Clinical overview
Purpose of a diagnostic assessment
A diagnostic assessment is a structured evaluation completed by a qualified mental-health professional or clinical trainee. It gathers enough information to determine diagnoses, identify immediate needs, and recommend medically necessary services.
What the assessment reviews
- Current symptoms, concerns, and reasons for seeking care
- Mental-health, medical, substance-use, medication, and treatment history
- Trauma, cultural identity, family and social context, and important relationships
- Strengths, resources, functional abilities, and barriers
- Mental-status observations and risk or safety concerns
- Diagnostic impressions and recommended services or referrals
ARMHS connection
For ARMHS, a recent standard diagnostic assessment must document the qualifying condition, functional impairment, and medical necessity. The diagnostic assessment is a separate clinical service; it is not ARMHS skills training.
After the assessment
The clinician reviews findings and recommendations with the client. A recommendation may include ARMHS, psychotherapy, medication services, case management, crisis resources, or another level of care. An assessment does not guarantee eligibility or payer authorization.