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Mercy Care DCS Comprehensive Health Plan

On April 1, 2021, CMDP changed to Mercy Care Department of Child Safety Comprehensive Health Plan, or Mercy Care DCS CHP. Children in foster care are able to get medical, dental and behavioral health services from one health plan, Mercy Care DCS CHP. Covered services for children in foster care remain the same.

These services may include:

Primary and specialty physician care services.
Prescription drugs and medical supplies.
Medical checkups Behavioral health services
Hospital care
Vision services
Dental services

For Members

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Nurse Line

The nurse line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer general medical questions. Call Mercy Care DCS CHP Member Services at 1-602-212-4983 or 1-833-711-0776 (TTY/TDD 711), and select the phone prompt for the Nurse Line.

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Notice to Provider Form

The child’s assigned DCS specialist will give you a Notice to Provider form. Caregiver's can show the form to health care providers and pharmacies, or give them the Mercy Care DCS CHP member ID number. Use this form until a permanent ID card is given to you by the child’s DCS Specialist or custodial agency representative.

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For Providers

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Frequently Asked Questions

What behavioral health services require DCS consent?

DCS must consent to inpatient assessment, inpatient psychiatric care services, residential treatment services, therapeutic group homes, and Home Care Training to Home Care Client (HCTC).

Are medications covered by Mercy Care DCS CHP?

Prescription medications and some over-the-counter medications are covered by Mercy Care DCS CHP. If the child needs medicine, the child’s health care provider will choose one from Mercy Care DCS CHP’s list of covered medications (called a formulary) and write a prescription. If you want a copy of the list, call Mercy Care DCS CHP Member Services or go to the website at www.MercyCareAZ.org. If you are at a pharmacy and the pharmacy tells you that Mercy Care DCS CHP will not pay for the medication, call Mercy Care DCS CHP Member Services right away. Do not pay out of your own pocket for the medicine. If you have questions or problems outside Mercy Care business hours, you can call the Mercy Care 24-hour nurse line at 602-212-4983 or 1-833-711-0776 (TTY/TDD 711).

What should I do if I am having trouble filling a prescription for the child?

If you have any questions or trouble filling a prescription while you are at the pharmacy, you can call Mercy Care DCS CHP Member Services for assistance. If you have questions or problems outside Mercy Care business hours, you can call the Mercy Care 24-hour nurse line at 602-212-4983 or 1-833-711-0776 (TTY/TDD 711).

Who provides transportation to medical and dental appointments?

Kinship/Foster caregivers should provide transportation to medical and behavioral health appointments. If you are unable to provide transportation, contact your DCS worker for transportation assistance. CMDP member services may contacted for additional help. 602-351-2245 option 3

How do I find a behavioral health provider?

Children and youth in foster care receive behavioral health coverage through Mercy Care DCS CHP. The Mercy Care DCS CHP Provider Directory lists the names, locations, telephone numbers and languages other than English spoken by our plan providers. This includes behavioral health providers and other health care specialists. You can access the Mercy Care DCS CHP Provider Directory by visiting the Mercy Care DCS CHP website at www.MercyCareAZ.org. If you would like a copy of the Mercy Care DCS CHP Provider Directory mailed to you at no cost, you can call Member Services at 602-212-4983 or 1-833-711-0776 (TTY/TDD 711).

What health insurance does the child in my care have?

Mercy Care Department of Child Safety Comprehensive Health Plan (Mercy Care DCS CHP) is the health plan for Arizona’s children in foster care. Mercy Care DCS CHP is a program administered by DCS. Children in foster care are automatically enrolled in Mercy Care DCS CHP.

How can I get a Mercy Care DCS CHP insurance card for the child?

Member Mercy Care DCS CHP Member ID cards are distributed through a variety of means including the DCS Specialist as well as directly to caregivers when possible. If you did not receive a member ID card or if you need a replacement card, contact Mercy Care DCS CHP member services.

Where can I find a list of covered health care services?

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.

How do I get prescriptions filled for psychotropic medications?

Psychotropic medications are covered by Mercy Care DCS CHP. All prescriptions must be filled at a pharmacy in Mercy Care DCS CHP’s network. Many pharmacies are open 24 hours, 7 days a week. You can find a list of pharmacies in the Mercy Care DCS CHP Provider Directory at MercyCareAZ.org and select “For Members” under Mercy Care DCS CHP. You’ll locate “Find a Pharmacy” in the upper right corner of the screen.

If you have any questions or trouble filling a prescription while you are at the pharmacy, you can call Mercy Care DCS CHP. Mercy Care DCS CHP Member Services can help you with the member’s prescriptions Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have questions or problems outside Mercy Care business hours, you can call the Mercy Care 24-hour nurse line at 602-212-4983 or 1-833-711-0776 (TTY/TDD 711).

What documentation and notification is required following a crisis?

Licensed foster parents should 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 should notify DCS and their licensing agency immediately if their child dies, has a serious illness or injury requiring hospitalization, 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 the 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.

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Contact Us

Mercy Care DCS CHP Member Service representatives are available to help you with questions, concerns or issues about the child’s health care benefits. They are available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 602-212-4983 or 1-833-711-0776 (TTY/TDD 711), or email [email protected].

Mercy Care DCS CHP Member Services can:

Answer questions about health care benefits
Help solve a problem or concern you might have with a doctor or any part of the health plan
Help you find a doctor
Tell you about our doctors, their backgrounds and care facilities
Help you if you get a medical bill
Tell you about community resources available to you
Help you if you speak another language, are visually impaired, need interpreter services, or sign language services

DCS CHP Resource Liaisons are also available to help you with questions, concerns or issues about the child’s health care coordination. They are available Monday-Friday from 8a.m. to 5 p.m. at (602) 351-2245 or 1-800-201-1795 (TTY/TDD 711) or email [email protected].

Arizona Department of Child Safety

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