Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024
A. Upon receipt of a request or referral for
a determination of whether an individual is eligible for services under this
Chapter, a regional authority shall schedule an appointment for an initial
meeting with the applicant by a qualified clinician, to occur no later than
seven days after the regional authority receives the request or
referral.
B. During the initial
meeting with an applicant by a qualified clinician, the qualified clinician
shall:
1. Obtain consent to an assessment of
the applicant from the applicant or, if applicable, the applicant's
guardian;
2. Provide to the
applicant and, if applicable, the applicant's guardian, the information
required in R9-21-301(D)(2), a client rights brochure, and the notice required
by R9-21-401(B);
3. Determine
whether the applicant is competent, according to R9-21-206;
4. If, during the initial meeting with an
applicant by a qualified clinician, the qualified clinician is unable to obtain
sufficient information to determine whether the applicant is eligible for
services under this Chapter:
a. Obtain
authorization from the applicant or, if applicable, the applicant's guardian,
for release of information, if applicable;
b. Request the additional information the
qualified clinician needs in order to make a determination of whether the
applicant is eligible for services under this Chapter; and
5. Initiate an assessment according to
R9-21-305.
C. The
qualified clinician in subsection (B) shall obtain information necessary to
make an eligibility determination, including:
1. Identifying data and residence, including
a social security number if available;
2. The reasons for the request or referral
for services;
3. The individual's
psychiatric diagnosis;
4. The
individual's present level of functioning, based upon the criteria set forth in
the definition of "seriously mentally ill";
5. The individual's history of mental health
treatment;
6. The individual's
abilities, needs, and preferences for services; and
7. A preliminary determination as to the
individual's need for special assistance.
D. If at any time during the course of the
eligibility process the qualified clinician determines that the individual has
a current case manager, a current assessment, or an ISP, the clinician shall
notify the client's case manager and terminate the eligibility
process.
E. To be eligible for
behavioral health services or community services according to this Chapter the
individual must be:
1. A resident of the
state of Arizona, and
2. Seriously
mentally ill.
F. The
qualified clinician in subsection (B) shall determine whether an applicant is
eligible for services under this Chapter and provide written notice of the SMI
eligibility determination to the applicant or, if applicable, the applicant's
guardian according to the following time-frames:
1. If the qualified clinician obtains
sufficient information during the initial meeting with the applicant to
determine whether the applicant is eligible for services under this Chapter,
within three days of the initial meeting with the applicant by the qualified
clinician;
2. If the qualified
clinician does not obtain sufficient information during the initial meeting
with the applicant to determine whether the applicant is eligible for services
under this Chapter, at the earliest of:
a.
Within three days of obtaining sufficient information to determine whether the
applicant is eligible for services under this Chapter, or
b. The time provided according to
R9-21-301(E).
G. At the time a qualified clinician provides
an applicant with written notice of an SMI eligibility determination according
to subsection (F), the qualified clinician shall:
1. Provide written notice to the applicant:
a. That the applicant has the right to appeal
the SMI eligibility determination according to R9-21-401, including the right
to an administrative hearing according to A.R.S. §
41-1092.03;
and
b. That, if the applicant is
not eligible for services according to this Chapter, the applicant may reapply
at any time; and
2. If
the applicant is eligible for services under this Chapter:
a. Serve as the client's case manager or
arrange for the provision of case management services for the client;
and
b. Initiate with the client the
development of a clinical team that may include:
i. Behavioral health professionals,
ii. Professionals other than behavioral
health professionals,
iii.
Behavioral health technicians,
iv.
Family members,
v.
Paraprofessionals, and
vi. Any
individual whom the qualified clinician and the client deem appropriate and
necessary to ensure that the assessment is comprehensive and meets the needs of
the client.
H. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to
require the qualified clinician to make the determination of whether the
applicant is eligible for services under the Arizona Health Care Cost
Containment System Administration (AHCCCSA) according to A.R.S. Title 36,
Chapter 29.
