Section 429.431 - Operating Procedures(A) A professional staff member authorized to render billable mental health center services as described in 130 CMR 429.424, must conduct a comprehensive evaluation of each member prior to initiation of therapy. For members younger than 21 years old, a CANS must be completed during the initial behavioral-health assessment before the initiation of therapy and be updated at least every 90 days thereafter by a CANS-certified provider, as described in 130 CMR 429.424.(B) The center must accept a member for treatment, refer the member for treatment elsewhere, or both, if the intake evaluation substantiates a mental or emotional disorder.(C) One professional staff member must assume primary responsibility for each member (the primary therapist).(D) The center program must make provisions for responding to persons needing services on a walk-in basis.(E) The center must take appropriate steps to facilitate uninterrupted and coordinated member care whenever it refers a member elsewhere for treatment not available at the center or for subsequent treatment.(F) Before referring a member elsewhere, the center must, with the member's consent, send a summary of or the actual record of the member to that referral provider prior to initiation of therapy.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1296, eff. 9/25/2015.