Sometimes, community-based services, outpatient therapy, and short-term interventions are not enough to safely meet a young person’s mental health needs. This may be when families start to consider PRTFs in Minnesota.
A psychiatric residential treatment facility provides an inpatient level of psychiatric care for children and youth under the age of 21. But treatment takes place in a residential setting instead of a hospital.[1] PRTFs are designed for young people with complex mental health conditions who have safety or functional concerns and need intensive treatment under the supervision of a physician.
Eligibility for PRTFs in Minnesota is based on certain clinical and medical-necessity requirements. Understanding what PRTFs provide and how they differ from other residential programs can help families make sense of this higher level of care. To support your family in this process, this page explores:
A psychiatric residential treatment facility in Minnesota provides intensive psychiatric treatment to children and teens with complex mental health needs. This level of treatment is designed for people whose functioning requires:
Minnesota’s Department of Human Services (DHS) describes PRTF care as an inpatient level of treatment that occurs in a residential facility. These facilities run 24/7 under the direction of a physician, and services may include individual, family, and group therapy.[1]
PRTF eligibility in Minnesota is more specific than simply having a mental health diagnosis. In fact, Minnesota law requires several criteria to be met before admission. A young person must be under the age of 21, have a qualifying mental health diagnosis, and have clinical evidence of severe aggression or a finding that they are a risk to themselves or others.[2]
The young person must also have significant functional impairment to be eligible for services. This means that the teen has to have trouble functioning safely at school, home, work, or in the community. There may also be circumstances in which the caregivers cannot safely meet the teen’s needs.[2]
PRTFs for teens are a mental health resource in Minnesota that can also be considered when a young person has severe and persistent psychiatric needs that cannot be safely managed through less intensive options. These less intensive options may include outpatient therapy or Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS).
A teen may also be eligible for PRTF when clinical evidence from a detailed evaluation shows that community-based services cannot provide the level of care that they need.[1][2]
Minnesota DHS describes the difference between traditional children’s residential treatment and PRTF in detail.
It outlines that traditional children’s residential mental health treatment is a 24-hour program with clinically supervised services that are provided in a community setting. The goal of traditional residential treatment is to improve family and social functioning so the child can return to the community.
Eligibility for residential treatment depends on the particular services that the facility provides. For instance, the facility may operate under different licensing and funding structures than PRTF. This means that residential mental health treatment can provide care to youth who need substantial structure and treatment but do not need PRTF-level psychiatric care.
Families should ask exactly what type of facility is being recommended when discussing residential treatment. This is because the terms “PRTF” and “residential treatment” are sometimes used interchangeably, even though they have different meanings.
Psychiatric hospitalization usually focuses on acute stabilization. Hospital stays are short and designed to decrease immediate safety risks. For instance, a teenager may be hospitalized if they are actively suicidal, experiencing psychosis or mania, or unable to remain safe in the community.
On the other hand, a youth PRTF in Minnesota is designed for longer admissions with active psychiatric treatment in a residential setting. This may be appropriate when a teen has complex needs that extend beyond short-term stabilization.[1]
A teen may also transition from inpatient hospitalization to a PRTF if the immediate crisis has improved, but the teen demonstrates a requirement for ongoing intensive psychiatric support and treatment.
The main focus of PRTF is active psychiatric treatment. So, depending on the teen’s needs, treatment may focus on:
Most treatment plans also consider how the teen will eventually function outside of the facility when they return to school and community life. This is why family participation is often a big part of treatment.
Minnesota requires PRTF programs with onsite educational services to coordinate with the local school district so that teens can continue their education while they are in treatment.[1] Therefore, a parent should ask early how education is handled, as this can become important when treatment lasts long enough to disrupt a school year.
A teen may also need extra academic support upon discharge from the facility, which can include:
A qualified mental health professional must make the referral for a PRTF.[1] However, other treatment team members can help coordinate the process and provide supporting information.
