SECTION 310:635-1-4. Service area

  The service area for a psychiatric and/or chemical dependency application shall be the mental health service area in which the service is to be located. The mental health service areas as most recently adopted by the Department of Mental Health are shown in Appendix A.

(1)   Alternative service areas. The Department may consider an alternative service area if the applicant clearly demonstrates the applicability of a different service area, based on the following factors:

(A)   The availability or lack of practicing psychiatrists, psychologists, and other counseling or support personnel.

(B)   The existence of an underserved population large enough to support an adequately sized hospital-based and/or freestanding psychiatric or chemical dependency service.

(C)   The availability of appropriate community mental health services to ensure a continuum of treatment.

(2)   Determination of beds. In determining the number and occupancy of existing beds in a service area, licensed beds from one of the three state hospitals shall be prorated to the service area based upon the service area population as a percentage of the population of the Hospital Service Region in which the service area is located. The Hospital Service Regions published by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services are shown in Appendix B.

(3)   Excluded beds. In determining the number and occupancy of existing beds in a service area, beds which are dedicated to Department of Corrections patients shall be excluded.

[Source: Amended at 19 Ok Reg 2083, eff 6-27-02]