75-03-44-17. Timely access to services and initial and comprehensive evaluation.

1. All individuals new to receiving services, whether requesting or being referred for behavioral health services at the certified clinic, shall, at the time of first contact, receive a preliminary triage, including assessment of risk, from the certified clinic to determine acuity of needs.

2. If the preliminary triage identifies a crisis need in accordance with section 75-03-44-27, the certified clinic immediately shall take appropriate action, including plans to reduce or remove risk of harm and to facilitate any necessary subsequent outpatient followup.

3. If the preliminary triage identifies an urgent need, the certified clinic shall provide clinical services, including completing an initial evaluation, within one business day of the time the request is made. The clinical services may be provided at a later time if that is the preference of the individual receiving services.

4. If the preliminary triage identifies routine needs, the certified clinic shall provide clinical services and complete the initial evaluation within ten business days, or a later time if that is the preference of the individual if the preliminary triage identifies routine needs.

5. The certified clinic may conduct the initial evaluation through use of technologies for telehealth, telemedicine, videoconferencing, remote patient monitoring, asynchronous interventions, or other technologies for those individuals presenting with a crisis or urgent needs. If the certified clinic conducts the initial evaluation through use of technologies for telehealth, telemedicine, videoconferencing, remote patient monitoring, asynchronous interventions, or other technologies and the crisis or urgent need is resolved, the individual must be seen in-person at the next encounter with the certified clinic and the certified clinic shall review the initial evaluation.

6. The certified clinic shall follow the preliminary triage by conducting:

a. An initial evaluation in accordance with subsection 3 of section 75-03-44-28; and

b. A comprehensive evaluation in accordance with subsection 4 of section 75-03-44-28.

7. Unless subject to more stringent state, federal, or applicable accreditation standards, all new individuals shall receive a comprehensive evaluation. The certified clinic shall complete the comprehensive evaluation within sixty days of the first request for services. This requirement does not preclude the provision of treatment during the sixty-day period.

8. The certified clinic shall consider any known past initial and comprehensive evaluations, past treatments, and history of the individual during an initial and a comprehensive evaluation.

9. The certified clinic shall review and update the comprehensive person-centered and family-centered treatment plan in compliance with the standards for accreditation of an accrediting body or licensing standards, whichever is more stringent, in agreement with and endorsed by the individual. The certified clinic shall update the treatment plan if changes occur with the status of the individual, based on responses to treatment or if there are changes in treatment goals.

10. The certified clinic shall provide individuals who are already receiving services from the certified clinic and who are seeking routine outpatient clinical services an appointment within ten business days of the request for an appointment, unless the applicable state and federal regulations or accreditation standards are more stringent.

11. If an individual already receiving services presents with a crisis need, the certified clinic immediately shall take appropriate action based on the needs of the individual, including immediate crisis response if necessary.

12. If an individual already receiving services presents with an urgent, noncrisis need, the certified clinic shall attempt to provide clinical services within one business day of the time the request is made, or at a later time if that is the preference of the individual.

History: Effective April 1, 2026.

General Authority: NDCC 50-06-05.2, 50-06-41.4