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Substance Abuse & Mental Health

Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR)

Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) is a federally mandated evaluation process per the Nursing Home Reform Act, under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, amended in 1990 and 1996. A Level I Pre-Admission Screening is required for all applicants to Medicaid certified nursing facilities, regardless of payor. A Level II Evaluation and Determination must be completed prior to admission if a serious mental illness and/or intellectual disability or related condition is identified through the Level I screening. A Level II evaluation must also be completed when there is a significant change in the resident's physical or mental condition. PASRR Level I and Level II processes must be completed in accordance with the Social Security Act, Title 42, Subpart C, Section 483.100 through Section 483.138, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

The PASRR process is intended to prevent the inappropriate nursing home placement and retention of individuals with serious mental illnesses (MI) and/or intellectual disabilities (ID). Florida’s PASRR process promotes community-focused, individual-centered care by assuring psychological, psychiatric, and functional needs are considered along with personal goals and preferences when planning long-term care services.

Multiple state agencies and providers work together to ensure the individual’s long-term care needs are met in the most appropriate and least restrictive setting possible. Rather than PASRR restricting entrance to nursing facilities, the required PASRR process can be a gateway to community services.

As the State’s Mental Health Authority, the Department of Children and Families is responsible for the PASRR II assessment for persons with suspected serious mental illnesses. This function is contracted to a private vendor on behalf of the Department. If the person has an intellectual disability, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities conducts the assessment.

For more information about the PASRR II process for persons with serious mental illnesses, go to the DCF PASRR contractor KEPRO.