1. The Division may issue an endorsement as a crisis stabilization center to the holder of a license to operate a psychiatric hospital that meets the requirements of this section.

2. A psychiatric hospital that wishes to obtain an endorsement as a crisis stabilization center must submit an application in the form prescribed by the Division which must include, without limitation, proof that the applicant meets the requirements of subsection 3.

3. An endorsement as a crisis stabilization center may only be issued if the psychiatric hospital to which the endorsement will apply:

(a) Does not exceed a capacity of 16 beds or constitute an institution for mental diseases, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1396d;

(b) Operates in accordance with established administrative protocols, evidenced-based protocols for providing treatment and evidence-based standards for documenting information concerning services rendered and recipients of such services in accordance with best practices for providing crisis stabilization services;

(c) Delivers crisis stabilization services:

(1) To patients for not less than 24 hours in an area devoted to crisis stabilization or detoxification before releasing the patient into the community, referring the patient to another facility or transferring the patient to a bed within the hospital for short-term treatment, if the psychiatric hospital has such beds;

(2) In accordance with best practices for the delivery of crisis stabilization services; and

(3) In a manner that promotes concepts that are integral to recovery for persons with mental illness, including, without limitation, hope, personal empowerment, respect, social connections, self-responsibility and self-determination;

(d) Employs qualified persons to provide peer support services, as defined in NRS 449.01566, when appropriate;

(e) Uses a data management tool to collect and maintain data relating to admissions, discharges, diagnoses and long-term outcomes for recipients of crisis stabilization services;

(f) Accepts all patients, without regard to:

(1) The race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation or place of residence of the patient;

(2) Any social conditions that affect the patient;

(3) The ability of the patient to pay; or

(4) Whether the patient is admitted voluntarily to the psychiatric hospital pursuant to NRS 433A.140 or admitted to the psychiatric hospital under an emergency admission pursuant to NRS 433A.150;

(g) Performs an initial assessment on any patient who presents at the psychiatric hospital, regardless of the severity of the behavioral health issues that the patient is experiencing;

(h) Has the equipment and personnel necessary to conduct a medical examination of a patient pursuant to NRS 433A.165; and

(i) Considers whether each patient would be better served by another facility and transfer a patient to another facility when appropriate.

4. Crisis stabilization services that may be provided pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 3 may include, without limitation:

(a) Case management services, including, without limitation, such services to assist patients to obtain housing, food, primary health care and other basic needs;

(b) Services to intervene effectively when a behavioral health crisis occurs and address underlying issues that lead to repeated behavioral health crises;

(c) Treatment specific to the diagnosis of a patient; and

(d) Coordination of aftercare for patients, including, without limitation, at least one follow-up contact with a patient not later than 72 hours after the patient is discharged.

5. An endorsement as a crisis stabilization center must be renewed at the same time as the license to which the endorsement applies. An application to renew an endorsement as a crisis stabilization center must include, without limitation:

(a) The information described in subsection 3; and

(b) Proof that the psychiatric hospital is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, or its successor organization, or the Joint Commission, or its successor organization.

6. As used in this section, “crisis stabilization services” means behavioral health services designed to:

(a) De-escalate or stabilize a behavioral crisis, including, without limitation, a behavioral health crisis experienced by a person with a co-occurring substance use disorder; and

(b) When appropriate, avoid admission of a patient to another inpatient mental health facility or hospital and connect the patient with providers of ongoing care as appropriate for the unique needs of the patient.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 1918, effective January 1, 2020)