Sal Shikum - Mental Health Rehabilitation Basket

Clarifications: 

• In case the applicant has already applied to the NII and was rejected by it, he will not be entitled to receive approval for an examination by a doctor authorized by the Ministry of Health.

• You may not simultaneously apply to both to the NII and to the Ministry of Health

• It should be emphasized that the examination by an authorized doctor is valid only for the purpose of applying to the rehabilitation basket committee and cannot be used in any other legal procedure, including for the purpose of submitting a claim or appealing the NII's decision, or for filing a claim in court.

• A certificate given by a physician (private request) shall not be accepted by the Rehabilitation Committee.  Only ones requested by the Ministry of Health will be accepted.

• Should the Ministry of Health require further information from after receiving your application, it must be provided within two months. An applicant may not carry out an eligibility test by one of the physicians on the list that is treating the applicant.  

2. Formulating a rehabilitation program

A central element of the rehabilitation process is the formulation of a rehabilitation program adapted to the needs and the abilities of the person with the mental health disability. Rehabilitation can be performed through completion of education, assistance in being integrated in employment, community housing assistance, and more.  

The rehabilitation program will be built in cooperation between the person undergoing rehabilitation and the treatment coordinator/party referring to the Regional Rehabilitation Committee, which can be one of the following:

a. A psychiatric hospital

b. A mental health clinic/center

c. Social services

d. A community rehabilitation framework

e. A private treatment provider (in one of the clinical professions: social worker, occupational therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, registered nurse).

In cases where there is no treatment coordinator or treating body that is assisting the person with the mental health disorder, he/she would have the option of filling in the application forms to the Rehabilitation Committee by him/herself, attaching the required paperwork, including the form filled in by the treating psychiatrist, and submitting them directly to the Regional Rehabilitation Committee (see below 'Application to the Regional Rehabilitation Committee'). Similarly, a family member may apply to the Committee on behalf of, and with the consent of, the person with the mental health disorder, enclosing all the required documents.

The rehabilitation program is built in cooperation with the person undergoing rehabilitation, and includes objectives and determines detailed steps of action. The program is re-evaluated after some time.

3. Applying for a Rehabilitation Services Basket in a Personalized Program

The Regional Rehabilitation Committee is the party that approves the rehabilitation program that was formulated.

Application to the Rehabilitation Committee is performed through the referring party, or as an application by the person him/herself, with all the filled in Rehabilitation Basket forms being sent to the District Health Bureau in the person's area of residence.

In the event where an individual is interested in rehabilitation services but does not wish to be recognized as disabled for mental reasons by the Ministry of Health, they may apply for a rehabilitation services basket in a personalized program. Therefore, this person is required to fill out the application form for a personalized rehabilitation program application can be viewed here and to declare one of the following options:

• Their disability is recognized by the National Insurance Institute of Israel

• Their disability was previously recognized by the National Insurance Institute of Israel

• Their previously-filed application for recognition of disability was denied

• They have no intention of applying to the National Insurance Institute of Israel for recognition of disability the following year A current psychiatric medical report should be attached to the application form and submitted to Ms. Orit Cohen to her email at [email protected]. Once the application form and the accompanying documents have been received in full, the applicant will be sent a confirmation to schedule an appointment with one of the approved psychiatrists to check their eligibility for rehabilitation in accordance with the Rehabilitation Law, without applying to the National Insurance Institute of Israel.

4. Invitation to the Regional Rehabilitation Committee

After the material is received and assessed, the rehabilitation coordinator will convene the Regional Rehabilitation Committee. The Committee is composed of the following professionals: psychiatrist, social worker, occupational therapist, psychologist or registered nurse.

The committee will ask the applicant to attend a meeting with them for the purpose of getting to know him/her and gaining an impression.

The applicant may also bring with him/her family members and any other party that could assist.

The Committee shall convene and invite the applicant up to one month from the receipt of the documents in their entirety. The Committee will convene in one of the cities in the District (but not always in the city where the applicant lives).

5. Decision of the Regional Rehabilitation Committee

After studying the documents and meeting the applicant, the Committee will decide, in accordance with the Community Rehabilitation of Persons with Mental Health Handicap Law (2000), whether to approve the rehabilitation program in its entirety, to approve a part of it, or to reject the rehabilitation program. The Committee can also suggest changes and additions to the rehabilitation program.

The Committee's decision, with reasons, will be sent by post to the referring party, or in cases of self-application, to the applicant him/herself.

6. Receiving the rehabilitation basket

In cases where a rehabilitation basket is approved for the applicant, he and the referring party will conduct a "market survey" together, and choose the appropriate frameworks and/or services that address the rehabilitation program.

7. Integration of the person undergoing rehabilitation in the rehabilitation framework

After choosing the appropriate framework and associating with it, the applicant shall take part in the rehabilitation program that has been determined.

The Regional Rehabilitation Coordinator will convey budgetary approval to the rehabilitation service. By means of this budgetary approval, the State funds the applicant's stay and participation in the rehabilitation services.