(c)

1. (1) The children’s crisis residential program shall be used only as a diversion to admittance to a psychiatric hospital.

2. (2)

   1. (A) The length of the initial authorization for admission to a children’s crisis residential program shall be limited to 10 consecutive days.

   2. (B) If a determination is made by a health care professional that a children’s crisis residential program is medically necessary and is the appropriate continued level of care, either of the following shall occur:

      1. (i) In the case of a Medi-Cal beneficiary, the children’s crisis residential program shall notify the county mental health plan authorizing those services before extending the length of stay beyond 10 consecutive days.
      2. (ii) In the case of non-Medi-Cal beneficiaries, reauthorizations for admission shall be obtained using the process established by the entity providing coverage.
   3. (C) With the exception of clause (ii) of subparagraph (B), this paragraph shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and the State Department of Health Care Services determines, in its sole discretion, that federal financial participation is not jeopardized.

3. (3) A children’s crisis residential program may accept for admission any child who meets all of the following requirements:

   1. (A) The child is referred by a parent or guardian, physician, or licensed mental health professional, or by the representative of a public or private entity, including, but not limited to, the county probation agency or child welfare services agency with responsibility for the placement of a child in foster care, that has the right to make these decisions on behalf of a child who is in mental health crisis.
   2. (B) The child is under 19, 20, or 21 years of age, depending on a program’s licensing requirements.
   3. (C) The child has a serious behavioral health disorder.
   4. (D) The child requires a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, staff-secured, unlocked treatment setting.

(e) The State Department of Health Care Services, or a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated approval authority, may enforce the children’s crisis residential mental health program approval standards by taking any of the following actions against a noncompliant children’s crisis residential program:

1. (1) Suspend or revoke a children’s crisis residential mental health program approval.
2. (2) Impose monetary penalties.
3. (3) Place a children’s crisis residential mental health program on probation.
4. (4) Require a children’s crisis residential mental health program to prepare and comply with a corrective action plan.