For Minnesota Health Care Programs members with Medical Assistance as the primary coverage, the referral process for PRTF includes a medical-necessity review. DHS directs providers completing referrals to submit an eligibility form and supporting documentation, like a recent diagnostic assessment or psychological evaluation.[1]
For teens with another payer, the clinician completing the referral usually works with the PRTF directly and follows the authorization requirements of the specific health plan.[1]
This process is important to know because families usually cannot simply call a facility and independently place a teen in PRTF. The reviewer typically needs documented evidence that demonstrates that this specific level of care is medically necessary.
“Medical necessity” is mentioned frequently during PRTF referrals, so it’s important to know exactly what it means.
Federal Medicaid rules for psychiatric services for those under 21 require documentation that inpatient psychiatric services are needed and that the specific level of treatment is expected to improve the condition or prevent further regression.[3] Minnesota incorporates those requirements into its own PRTF eligibility.[2]
In this specific referral process, medical necessity means that there is clinical, documented evidence that the young person needs this level of treatment. This may be supported by information about:
Federal Medicaid guidance states that inpatient psychiatric services for those under 21 can be provided in qualifying psychiatric hospitals or facilities such as PRTFs.[3] However, for a Minnesota PRTF to receive Medicaid reimbursement, the facility must meet certain state and federal requirements and be enrolled with Minnesota Health Care Programs.[1]
Coverage for PRTF Medicaid in Minnesota also still depends on the teen meeting eligibility for the health program, medical necessity, authorization, and continued review during treatment.
Families with managed care or other insurance should ask the referring provider and their own health plan how authorization and coverage will be handled.
Mission Prep is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
A teen being referred to a residential psychiatric facility might feel frightening or confusing for all involved. However, parents can ask questions during admission and participate in treatment to help reduce some of the uncertainty.
When a family is considering teen residential treatment in Minnesota, there is often a lot of information to take in. A short list of questions can help both the teen and parent know what to expect from the admission process and the facility. For instance, you could consider asking:
It’s also good to note that family participation is required within Minnesota’s PRTF treatment model and may include:[1]
Discharge planning begins when a teen is admitted to a PRTF.[1] And the discharge plan should reflect both the intensity and the complexity of the needs that led to admission. This may include planning for:
Being discharged or stepping down from inpatient psychiatric residential care for youth can be exciting and stressful. The teen is returning to a less structured environment, while parents are returning to managing schedules and safety.
Before discharge, families should clearly understand the follow-up plan and know exactly who is responsible for each referral and when first appointments will take place.
Take a tour of our teen residential mental health facilities located in Minnetonka, MN. Our locations offer peace & comfort within a residential environment where teenagers, aged 12-17, can relax and focus on themselves.
Our well-appointed facilities are located in on the west side of the Metro area and serve teens from across Minnesota.
A PRTF in Minnesota can provide inpatient psychiatric-level treatment in a residential setting for teens with complex mental health symptoms. However, PRTF admission requires a professional referral and clinical review. Treatment occurs under the supervision of a physician, and family involvement is part of the process.[1]
While Minnesota residential mental health care for teens and PRTF care are different levels of care, understanding your teen’s symptoms and safety needs can help determine what type of facility may be more appropriate.
At Mission Prep Teen Treatment, we offer residential treatment that incorporates evidence-based therapeutic approaches and innovative interventions to foster sustainable change for adolescents and their families.
Our Minnesota locations are an important part of the treatment process. We maintain modern and welcoming homes to provide stability to adolescents throughout treatment. Teens are able to develop and practice the tools and strategies they need to facilitate healing.
Mission Prep Teen Treatment accepts insurance and is in-network with most major providers. We are happy to help you check your insurance coverage for mental health care.
Start the admissions process online or call 866-901-4047 to speak with a caring member of our team who can answer any questions you might have. Reach out for a free, no-obligation conversation.
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