HOW TO OBTAIN AUTHORIZATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

• Planned Services
• Outpatient Services
• 24 Hour Mental Health Services
• Urgent Care
• Emergency (Unplanned) Services
• Hospital Admissions
• Pharmacy and Lab Services

Specialty mental health services offered by the San Francisco Mental Health Plan fall into three broad categories: planned services, which require prior- authorization by the SFMHP; urgent care services, which sometimes require prior-authorization; and emergency services, which do not require prior- authorization. This section of the Provider Manual describes the processes related to each of these service categories.

All planned (non-emergency) mental health services must be prior authorized by the San Francisco Mental Health Plan. The SFMHP has contracted with some providers for specific school-based services, prevention programs, and other services that are not subject to this requirement. These provisions are defined clearly in those providers' contracts.

The Mental Health Access Team is responsible for providing initial authorization for all planned mental health services for individual and group practitioner providers and organizational providers. Providers can call the Mental Health Access Team to receive authorization or members may call the Mental Health Access Team directly to receive a referral to a participating provider. Members who prefer to walk-in to an outpatient mental health clinic (these are listed in Appendix 3) will receive referrals from Access Team staff on-site at those clinics. Clinics that do not have Access Team staff on-site will call the Access Team.

In order to obtain authorization for Outpatient Mental Health Services call the Mental Health Access Team at (415) 255-3737 or the toll free number at (888) 246-3333. The TDD Line is (888) 484-7200. Providers located in San Francisco should use the local number.

The Mental Health Access Team responds to requests for specialty mental health services from SFMHP members, providers, and other referring agencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After confirming member eligibility and screening for medical necessity (Appendix 1) licensed Mental Health Access Team staff will provide authorization and referral to licensed individual and group mental health specialists and clinics providing outpatient treatment or refer the member to the most appropriate community service. Referrals will take into account language, cultural variables, age and other specialization, geographic location, and modalities of treatment. The Access Team will link requests for services for individuals in foster care and other Department of Human Services dependents to specialists with the Foster Care Mental Health Program at (415) 695-6975.

A copy of the authorization will be mailed/faxed to the provider and the member. The authorization will specify services by procedure code which are authorized for a given period.

The Access Team will link crisis calls to the mobile crisis teams for adult, child, and geriatric services (see below).

Continuing authorization for outpatient treatment is required when additional services beyond the initial authorization are necessary. It is the provider's responsibility to seek prior approval of additional services prior to the expiration of approved sessions/visits. All providers except those operating Program Utilization Review Quality Committees (PURQCs) should call the Mental Health Access Team at (415) 255-3737 or the toll free number at (888) 246-3333 or fax the request for re-authorization to (415) 255-3629 using the form provided by the Access Team for this purpose.

Organizational Providers who operate PURQCs should follow the procedure described in Appendix 4 to obtain reauthorization.

All referrals for admission of children and youth to day treatment services are reviewed by an inter-agency committee. Contact: Stephen Bañuelos, L.C.S.W. at (415) 255-3411

Providers may call the Access Team directly for prior authorization if they already know the member. Otherwise, members should be encouraged to call the Access Team directly. (New referrals require information that members could provide more easily by calling themselves.) Providers who call the Access Team directly for new members will be expected to provide specific information about the member such as name, address, social security number, address and length of residency, Medi-Cal number, or financial information to establish indigency, such as monthly income.

In addition to treatment authorization, the Mental Health Access Team provides the following services:

• Clinical consultation
• Information and referral to appropriate agencies: social services, entitlements, housing, physical health, substance abuse.
• Assistance with member problem resolution questions. Access Team staff will have information about how members can use the Mental Health Plan Problem Resolution Process and Grievance Procedure.
• A consultation service for primary and other health care providers including substance abuse treatment providers, specialized consultation for child, and geriatric clients.

Referrals to non acute 24 Hour Mental Health Services including long term care, the Mental Health Rehabilitation Facility, residential treatment, transitional residential treatment, residential care facilities, co-ops, and support hotels must be prior authorized by the San Francisco Mental Health Plan.

Exception: Acute Diversion Units (ADUs) for adults are available to accept direct referrals without SFMHP prior authorization as an alternative to hospitalization for individuals experiencing acute episodes or crises requiring temporary removal from their environment. Direct referrals to these programs must occur through the Progress Foundation Intake Coordinator at (415) 750- 9859. Referrals to ADUs post-hospital do require prior authorization by the SFMHP 24 Hour Services Review Team as described below.

All referrals for admission to 24 Hour Adult Care must be submitted to the 24 Hour Services Review Team. The standard referral form in Appendix 5 must be submitted by fax to the number listed below. Authorizations provided by the 24 Hour Services Review Team will incorporate auxilliary services that accompany the core service.

Tel. 255-3483/3670 Fax: 252-3004

All referrals for admission to 24 Hour Geriatric Care must be submitted to the Geriatric Utilization Management Committee. The standard referral form in Appendix 6 must be submitted by fax to the number listed below.

Tel. 255-3440 Fax 255-3496

All referrals for admission of children and youth to sub-acute or residential services are reviewed by an inter-agency committee.

Contact: Helaine Weinstein, L.C.S.W. at (415) 206-7612.

The State defines an urgent condition as a situation experienced by a member that without timely intervention is certain to result in an immediate emergency psychiatric condition which requires psychiatric hospitalization. (The State distinguishes urgent conditions from emergencies, which require voluntary or involuntary hospitalization and meet the criteria for medical necessity for psychiatric inpatient hospital services. Emergency services are described in a subsequent section.)

Providers are expected to offer urgent care services to their clients during regular hours of operations and to make provisions for after-hour coverage for their clients. If your client is experiencing an urgent psychiatric condition, the safety and welfare of your client is a paramount concern.

