Sec. 232a.

(1) Subject to section 114a, the department shall promulgate rules to establish standards for certification and the certification review process for community mental health services programs. The standards shall include but not be limited to all of the following:

(a) Matters of governance, resource management, quality improvement, service delivery, and safety management.

(b) Promotion and protection of recipient rights.

(2) After reviewing a community mental health services program, the department shall notify a program that substantially complies with the standards established under this section that it is certified by the department.

(3) The department may waive the certification review process in whole or in part and consider the community mental health services program to be in substantial compliance with the standards established under this section if the program has received accreditation from a national accrediting organization recognized by the department that includes review of matters described in subsection (1)(a).

(4) If the department certifies a community mental health services program despite some items of noncompliance with the standards established under this section, the notice of certification shall identify the items of noncompliance and the program shall correct the items of noncompliance. The department shall require the community mental health board to submit a plan to correct items of noncompliance before recertification or sooner at the discretion of the department.

(5) Certification is effective for 3 years and is not transferable. Requests for recertification shall be submitted to the department at least 6 months before the expiration of certification. Certification remains in effect after the submission of a renewal request until the department conducts a review and makes a redetermination.

(6) The department shall conduct an annual review of each community mental health services program's recipient rights system to ensure compliance with standards established under subsection (1)(b). An on-site review shall be conducted once every 3 years.

(7) The community mental health services program shall promptly notify the department of any changes that may affect continued certification.

(8) The department may deny certification if the community mental health services program cannot demonstrate substantial compliance with the standards established under this section.

(9) In lieu of denying certification, the department may issue a provisional certification for a period of up to 6 months upon receiving a plan of correction submitted by the community mental health services board. The department shall provide a copy of the review and the approved plan of correction to the board of commissioners of each county that established the county community mental health agency or created the community mental health organization or community mental health authority. A provisional certification may be extended, but the entire provisional period shall not exceed 1 year. The department shall conduct an on-site review to determine the community mental health services program's compliance with the plan of correction at least 30 days before the expiration of the provisional certification. A provisional certification automatically expires either on its original expiration date or the expiration date of the extension granted.

(10) If a community mental health services program is denied certification, fails to comply with an approved plan of correction before the expiration of a provisional certification, or fails to comply substantially with the standards established under this section, the department shall notify the community mental health services board and the board of commissioners of each county that established the agency or created the organization or authority of the department's intention to suspend, deny, or revoke certification. The notice shall be sent by certified mail and shall set forth the particular reasons for the proposed action and offer an opportunity for a hearing with the director of the department's division that manages contracts with community mental health services programs. If it desires a hearing, the community mental health services board shall request it in writing within 60 days after receipt of the notice. The department shall hold the hearing not less than 30 days or more than 60 days from the date it receives the request for a hearing.

(11) The director of the department's division that manages contracts with community mental health services programs shall make a decision regarding suspension, denial, or revocation of certification based on evidence presented at the hearing or on the default of the community mental health services board. A copy of the decision shall be sent by certified mail within 45 days after the close of the hearing to the community mental health services board and to the board of commissioners of each county that established the agency or created the organization or authority.

(12) A community mental health services board may appeal a decision made under subsection (11) as provided in chapter 4 of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.271 to 24.287.

(13) During the period of certification, the department may conduct an unannounced review of a certified community mental health services program. The department shall conduct an unannounced review of a certified community mental health services program in response to information that raises questions regarding recipient health or safety. If the department finds based on its review that the community mental health services program does not substantially comply with the standards established under this section, the department shall provide notice and a hearing under subsections (10) and (11).

(14) If a community mental health services program fails to obtain or retain certification as a result of the department's review, has exhausted the time period for provisional certification, is not engaged in the process of appeal or appeal has been unsuccessful, and if no agreement has been reached by the department with the community mental health services program to assure certification compliance within a specified time period, the department shall within 90 days do both of the following:

(a) Cancel the state funding commitment to the community mental health services board.

(b) Utilize the funds previously provided to the community mental health services board to do 1 or more of the following:

(i) Secure services from other providers of mental health services that the department has determined can operate in substantial compliance with the standards established under this section and continue the delivery of services within the county or counties.

(ii) Provide the service.

(15) If state funding is canceled under subsection (14) and the community mental health services program is an authority created under section 205, the county or counties that created the authority are financially liable only for the local match formula established for the authority under chapter 3. If state funding is canceled under subsection (14) and the community mental health services program is a county community mental health agency or a community mental health organization, the county or counties that established the agency are financially liable for local match for all services contractually or directly provided by the department to residents of the county or counties in accordance with chapter 3.

(16) The department shall not utilize the certification process under this section to require a community mental health services program to become a community mental health authority. Except as provided in section 204(4), community mental health authority status is voluntary as provided in section 205.

History: Add. 1995, Act 290, Eff. Mar. 28, 1996 ;-- Am. 2012, Act 376, Eff. Mar. 28, 2013 Admin Rule: R 330.1001 et seq. of the Michigan Administrative Code.