Arizona Administrative Code
Title 9 - HEALTH SERVICES
Chapter 22 - ARIZONA HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT SYSTEM - ADMINISTRATION
Article 2 - SCOPE OF SERVICES
Section R9-22-210.01 - Emergency Behavioral Health Services for Non-FES Members

Universal Citation: AZ Admin Code R 9-22-210.01

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024

A. General provisions

1. Applicability. This Section applies to emergency behavioral health services for non-FES members. Provisions regarding emergency medical services for non-FES members are in R9-22-210. Provisions regarding emergency medical and behavioral health services for FES members are in R9-22-217.

2. Definition. For the purposes of this Section, "contractor" has the same meaning as in A.R.S. § 36-2901. Contractor does not include ADHS/DBHS, a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS, or Children's Rehabilitative Services.

3. Responsible entity for inpatient emergency behavioral health services.
a. Members enrolled with a contractor.

ADHS/DBHS. ADHS/DBHS or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS is responsible for providing all inpatient emergency behavioral health services to non-FES members with psychiatric or substance abuse diagnoses who are enrolled with the contractor.

b. FFS members. ADHS/DBHS or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS is responsible for providing all inpatient emergency behavioral health services for non-FES FFS members with psychiatric or substance abuse diagnoses unless services are provided in an IHS or tribally operated 638 facility.

4. Responsible entity for non-inpatient emergency behavioral health services for non-FES members. ADHS/DBHS or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS is responsible for providing all non-inpatient emergency behavioral health services for non-FES members.

5. Verification. A provider of emergency behavioral health services shall verify a person's eligibility status with AHC-CCS, and if eligible, determine whether the person is a member enrolled with AHCCCS as non-FES FFS or is enrolled with a contractor, and determine whether the member is a behavioral health recipient as defined in R9-22-201.

6. Prior authorization.
a. Emergency behavioral health services. A provider is not required to obtain prior authorization for emergency behavioral health services.

b. Non-emergency behavioral health services. When a non-FES member's behavioral health condition is determined by the provider not to require emergency behavioral health services, the provider shall follow the prior authorization requirements of a contractor and ADHS/DBHS or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS.

7. Prohibition against limitation or denial of payment. A contractor, TRBHA, the Administration, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS shall not limit or deny payment to an emergency behavioral health provider for emergency behavioral health services to a non-FES member for the following reasons:
a. On the basis of lists of diagnoses or symptoms;

b. Prior authorization was not obtained;

c. The provider does not have a contract;

d. An employee of the contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS instructs the member to obtain emergency behavioral health services; or

e. The failure of a hospital, emergency room provider, or fiscal agent to notify the member's contractor, ADHS/ DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS within 10 days from the day the member presented for the emergency service.

8. Grounds for denial. A contractor, the Administration, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS may deny payment for emergency behavioral health. services for reasons including but not limited to the following:
a. The claim was not a clean claim;

b. The claim was not submitted timely; or

c. The provider failed to provide timely notification under subsection (A)(9) to the contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS or the Administration.

9. Notification.
a. A hospital, emergency room provider, or fiscal agent shall notify a contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS, whichever is appropriate, no later than the 11th day from presentation of the non-FES member for emergency inpatient behavioral health services.

b. A hospital, emergency room provider, or fiscal agent shall notify the Administration no later than 72 hours after a FFS member receiving emergency behavioral health services presents to a hospital for inpatient services.

10. Transfer or discharge. The attending physician or the provider actually treating the non-FES member for the emergency behavioral health condition shall determine when the member is sufficiently stabilized for transfer or discharge and that decision shall be binding on the contractor and ADHS/DBHS or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS.

B. Post-stabilization requirements for non-FES members.

1. A contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS, as appropriate, is financially responsible for behavioral health post-stabilization services obtained within or outside the network that have been prior authorized by the contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS.

2. The contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS, as appropriate, is financially responsible for behavioral health post-stabilization services obtained within or outside the network that are not prior authorized by the contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS, but are administered to maintain the member's stabilized condition within one hour of a request to the contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor for prior authorization of further post-stabilization services;

3. The contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS, as appropriate, is financially responsible for behavioral health post-stabilization services obtained within or outside the network that are not prior authorized by the contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS, but are administered to maintain, improve, or resolve the member's stabilized condition if:
a. The contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS, does not respond to a request for prior authorization within one hour;

b. The contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS authorized to give the prior authorization cannot be contacted; or

c. The representative of the contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or the subcontractor and the treating physician cannot reach an agreement concerning the member's care and the contractor's, ADHS/DBHS' or the subcontractor's physician, is not available for consultation. The treating physician may continue with care of the member until ADHS/ DBHS', the contractor's, or the subcontractor's physician is reached, or:
i. A contracted physician with privileges at the treating hospital assumes responsibility for the member's care;

ii. ADHS/DBHS', a contractor's, or a subcontractor's physician assumes responsibility for the member's care through transfer;

iii. A representative of the contractor, ADHS/DBHS, or the subcontractor and the treating physician reach agreement concerning the member's care; or

iv. The member is discharged.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arizona may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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