To receive authorization for payment for treating urgent conditions, you must call the Access Team prior to offering the service unless 1) you are designated through your contract or agreement with SFMHP to provide the service or 2) you have already been authorized for a service that could be used to provide urgent care. The Access Team will also assist members who call to locate urgent care services even when they are outside of San Francisco.

SFMHP members in crisis should first contact their provider if they have one.

SFMHP provides a number of services designed to assist in intervening with patients in crisis and determine the most appropriate services to be provided:

Child Adolescent Sexual Abuse Resource Center (CASARC) 995 Potrero at San Francisco General Hospital Campus, Room 319 Provides urgent care for child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse. Hours: 24 hours a day, daily

Tel. 206-8386

Tel. 695-5195

Provides children and youth and their families with crisis intervention, evaluation for hospitalization, consultation, home visits, short term psychotherapy, and referrals to community treatment programs. All referrals to hospitals for psychiatric admissions must be evaluated by Child Crisis Service

Westside Community Crisis Services

Tel. 353-5050
888 Turk Street, San Francisco, Ca
Open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily; last intake at 7:15 p.m. Provides urgent assessment, treatment, and referral for adults and older adults.

Mobile Crisis Treatment Team Services

Tel. (415) 970-4000
Provides evaluation and treatment to San Francisco adults who are experiencing psychiatric emergencies. The service is mobile and will provide services wherever necessary. Its goal is to stabilize crises, to link and restore clients in community services, and to divert from hospitalization and emergency services whenever possible. It is not the purpose of Mobile Crisis to supplant other transportation, mental health or social services. If you have questions about the service or need to make a referral please call. Hours are Monday-Friday 11 a.m. - 11p.m. and noon - 8 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Geriatric Mobile Crisis Team

Tel. 337-4722
Provides mobile crisis response anywhere in San Francisco for individuals over 60 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

24 Hour Suicide and Crisis Hot-line Services

Tel. 781-0500 Offers a 24 hour a day, seven day a week, confidential suicide and crisis intervention phone line. San Francisco Suicide Prevention also offers a mental health information and referral line: (415) 981-4700, a Drug Line (415) 362-3400, and an AIDS/HIV Nightline (415) 434-AIDS.

An emergency psychiatric condition is defined by State regulations as one which requires voluntary or involuntary hospitalization and meets the criteria for medical necessity for psychiatric inpatient hospital services by meeting one of the following conditions as a result of a mental disorder:

1. A danger to self,
2. A danger to others, or
3. Immediately unable to provide for or utilize food, shelter or clothing.

No prior authorization for payment from the Mental Health Plan will be required for emergency services delivered by either in-plan or out-of-plan providers.

Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES)
Tel. 206-8125
San Francisco General Hospital
1001 Potrero Avenue, Room 1B20

PES provides 24 hour, 7 day a week emergency assessment, stabilization and disposition , including hospital placement for acutely ill adult psychiatric patients. PES is the evaluation facility for adult patients placed on psychiatric holds ("5150").

In the event of an emergency psychiatric admission, hospitals are required to notify the SFMHP as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours of the time of the admission of the beneficiary. Emergency admissions must meet the criteria specified above.

Notification of admission may be made by facsimile or voice mail telephone within 24 hours of admission. (Contact the numbers below for information about what information to provide. ) SFMHP inpatient authorizations will incorporate both the facility and professional (psychiatrist/psychologist) services. The process for obtaining authorization is described in Appendix 19.

Inpatient Hospital Authorizations Adults and Older Adults

Tel. 255-3480
Fax 255-3496

Inpatient Hospital Authorizations Children and Youth

Tel. 695-5195
Fax 695-6629

Failure to notify SFMHP within 24 hours of admission may result in a payment denial for all or a portion of inpatient psychiatric services delivered.

For psychiatric conditions or crises that do not meet emergency criteria, all planned hospital admissions must be prior authorized by the San Francisco Mental Health Plan. Licensed mental health professional staff are available between 8 am and 4 p.m. and will respond to your call within 1 hour.

Documentation indicating that the member meets medical necessity criteria must be faxed prior to admission for the provider to receive payment authorization. SFMHP inpatient authorizations will incorporate both the facility and professional services

Pharmaceutical Services for Medi-Cal Members

Medi-Cal members obtain their pharmacy benefits through the Fee-for-Service Medi-Cal program or their health plan if they are enrolled in a health plan. Members who are enrolled in health plans continue to obtain certain medications (listed in Appendix 7) through the Fee-for-Service Medi-Cal program.

Pharmaceutical Services for Indigent Members

Indigent members of the SFMHP obtain their pharmacy benefits through the SFMHP Pharmacy Services. This benefit is available only to registered SFMHP members receiving authorized services from SFMHP providers. The SFMHP formulary is included in Appendix 8. Certain prescriptions require prior authorization which may be obtained by contacting the SFMHP Pharmacy Services at (415) 255-3659. This is described in policy #3.01-3. Prescriptions covered through this program must be written on specific forms for this purpose which will be provided by the Access Team along with the initial referral or by the Pharmacy Service if you call (415) 255-3659. These prescriptions will be filled by any of the pharmacies listed in Appendix 9.

For additional information about pharmacy services/policies for SFMHP members call (415) 255-3659 or fax (415) 255-3754.

Laboratory Services

Medi-Cal members obtain their lab benefits through the Fee-for-Service Medi- Cal program or their health plan if they are enrolled in a health plan. For information about arranging for laboratory services for indigent members of the SFMHP, contact Pharmacy Services at (415) 255-3659 or fax (415) 255-3754.