Emergency Request Policy

The Emergency Request procedure offers an expedited alternative to the standard “Request for Services” process when the person has a crisis that requires immediate attention.  Emergency Requests are available only for people who are currently in services.  People who experience crisis situations while on the waiting list go through a different process (i.e. ESMC.)  Expedited means the support coordinator is not required to prepare documentation for the service code’s standard criteria or prepare elaborate information for the budget portion of the request.  Instead, a general set of criteria are used to qualify the crisis as an emergency and the budget data are targeted at the short term solution the request represents. 


The criteria are not targeted at a specific service.  Rather, the criteria are tied to the crisis situation itself.  Any service code could be used to address the crisis.  Even so, the most common type of crisis involves moving the person from an in-home service, such as SLN, to an out of home service, such as RHS.    

The terms and duration of the Emergency Request are temporary.  Its duration cannot exceed 31 days and its funding is always one-time.  The purpose of its temporary nature is to give the support coordinator adequate time to compose the more formal Request for Services with proper documentation and a more complete plan for how services will change long term without jeopardizing the person’s immediate health and safety needs.  

 

If the request involves placing the person in a residential setting, the full cadre of ancillary services, such as DSG, MTP, PBA, PM1, SEI, etc., are not typically included in the Emergency Request because it is a temporary solution that may change.  Instead, if the person is expected to remain in the residential setting, then the ancillary services should be included in the formal Request for Services developed by the support coordinator during the temporary period covered by the Emergency Request.  


The rate for the residential service in the Emergency Request is set at the same value regardless of the person’s circumstances or needs (i.e. it is high enough to cover individuals who need a high degree of support).  Consequently, the provider should not expect to keep the residential rate established by the Emergency Request.  It is only intended for use during the time period authorized in the Emergency Request funded by one-time money.  If the residential setting is expected to become ongoing, then the support coordinator must issue a formal Request for Services for the service code based on its worksheet calculations.   

  View the demonstration of an Emergency Request.
 The criteria for the Emergency Request consist of four questions.  They are:

 

  1. What change in the person’s circumstances has taken place?

 

  1. How does the change pose an imminent risk to the person’s health or safety needs?

 

  1. How quickly will the change happen (e.g. it will happen within the next 24 hours)?

 

  1. Describe the effort made to mitigate the risk.

 

After the support coordinator has submitted the Emergency Request, at least two members of the RFS committee will review and respond to it within 24 hours or the next business day.