SPOA- Select Point of Access for individuals who have serious psychiatric disabilities
and need specific mental health services.
The SPOA Team determines eligibility and priority status according to NYS
Office of Mental Health (OMH) criteria.
Services Accessed Through SPOA:
1. OMH Congregate Residential and Supported Housing Programs
2. Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
3. Non-Medicaid Case Management (NMCM) for Individuals With Serious
Mental Illness
Who Are Not Medicaid Eligible.
Values
• To quickly determine applicants' eligibility and OMH priority status.
• To connect OMH priority applicants with the most effective and least restrictive services
available.
• To promote a flexible service delivery system providing each person the opportunity to
negotiate an individual service plan which is specific to his/her needs and preferences,
and includes input and support of service providers and significant others.
• To involve the peer community, families and colleagues in the overall planning and
evaluation of services.
• To utilize peer support wherever possible to enhance the individual’s engagement and
involvement in services.
• To enhance the ability of applicants to live safely and successfully in the community.
• To serve as a resource to hospitals and other service providers in discharge planning.
• To identify gaps in the service delivery system and to promote development of services
to respond to needs.
• To continually improve services through evaluation of service delivery initiatives.
Residential Vacancy Report
SPOA Eligibility for OMH Residential Programs:
OMH residential programs are made available to OMH high priority candidates referred by or discharging from OMH facilities. Applicants must meet Medicaid medical necessity criteria
due to their psychiatric clinical condition. These criteria include the following:
• Referral from one of the above sources documenting history and treatment.
• Two or more recent psychiatric hospitalizations or 5 CPEP visits due to their serious
psychiatric condition.
• Must meet Social Security total disability criteria for SSI/SSD based on the functional
impairments caused by their psychiatric condition.
Not Eligible:
Disorders due to alcohol/drug use, dementia, organic brain syndromes, developmental disabilities, neurocognitive disorders, general medical conditions or social conditions.
Diagnostic Criteria for Eligibility:
DSM 5 psychiatric diagnosis, i.e. serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) with disability.
Examples:
• Major Depressive Disorder, recurrent, severe (not from substance use or medical condition)
• Bipolar I or II Disorder, severe, may be with rapid cycling or psychotic features
• Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder (Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective) and Psychotic Disorders
(not from substance use)
SPOA Process Change Effective May 1, 2022
Please contact the Adult SPOA team before completing a SPOA application.
Please note: Health Home Plus Care Managers may coordinate submission
of a SPOA application with clinical records if initiated by one of the following OMH clinical
sources, for individuals who have SSI/SSD level disability and need support due to their
SMI clinical condition.
• Hutching’s Psychiatric Center Inpatient and Outpatient programs
• St. Joseph’s Hospital Inpatient Psychiatric Unit 3-6, CPEP, and Outpatient
• Upstate and Community Hospital Inpatient Psychiatric Units 4B, 5-West
• OMH Outpatient Settings, Clinics, PROS, Mobile Crisis, Peer Support
• OMH Forensic Units
• OMH Residential Programs
These eligible referral sources may apply by completing the form below.
Please include clinical/hospital records. (Submit via fax, mail or encrypted email):
Onondaga_County_Adult_SPOA_Application_with_Permission_and_OMH
Release_Form Permission to Use/Disclose Confidential Information
Questions: 315-435-7711 ext.4695 or ext.4997
Fax: 315-435-3279
Mail:
Onondaga County
Mental Health Services – 10th Floor
421 Montgomery Street
10th Floor Civic Center
Syracuse
New York 13202
Encrypted Email: janmoag@ongov.net or jenniferfeliciano@ongov.net
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