Frequently Asked Questions

Covered services are health care services for which Mercy Care DCS CHP pays. This includes physical health and behavioral health care, services, supports, supplies, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, equipment and other services. The Mercy Care DCS Comprehensive Health Plan Member Handbook provides a list of covered health care services. You can access the handbook at https://www.mercycareaz.org/assets/pdf/chp-members/handbook/MercyCareDCS-CHP2021-2022MemberHandbook-ua.pdf.

The Child and Family Team (CFT) is a defined group of people which may include the child, DCS Specialist and his/her caregiver, a behavioral health representative and any individuals important in the child’s life identified and invited to participate by the child and family. This may include, for example, teachers, extended family members, friends, family support partners, health care providers, coaches, community resource providers, representatives from religious affiliations. It can also include representatives from other service systems like Juvenile Probation or Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). The size, scope and intensity of involvement of the team members are determined by the goal established for the child, the needs of the family in providing for the child and the resources needed to develop an effective service plan. People can join or leave the CFT as needed to make sure the child gets the best care.

A request for an evaluation for medication can be made through the Child and Family Team (CFT) or directly through the health care provider. The decision to have the child evaluated is made in collaboration with the CFT, which includes the DCS Specialist. Any concerns discussed at the CFT are shared with the child’s prescribing doctor.

Grievances can be filed at any time verbally or in writing. To file a grievance, call Mercy Care DCS CHP Grievance System Department at 602-586-1719, toll-free at 1-866-386-5794, or fax to 602-351-2300, or email [email protected]. You can also send grievances in writing to Mercy Care DCS CHP, Grievance System Department, 4755 S. 44th Place Phoenix, AZ 85040.

Licensed foster parents are to notify DCS and their licensing agency within 24 hours if their child has an illness, injury, change of medication, or medication error that results in seeking medical attention.

Licensed foster parents are to notify DCS and their licensing agency immediately if their child dies, has a serious illness or injury requiring hospitalization, behavior not witnessed before and any other unusual incident that seriously jeopardized the health, safety, or well-being of a foster child or receives urgent care or emergency room treatment and whenever emergency services (911) is contacted.

Within 24 hours of any of the above noted incidents, licensed foster parents shall complete an Unusual Incident Report form and submit it to their licensing agency. Unlicensed kinship foster parents are to notify DCS within 2 hours of the following: death of a child or hospitalization (medical or psychiatric.) Unlicensed kinship foster parents are to notify DCS within 48 hours if the child becomes seriously ill.

The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) is a service system administered through the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) that supports people who develop severe and/or chronic disabilities that may limit a person's ability to do the tasks related to daily living. If a child is enrolled in DDD, a support coordinator will be assigned to help determine a service plan to meet the needs of the child. For more information about eligibility, common developmental disability terms, and FAQs, visit https://des.az.gov/services/disabilities/developmental-disabilities.