IRTS Eligibility & Admission Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

An eligible recipient is age 18 or older, is eligible for Medical Assistance, and meets the Admission Criteria. Recipients may receive Intensive Residential Treatment services in lieu of hospitalization if appropriate.

Admission Criteria

Admission is based on the written opinion of a licensed mental health professional that the recipient has a need for mental health services that cannot be met with other available community-based services, or is likely to experience a mental health crisis, or require a more restrictive setting if intensive residential rehabilitative mental health services are not provided. The professional may consult with a mental health case manager or other county advocate, and/or, with the consent of the recipient, a spouse, family member , or significant other. The recipient:

  • Must have a mental illness (based on a diagnostic assessment);

  • Has a completed functional assessment using the domains specified in statute and have three or more areas of significant impairment in functioning.

  • Has a completed LOCUS assessment where a level 5 is indicated.

  • Is reasonably expected to commence or resume illness management and recovery skills/strategies at least at a minimal stage at this level of service and needs 24-hour supervised, monitored and focused treatment approach to improve functioning and avoid relapse requiring a higher level of treatment;

  • Mental health status is not responsive to an adequate trial of active treatment at a less intensive level of care; and
  • Needs a restrictive setting and is at risk of significant functional deterioration if intensive residential treatment services are not received; and

  • Has one or more of the following:

  1. History of two or more inpatient hospitalizations in the past year;
  2. Significant independent living instability;
  3. Homelessness;
    Increased abuse of alcohol and/or drug use; or
  4. Frequent use of mental health and related services yielding poor outcomes in outpatient/community support treatment.


A newly diagnosed individual or a youth transitioning to the adult service system may be considered if he/she is at significant risk of experiencing the above characteristics.

Admission may be granted for an individual whose treatment is court ordered or the individual is a potential danger to self or others when the program offers adequate structure, the recipient has sufficient support systems in place in the community, and the safety of others is considered.

Continuing Stay Criteria

These criteria apply when, in the written opinion of a licensed mental health professional, the recipient continues to need Intensive Residential Treatment services that cannot be met by other less intensive community-based services. The individual must meet all the following criteria:

  • The recipient continues to meet admission criteria as evidenced by active psychiatric symptoms and continued functional impairment;

  • Progress notes indicate that progress has been made in symptom reduction, but goals identified as essential on the treatment plan have not yet been fully achieved – goals that are essential to accomplish before leaving the 24-hour supervised setting.

  • It is reasonable to expect successful achievement of the goals within the requested time frame;

  • Documented active attempts at coordination of care and attempts to transition to other services.

Individuals referred for treatment must meet admission criteria and be on a medical plan that funds Intensive Residential Treatment Services. Examples of this funding are Medical Assistance, a Prepaid Medical Assistance Plan or Private Funding. Admission criteria and additional programmatic information can be obtained by contacting us.

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Arrowhead House East
IRTS

  • 218-724-8844
  • 218-724-7410