Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PRS)
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PRS) are evidence-based, recovery-oriented services used to reduce the disabling effects of mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders and restore the CBH members to live, learn, socialize, and work in their communities and improve their physical and mental health. PRS may reduce the need for or shorten the length of stay in inpatient, partial hospitalization, or outpatient treatment.
Services include identifying strategies to minimize the negative effects of a mental, behavioral, and emotional disorder; developing and teaching skills to support functional gains; and assisting CBH members with living in the community.
PRS are delivered using a rehabilitation process that includes assessing, planning, and intervening phases. Programming and service delivery support members in identifying, achieving, and maintaining valued roles and actively promote engagement in PRS through strategies such as building rapport, tailoring activities to interests, and outreach when participation declines, all within a recovery-oriented environment.
PRS Objectives
The objectives for PRS include, but are not limited to:
- Providing assertive outreach and initial engagement to members who are eligible for this service and/or who are referred for this service;
- Assessing, with the member, their needs and preferences in terms of skills and supports they want to develop;
- Educating the member about behavioral health challenges and recovery techniques;
- Collaborating with the member who leads the development of their rehabilitation plans;
- Collaborating with the member in achieving and maintaining rehabilitation goals, as well as how to reconnect with services after discontinuation if needed;
- Collaborating with the member in assessing and utilizing resources in their community (e.g., natural supports, self-help groups, vocational and educational specialists, etc.); and
- Collaborating with the member in developing skills needed to live, work, learn, and socialize in the environments of their choice.
PRS Eligibility
To be eligible to receive PRS, a member must*:
- Be 18 years of age or older (members age 14-17 can be accepted if the program description indicates services for youth);
- Have a written recommendation for PRS by a Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts (LPHA) within the scope of professional practice, including Physician (MD), Physician Assistant (PA), Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP), Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT);
- Have a current behavioral health diagnosis of a serious mental illness, including, but not limited to, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, schizoaffective disorder, other specified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, borderline personality disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder;
- Have moderate to severe challenges in functioning in at least one of the following domains as a result of their behavioral health challenge(s): living, learning, working, socializing, or wellness; AND
- Choose to participate in the service voluntarily.
*Exception: A member who does not meet the diagnostic requirement is eligible for PRS if they have written documentation from an LPHA that includes a diagnosis of a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that is listed in the current DSM-5 or ICD-10, which results in a moderate to severe functioning impairment in at least one of the domains.
Referring a CBH Member for PRS (Providers and Non-Providers)
For current CBH PRS providers only:
CBH PRS providers should use the CBH PRS Referral Form (also available on the CBH Provider Manual page under the Authorization tab) and submit it via CBH Box.
Please note: Per the June 26 Provider Notice, CBH PRS providers must submit these referrals via CBH Box in lieu of the Provider Portal.
For all CBH providers contracted for other services, and out-of-network providers:
Use the CBH PRS Referral Form and submit it via the secure Non-CBH Provider PRS Referral Smartsheet.
PRS Resources
- CBH Provider Manual
- CBH Clinical Documentation Requirements: Specific Levels of Care, Section 2. Group Services
located under the “Program Integrity” tab - CBH Clinical Performance Standards: Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PRS)
located under the “Clinical Performance Standards” tab - CBH Provider Bulletin 26-14: Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PRS) Billing Guidelines
- CBH Provider Bulletin 26-11: Sunsetting CIRC Rate, MPRS and PRS Utilization Management
- CBH Provider Notice, June 26, 2026: Change to Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PRS) Submission
- 55 Pa. Code § 5230: Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
- OMHSAS Memorandum: Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services – Chapter 5230: Frequently Asked Questions
