or secondary diagnosis of mental illness-as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd edition-but does not have a primary diagnosis of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. Thus, an individual who does have a primary diagnosis of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder, is exempt from the OBRA-87 preadmission screening requirements.

(ii) The Health and Human Services (HHS) draft criteria seek to limit the OBRA-87 definition to only those individuals with the following types of major mental disorders: schizophrenic; paranoid; major affective; schizoaffective; and atypical psychotic. The Department will apply this limiting definition of mental illness. Thus, an individual has a primary or secondary diagnosis of mental illness for OBRA-87 screening purposes only if the condition falls within the definitions of schizophrenic, paranoid, major affective, schizoaffective or atypical psychotic disorders.

(iii) Since OBRA-87 focuses on the actual condition of the individual seeking admission, the HHS draft criteria indicate that certain information in addition to the diagnoses be reviewed and that the information can be the basis for screening even if the individual does not have a primary or secondary diagnosis of mental illness. The Department will apply these additional criteria. Thus, except as provided in paragraph (3), an individual shall be screened, for OBRA-87 purposes, even if they do not have a primary or secondary diagnosis of mental illness, if one of the following applies:
(A) The individual has a history of mental illness-as limited by definitions in this subparagraph-within the last 2 years.

(B) The individual has been prescribed a major tranquilizer on a regular basis in the absence of a justifiable neurological disorder.

(C) There is presenting evidence of mental illness-as limited by definitions in this subparagraph-including possible disturbances in orientation, affect or mood.

(iv) If the individual has a primary diagnosis of dementia-as defined in this subparagraph-even if the individual meets one or more of the additional criteria, the individual is exempt from the preadmission screening process.

(2) Who is mentally retarded under OBRA-87.
(i) OBRA-87 uses the term "mentally retarded" to involve both individuals who are mentally retarded and those who may not be mentally retarded, but have other related conditions under 42 U.S.C.A. § 1396d(d).
(A) Individuals who are mentally retarded. Mental retardation is defined as having a level of retardation-mild, moderate, severe or profound-as described in the American Association on Mental Deficiency's Manual on Classification in Mental Retardation (1983).

(B) Individuals with other related conditions. Other related conditions are defined by 42 CFR 435.1009 (relating to definitions relating to institutional status), and include cerebal palsy and epilepsy, as well as other conditions-such as autism-other than mental illness, found to be closely related to mental retardation because the condition results in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of persons with mental retardation, and requires treatment or services similar to those required for the mentally retarded. Related conditions are conditions which are:
(I) Manifested before age 22.

(II) Likely to continue indefinitely.

(III) Resulting in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity:

(-a-) Self-care.

(-b-) Understanding and use of language.

(-c-) Learning.

(-d-) Mobility.

(-e-) Self-direction.

(-f-) Capacity for independent living.

(ii) Thus, for OBRA-87 purposes, a person is subject to preadmission screening if that individual:
(A) Has a diagnosis that fits the definitions of "Mental retardation" or "other related conditions" in clauses (A) and (B).

(B) Has a history of a condition that fits the definitions.

(C) Presents evidence-cognitive or behavior functions-that may indicate those conditions.

(D) Is referred by an agency that serves persons with those conditions and has been found eligible for services by the agency.

(3) Exceptions to the rule.
(i) Exceptions to the rule are as follows:
(A) Convalescent care. An individual who may otherwise be mentally ill or mentally retarded or who has another related condition under OBRA-87, but is not a danger to himself or others, may be admitted to a nursing facility without going through the OBRA-87 preadmission screening process for up to 120 days as part of a medically prescribed period of recovery after release from an acute care hospital. If a person admitted under this exception requires more than 120 days of recovery, a determination permitting the continued stay shall be sought promptly.

(B) Terminal illness. An individual who may otherwise be mentally ill or mentally retarded or who has another related condition under OBRA-87, but is not a danger to himself or others, may be admitted to a nursing facility without going through the OBRA-87 preadmission screening process, if certified by a physician to be terminally ill-as defined in 42 U.S.C.A. § 1395x(dd)(3)(A) -and requiring continuous nursing care or medical supervision and treatment, or both, due to the individual's physical condition. "Terminally ill" is defined in 42 U.S.C.A. § 1395x(dd)(3)(A) as an individual who has a medical prognosis of a life expectancy of 6 months or less.

