Maryland Department of Health
Behavioral Health Administration

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Older Adult Behavioral Health

Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review

​The Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Program is a federal program governed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This program screens people seeking nursing facility care for a history of mental illness and identifies the most appropriate and least restrictive services that will meet their needs. The required evaluations are conducted by Adult Evaluation and Referral Services (AERS) professionals at the local health departments and approved by Optum Maryland under the direction of the Office of Older Adults and Long Term Services and Supports within the Behavioral Health Administration.


​Maryland PASRR Tools and Information

Contacts

Optum Maryland
Phone 877-887-2393 x 615032​
Fax 844-887-9875
Attention: PASRR

Behavioral Health Administration
Stefani O’Dea, MA

Older Adult Behavioral Health PASRR Project

This project is a partnership of the Behavioral Health Administration and Maryland’s Money Follows the Person (MFP) Project. Key partners include the Mental Health Association of Maryland and Maryland Core Service Agencies (CSAs) and Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LBHAs).

Scope of Project

Services designed for individuals with behavioral health needs may lack expertise and skills to support individuals as they age. Likewise, services designed for older adults may lack knowledge and expertise in behavioral health. This project was designed to bridge the gap between those systems of care.

Regional specialists were hired to be a resource to behavioral health providers whose clients are aging and to aging partners whose clients are experiencing behavioral health issues. The regional specialists provide behavioral health resources and consultation for older adults with behavioral health conditions to divert them from, or reduce the duration of, nursing facility admission.

The regional specialists are a resource to:
  • Aging and Disability Resource Centers
  • Health Departments
  • Local Maryland Access Point sites
  • Behavioral health providers
  • Support planners
  • Other entities involved with diversion from nursing homes and transitions from nursing homes back to the community​

 

Region

Contact Person/ Agency

Eastern

Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset, Dorchester, Talbot, Caroline, Queen Anne’s, Kent

Mid- Shore Behavioral Health, Inc.

Shannon Joyce, MPH, CHES
sjoyce@midshorebehavioralhealth.org
410-770-4801, ext. 320311

Western

Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick

Washington County Mental Health Authority

Steve Groves
stepheng@wcmha.org
301-739-2490 ext. 111​​

Central

Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Cecil, Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, and Howard

Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency

Heather Hughes,​ 410-980-8315 (cell)​

hhughes@aamentalhealth.org ​and

Mia Riggsby, LMSW
410-897-7042
mriggsby@aamentalhealth.org

Southern

Calvert, Charles, and Saint Mary’s.

St. Mary's County Health Department 
Behavioral Health Division
Rachele Hout
rachele.huot@maryland.gov
301-475-4330

Baltimore City

Behavioral Health Systems Baltimore
Rachell Chmielewski
Rachell.Chmielewski@bhsbaltimore.org
443-615-7784​

Montgomery County

Montgomery County Health and Human Services

Josi Makon, LCSW-C
josi.makon@montgomerycountymd.gov
Office Phone: 240-777-4529 

Project Coordinator

 Behavioral Health Administration

Stefani O’Dea, MA

Director, Office of Older Adults and Long Term Services and Supports, 410-402-8300 ​​ stefani.odea@maryland.gov



PASRR Role: The Older Adult Behavioral Health PASRR Specialists primary role in PASRR involves follow up visits, training, and coordination of mental health services. The specialists conduct follow up visits with individuals with mental illness, admitted to Maryland nursing facilities through the PASRR process. They meet with both the individual and the staff at the facility to determine training needs, specialized service’s needs, and whether community options counseling is desired. In addition to PASRR training, the Specialists can also offer behavioral health training for nursing facility staff. The Specialists will assist nursing facilities with coordinating mental health services for nursing facility residents admitted through PASRR by identifying local mental health providers that are qualified and willing to provide services within this setting. 

​Training materials
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Maryland Transmittals related to PASRR 

Date PublishedTransmittal No.AudienceSubject
January 27, 1987COMAR 10.09.30Local Health DepartmentsDescribes the requirements for the Statewide Evaluation and Planning Services (STEPS) assessment completed by the LHD, which was later selected by MDH as the tool for the PASRR Level II Evaluation
September 18, 1997Transmittal No. 159

Nursing Facility Administrators

 

Hospital Administrators

Describes the change in federal PASRR regulations enacted in 1996 and details PASRR requirements

 

PT 9-98

1997 or earlier (exact date unknown)COMAR 10.09.10Maryland- Licensed Nursing FacilitiesCodifies the requirement for nursing facilities to be in compliance with federal PASRR requirements as described by 42 CFR Part 483, Subpart C (1996)
March 1, 2012Transmittal No. 239Nursing Facility Administrators

Updates and clarifies resident review requirements applicable to nursing facilities

 

PT 19-12

November 18, 2018Transmittal No. 271Nursing Facility Administrators

Describes behavioral health services available to nursing facility residents, including specialized services under PASRR and details Level II requirements for admission to nursing facilities

 

PT 9-19

August 21, 2020Memorandum

Maryland-

Licensed Nursing Facilities

Introduces the BHA's Older Adult Behavioral Health PASRR Project 

Maryland PASRR program for Marylanders with Serious MI





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