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Office of Mental Health

OMH Field Offices | Patient Safety Standards Guidelines | BHSA Council

Prior Approval Review
Project Categories

The following table identifies the three categories that projects can fall under:

Comprehensive PAR* E-Z PAR Administrative Action
(No PAR required)
  • Establish new outpatient program by new provider
  • Establish new inpatient program
  • Close inpatient program
  • Expand or reduce inpatient program by greater than 15% or by more than 10 beds, whichever is less
  • Change of sponsor of a licensed program (new provider)
  • Inpatient capital projects that relate to a Comprehensive PAR or exceed $600,000
  • Outpatient capital projects in excess of $600,000

*All Comprehensive PARs go to the Behavioral Health Service Advisory Council for review.

  • Establish new outpatient program by existing provider
  • Establish new outpatient satellite(s)
  • Capital projects under $600,000 and above $250,000.
  • Expand or reduce existing outpatient program (excluding clinic) by more than 10%
  • Expand or reduce existing clinic program by more than 25%
  • Relocate outpatient program or satellite to new location outside of current county
  • Expand or reduce existing licensed inpatient beds from 5% up to 15% or by a maximum of 10 beds, whichever is less
  • Close outpatient program
  • Close outpatient satellite with > 5.5 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff
  • Change of sponsor of a licensed program (existing providers)
  • Expand or reduce number of beds in a licensed community residence
  • Close community residence
  • Establish Community Residence (CR) program by a for-profit corporation who is an existing provider
  • Community residence capital project > $250,000
  • Relocation of licensed community residence
  • Substantial change in population served, services provided or program type
  • 9:39 waiver request
  • Transfer of stock of greater than 10% for programs operated under a for-profit corporation
  • Relocate outpatient program or satellite to new location within county
  • Relocate a portion of an existing outpatient program in county (no expansion)
  • Clinic program expansions or reductions of between 10% and 25% in program caseload or capacity
  • Outpatient program (not including clinic) expansions or reductions up to 10% in program caseload or capacity
  • Change in inpatient bed capacity less than 5% or less than 10 beds, whichever is less
  • Close outpatient satellite with ≤ 5.5 FTE staff
  • Consolidate programs (no major program reduction)
  • Change satellite program to full program
  • Minor change in population served, services provided, or days and hours of operation
  • Capital project under $250,000
  • Transfer of 10% or less of stock for programs operated under a for-profit corporation or a limited liability company**
  • Certificate of Incorporation **
  • Articles of Incorporation**
  • Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation**
  • Management contracts**
  • Clinical service contracts**

All requests processed through field office unless noted with **.

If "**" they are processed through Bureau of Inspection and Certification (BIC) .

Establishment of a community residence program that is developed through OMH ’s Request for Proposal (RFP) process is excluded from the PAR process.

Comments or questions about the information on this page can be directed to the Bureau of Inspection and Certification.