(C) Severity of illness. An individual who may otherwise be mentally ill or mentally retarded or who has another related condition under OBRA-87 may be admitted to a nursing facility without going through the OBRA-87 preadmission screening process if certified by a physician to be comatose, ventilator dependent, functioning at the brain stem level or having a diagnosis of either Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Severe Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Congestive Heart Failure or another diagnosis later determined by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to be sufficient.

(D) Not mentally ill or mentally retarded. An individual who is not mentally ill, mentally retarded, who doesn't have another related condition, as defined by OBRA-87, and who is not otherwise subject to preadmission screening as described in this subparagraph may be admitted to a nursing facility without going through the OBRA-87 preadmission screening process.

(ii) Thus, a person who qualifies for an exception in this paragraph may be admitted to a nursing facility without further determinations by the Department within the OBRA-87 preadmission screening process.

(4) Necessary documentation. A nursing facility provider-except an ICF/MR-is required to comply with the preadmission screening process as a condition of continuing participation in the Medical Assistance Program. The process involves certain documentation requirements with respect to individuals who are subject to preadmission screening and individuals who are not.
(i) Form PA-PASARR-ID.
(A) The Department will require the use of Form PA-PASARR-ID by a nursing facility subject to the OBRA-87 requirement. Form PA-PASARR-ID is designed to evaluate whether an applicant for admission to the nursing facility is subject to the determination requirements of OBRA-87 and, if not, to document the bases for excepting that individual from the process.

(B) The record of each resident admitted to a nursing facility on or after January 1, 1989 shall include the completed Form PA-PASARR-ID for that resident. Failure to maintain documentation of the completion of the form in a resident's record shall be a basis for the disallowance of payment under the Medical Assistance Program with respect to that resident under §§ 1101.51(e), 1101.61, 1101.71(a) and 1101.83(a), and may be a basis for the termination of the provider agreement or for the imposition of another sanction permitted by law.

(C) Where Form PA-PASARR-ID indicates that an applicant for admission is subject to further preadmission screening by the Department, the provider shall refer the applicant to the appropriate agency, for evaluation, and shall provide the agency and the applicant with a copy of the completed Form PA-PASARR-ID. The applicant-including a legal or personal representative acting on behalf of the applicant-shall have the right to appeal a referral. The appeals process is described in § 1181.561 (relating to process to appeal adverse determinations in the preadmission screening program). An attachment to form PA-PASARR-ID provides the applicant with notice of the appeals process.

(D) Completion of Form PA-PASARR-ID does not replace Department requirements with respect to Form MA-51. When Form MA-51 is required by current Department procedures, that form shall be filed as well as Form PA-PASARR-ID.

(ii) Form PA-PASARR-YN.
(A) The determinations of whether individuals requiring preadmission screening require nursing facility services and, if they do, whether they require active treatment shall be issued to the involved applicants for admission to the facility on Form PA-PASARR-YN. No individual who has been referred by a provider for evaluation may be admitted to the nursing facility without presenting Form PA-PASARR-YN authorizing admission for copying and verification by the provider.

(B) Providers are required to maintain their copy of Form PA-PASARR-YN as part of the record of a person admitted to the facility on or after January 1, 1989. Certification to the provider on Form PA-PASARR-YN, verified by the agency designated by the Department of Aging to manage the evaluation process, is the only acceptable evidence as to whether a person who has been referred by the provider for further determination under the preadmission screening process has been determined to be eligible for admission. The Department will not make payment for services provided to a resident referred for preadmission screening process determinations unless the Department has certified on Form PA-PASARR-YN that the resident requires the level of services provided in a nursing facility.

(C) A copy of the completed Form PA-PASARR-YN is provided to each applicant who has been referred for further determination. The applicant-including a legal or personal representative acting on behalf of the applicant-shall have the right to appeal from a determination. The form provides the applicant with notice of the appeals process.

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