Prior Approval Review (PAR)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What regulations refer to the PAR process?
- Title 14 New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (14 NYCRR) Part 551: Prior Approval Review for Quality and Appropriateness.
- What are the timelines for Office of Mental Health (OMH) to review E-Z PAR and Comprehensive PAR applications?
- Per 14 NYCRR Part 551.9, OMH conducts a completeness review. Upon receipt of a complete application, the application will be distributed to the local governmental unit (LGU) and OMH reviewers. OMH will decide (approval, conditional approval, or non-approval) in accordance with the with the following deadlines:
- EZ PAR: 30 business days from the date application is distributed for review.
- Comprehensive PAR: 90 business days from the date the application is distributed for review.
- Per 14 NYCRR Part 551.9, OMH conducts a completeness review. Upon receipt of a complete application, the application will be distributed to the local governmental unit (LGU) and OMH reviewers. OMH will decide (approval, conditional approval, or non-approval) in accordance with the with the following deadlines:
- What are the PAR application categories?
- Applications are divided into three categories:
- Administrative Action
- E-Z PAR
- Comprehensive PAR.
Outside of the changes listed in the Review Category Table, proposals which involve minimal changes to licensed programs do not require submission of a written application, only notification to the local OMH Field Office.
- Applications are divided into three categories:
- How can we get help accessing the electronic Mental Health Provider Data Exchange (MHPD)?
- You can access the MHPD system by contacting your agency’s Security Manager. For more information about this process, see the MHPD page. For information on how new providers designate Security Managers in SMS visit the Security Management System page.
- What projects will be subject to Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council (BHSAC) review?
- BHSAC will review all Comprehensive PAR projects. An EZ PAR application may be reviewed by the BHSAC upon request of the Chairperson of the Council or the OMH.
- Why is a Letter of Support from the County required for E-Z PAR applications?
- Prior consultation with the Local Government Unit (LGU) ensures that local parties are involved in planning and confirms their support for the application.. The LGU will also have an opportunity to comment on the proposal during the review stage.
- What if the LGU does not support the project?
- Should the LGU express significant concerns or decline to provide a Letter of Support, the applicant is encouraged to work closely with them and their local OMH Field Office to come up with mutually agreeable solutions.
- When is a Letter of Intent from the applicant required?
- Per Part 551.8(a), a Letter of Intent must be submitted to the LGU and the local Field Office prior to submitting EZ PAR and Comprehensive PAR applications. The letter should indicate that the agency expects to submit a PAR application within the next 30 to 90 days. Submission of a letter of intent is not expected for projects deemed to be an emergency.
- Who is the OMH contact for more information on the PAR process?
- New York State Office of Mental Health
Bureau of Inspection and Certification - 6th floor
PAR Unit
44 Holland Avenue
Albany, New York 12229
(518) 474-5570
Fax: (518) 486-5587
- New York State Office of Mental Health
Comments or questions about the information on this page can be directed to the Bureau of Inspection and Certification.