Section 5119.371. [Renumbered from 5119.612] Acceptance of accreditation from national accrediting organizations in lieu of certification

(A) In lieu of a determination by the director of mental health and addiction services of whether the services of a community mental health services provider or a community addiction services provider satisfy the standards for certification under section 5119.36 of the Revised Code, the director shall accept appropriate accreditation of an applicant's mental health services, alcohol and drug addiction services, integrated mental health and alcohol and other drug addiction services, integrated mental health and physical health services, or integrated alcohol and other drug addiction and physical health services being provided in this state from any of the following national accrediting organizations as evidence that the applicant satisfies the standards for certification:

(1) The joint commission;

(2) The commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities;

(3) The council on accreditation;

(4) Other behavioral health accreditation as determined by the director.

(B) If the director determines that an applicant's accreditation is current, is appropriate for the services for which the applicant is seeking certification, and the applicant meets any other requirements established under this section or in rules adopted under this section, the director shall certify the applicant's services that are accredited. Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, the director shall issue the certification without further evaluation of the services.

(C) For purposes of this section, all of the following apply:

(1) The director may review the accrediting organizations listed in division (A) of this section to evaluate whether the accreditation standards and processes used by the organizations are consistent with service delivery models the director considers appropriate for mental health services, alcohol or other drug addiction services, physical health services, or both. The director may communicate to an accrediting organization any identified concerns, trends, needs, and recommendations.

(2) The director may conduct an on-site review or otherwise evaluate a community mental health services provider or a community addiction services provider at any time based on cause, including complaints made by or on behalf of persons receiving services and confirmed or alleged deficiencies brought to the attention of the director. This authority does not affect the director's duty to conduct the annual inspections required by section 5119.372 of the Revised Code.

(3) The director shall require a community mental health services provider and a community addiction services provider to notify the director not later than ten days after any change in the provider's accreditation status. The provider may notify the director by providing a copy of the relevant document the provider received from the accrediting organization.

(4) The director shall require a community mental health services provider and a community addiction services provider to submit to the director reports of major unusual incidents.

(5) The director may require a community mental health services provider or a community addiction services provider to submit to the director cost reports pertaining to the provider.

(D) The director shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section. In adopting the rules, the director shall do all of the following:

(1) Specify the documentation that must be submitted as evidence of holding appropriate accreditation;

(2) Establish a process by which the director may review the accreditation standards and processes used by the national accrediting organizations listed in division (A) of this section;

(3) Specify the circumstances under which reports of major unusual incidents and provider cost reports must be submitted to the director;

(4) Specify the circumstances under which the director may conduct an on-site review or otherwise evaluate a community mental health services provider and a community addiction services provider for cause;

(5) Establish a process by which the director, based on deficiencies identified as a result of conducting an on-site review or evaluating a community mental health services provider or a community addiction services provider under division (C)(2) of this section, may take any of a range of corrective actions, with the most stringent being revocation of the certification of the provider's services.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 4, §1, eff. 7/16/2015.

Renumbered from § 5119.612 by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.