1. (1) Screening and admission requirements.

   1. (a) A CCF shall screen all adults and admit those determined eligible for services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including all of the following:

      1. 1. Voluntary adults who walk-in.
      2. 2. Voluntary adults brought in by law enforcement, emergency medical responders, or county crisis personnel.
      3. 3. Adults brought in under s. 51.15, Stats.
   2. (b) A voluntary client may be detained under s. 51.15, Stats., if conditions exist in accordance with s. 51.15 (10), Stats.

   3. (c) A CCF shall be able to provide services to clients experiencing a crisis, including those with any of the following:

      1. 1. Serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance.
      2. 2. Substance use related needs.
      3. 3. Acute behavioral or mental health symptoms.
      4. 4. An intellectual or developmental disability.
      5. 5. Dementia.

   4. (d) A CCF shall not admit clients for stays longer than 5 days unless all of the following apply:

      1. 1. The treatment director or designee determines that a stay beyond 5 days is clinically appropriate and documents the basis for that conclusion.
      2. 2. The treatment director or designee determines that there are no other less restrictive alternatives available to meet the client’s needs.
      3. 3. The county of responsibility consents to the continued stay, if applicable.
   5. (e) If a determination for a stay beyond 5 days is made in accordance with par. (d) 1. to 3., that determination shall be reviewed by the treatment director or designee every day following the initial determination to ensure the continued stay is necessary.
   6. (f) A CCF shall not admit persons with physical or health care needs that require medical or personal care attention beyond what can be safely provided at a CCF.

2. (2) Additional screening and admission requirements for CCFs certified to serve minors.

   1. (a) A CCF shall screen all minors and admit those determined eligible for services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including the following:

      1. 1. Voluntary minors who walk-in, accompanied by a parent or guardian.
      2. 2. Voluntary minors brought in by law enforcement, emergency medical responders, or county crisis personnel.
      3. 3. Minors brought in under s. 51.15, Stats.
   2. (b) Voluntary admission for minors must be consistent with s. 51.13 (6) (a) 1. to 3, Stats.
   3. (c) A CCF shall adhere to all applicable requirements outlined in ss. 51.47 and 51.48, Stats.

3. (3) Admissions under involuntary status.

   1. (a) A county crisis assessment under s. 51.15 (2) (c), Stats., is required prior to admission for purposes of an emergency detention for adults and minors.
   2. (b) For the purpose of involuntary treatment, a CCF shall meet all procedural requirements under s. 51.15 (5), Stats.
   3. (c) The treatment director has the authority to dismiss an emergency detention at a CCF under s. 51.15, Stats.
   4. (d) CCF staff shall coordinate with the county of responsibility to ensure clients can attend and participate in legal hearings.

4. (4) Interfacility transfer.

   1. (a) A CCF may transfer a client on emergency detention for any of the following reasons:

      1. 1. The client has health care needs that cannot be provided at a CCF.
      2. 2. A change in legal status prohibiting admission, such as a conversion to protective placement.
      3. 3. The client exhibits violent or abusive behaviors that cannot be safely mitigated at a CCF.
      4. 4. The county of responsibility initiated a transfer, and it is in the best interest of the client.
   2. (b) A CCF shall coordinate the safe transfer of care in coordination with the county of responsibility, if applicable.
   3. (c) Clients may only be transferred to a facility upon confirmation that the receiving facility will accept that client.
   4. (d) The treatment director or designee shall determine and document in writing the need for transferring a client on emergency detention.

5. (5) Discharge.

   1. (a) A CCF shall discharge a client for any of the following reasons:

      1. 1. A client is of voluntarily status and no longer needs or desires services and is discharged in accordance with s. 51.10 (5), Stats.
      2. 2. A client is of involuntarily status and in need of different services requiring a discharge and transfer of care.
      3. 3. Other clinical, legal, or safety reasons consistent with program policy and approved and documented by the treatment director or designee.
   2. (b) Minors shall be discharged in accordance with s. 51.13 (7) (b) 3., Stats.
   3. (c) Discharges under s. 51.15 (4) (b) or (5), Stats., for clients under involuntary status shall be done in coordination with the county of responsibility.
   4. (d) The client’s personal property and medications shall be returned upon discharge.
   5. (e) A discharge summary consistent with s. DHS 31.13 (2) shall be completed.

6. (6) Hold on admissions.

   1. (a) The treatment director or designee may temporarily hold admissions if a CCF is at capacity or it is determined that a CCF is unable to safely deliver services due to extraordinary circumstances, such as a natural disaster. A hold may apply to some service areas or the entire CCF.

   2. (b) A CCF shall notify the department within one business day about any holds on admissions lasting longer than 24 hours and include the following information:

      1. 1. The anticipated duration of the hold and date and time when the hold may be lifted.
      2. 2. The plan to resume admissions.
      3. 3. The service areas affected by the admissions hold.
      4. 4. The rationale for the decision to temporarily hold admissions.
   3. (c) A CCF shall develop and maintain documented contingencies with other local hospitals, emergency medical services, county crisis providers, and law enforcement for when temporary holds on admissions are in effect.
   4. (d) A recurrence of admission refusals, client transfers, or holds on admissions may result in a site visit and review of certification by the department.
   5. (e) Admission holds shall be communicated to community partners through the department-approved psychiatric bed locator.

7. (7) Availability. A CCF shall communicate the availability of beds to referring community partners through the department-approved psychiatric bed locator. A CCF shall report all of the following information to the department-approved psychiatric bed locator at least every 6 hours:

   1. (a) The number of available client rooms and beds in these rooms.
   2. (b) The number of available beds in the observation unit, if applicable.
   3. (c) Contact information for referrals.

History

History: EmR2507: emerg. cr., eff. 6-16-25; CR 25-051: cr. Register February 2026 No. 842, eff. 3-1-26; correction in (1) (e), (6) (a), (7) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., and (7) (title) added under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 2., Stats., Register February 2026 No. 842.