Q. Who pays for CLIP beds?

A. All children served in a CLIP Program are eligible for Medicaid funding
     while in residence. If the child has private insurance that covers
     psychiatric inpatient care those benefits are also applied to the cost of
     stay. For more information on Medicaid click Paying for CLIP.

Q. How do I apply?

A. The voluntary application process is a two-tiered process that begins
     with contacting your local RSN representative. If a local decision is made
     to proceed with a referral to CLIP, the RSN gathers all the application
     materials and contacts the CLIP Administration. The CLIP Administration
     is the final authority for determining a child's eligibility for admission.

     For involuntary admissions, no application is needed as the process of
     involuntary detention be a County Designated Mental Health Professional
     (CDMHP) and the 180 day restrictive court order constitute certification
     of need for this level of care.

Q. How long do children stay in a CLIP Program?

A. Each child's length of stay varies according to his/her individual needs
     and progress toward treatment goals. The average length of stay is 3 -
     6 months.

     Children are returned to their home community as soon as possible. The
     community partners including family, DSHS caseworkers, therapists,
     schools, etc., are expected to collaborate with the CLIP Program to assure
     appropriate discharge resources are in place prior to discharge.

Q. Can a child be admitted to a CLIP Program more than once?

A. Yes, as long as the child meets admission criteria.

Q. How long do children have to wait for admission?

A. Once a child is eligible for admission as determined by the CLIP
     Administration, his/her name is placed on the statewide waiting list.
     Once on the waiting list the child then waits for his/her bed to be
     available at the appropriate CLIP Program. Wait times vary greatly and
     are dependent upon bed availability, family/community choice,
     geographic proximity, age, gender, presenting clinical needs, etc.

Q. What if services are needed immediately?

A. A CLIP admission is not available as a crisis service. Nor are children
    admitted to a CLIP Program solely because they need a safe place to live.

    A stay in a CLIP Program is a treatment episode that is planned in a
    collaborative way based upon the strengths and needs of the individual
    child and his/her family.

    Crisis services designed to meet more immediate needs are available
    through each RSN.

Q. What happens if the voluntary application is denied?

A. If a voluntary application is denied, the CLIP Administration makes
     specific recommendations for evaluation and/or treatment alternatives.
     Please note that children may be referred to the CLIP Administration
     more than once, even if an application has been denied in the past.
     Approximately 95% of all voluntary applications are approved,
     indicating that RSNs and their partners are referring only those
     children most in need of this kind of treatment.