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Mercy Care DCS Comprehensive Health Plan

Mercy Care DCS CHP

Mercy Care DCS Comprehensive Health Plan (Mercy Care DCS CHP) is a statewide health plan that is designed to meet the medical, dental and behavioral health needs of children and youth in out-of-home care. Mercy Care DCS CHP replaced the Comprehensive Medical and Dental Plan (CMDP) in April 2021.

Mercy Care DCS CHP provides a full range of health services including:

A Medical Home for each child to oversee care.
Speedy enrollment for immediate health care benefits.
Coordination of physical and behavioral healthcare.
Clinical case management to address complex medical and behavioral healthcare needs.
Preventive care through EPSDT (well-child checks).
Access to healthcare through a network of providers (doctors, nurses, hospitals, clinics, psychiatrists, therapists, pharmacies, etc.)
Health Passport to make more health history and health information available to DCS caseworkers, caregivers, doctors, and other healthcare providers.
24-hour medical advice line (Nurse Line)
Network of healthcare providers and specialists trained in trauma-informed services and therapy.

Members and Caregivers

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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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Healthcare Providers

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Arizona Behavioral Health Crisis Hotline

Are you or a loved one in a behavioral health crisis?
Call the Arizona Behavioral Health Crisis Line 24/7 at 1-844-534-4673 or 1-844-534-HOPE.
Or text HOPE to 4HOPE (44673).
CLICK HERE for Arizona Crisis Hotlines across the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS)?

Certain disabilities qualify children for Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS). ALTCS is the State of Arizona's Medicaid program that funds long-term care services, for financially and medically eligible Arizona residents. Once eligibility has been determined for ALTCS services, the child will be enrolled with a Health Plan (Mercy Care, Care 1st or United Healthcare). The health plan will provide the services the child is qualified for.

Do caregivers need to pay for services provided for an Arizona Long Term Care (ALTCS) eligible child?

Caregivers do not need to pay for ALTCS services. If you get a bill for a service that is covered by ALTCS, contact the agency that sent you the bill. You are not responsible to pay out of pocket costs, including AHCCCS co-payments.

What is a Child and Family Team (CFT)?

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.

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).

Do foster caregivers pay for behavioral health services?

Caregivers should not pay fees or copayments for medical, dental, vision, or behavioral health services and equipment covered by Mercy Care DCS CHP. Caregivers should not be billed for any services that Mercy Care DCS CHP covers. List Mercy Care DCS CHP as the responsible party on medical, dental, and vision forms. You do not need to list any personal information on any bills or claims.

What services are covered by Mercy Care DCS Comprehensive Health Plan?

Mercy Care DCS CHP pays for health care services that are medically necessary. Medically necessary means reasonable and necessary to prevent or treat illnesses or health conditions or disabilities. This includes care that keeps children and youth from going into a hospital. It also means the services, supplies, or medications that meet accepted standards of medical practice. You can check the Mercy Care DCS CHP Member Handbook for a list of covered health care services.

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.

How do I get the child in my care evaluated for psychotropic medications?

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.

How do I get medical and dental records for the child in my care?

The child's assigned DCS Specialist should provide you with the child’s Health and Medical Report. Ask the DCS Specialist to provide all medical information that is in the child's file. With the Notice to Provider form that you receive upon the child’s placement into your home, you can also request records from past medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health providers.

Which immunizations (shots) are recommended at which age?

Immunizations (shots) can keep children and youth from getting sick in the future. Talk with the child’s Primary Care Provider (PCP) about the immunizations that are needed and when they are needed. You should use an immunization schedule and have the schedule updated when you visit the child’s doctor. For more information on vaccines and to review recommended immunization schedules, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/ or call Mercy Care DCS CHP Member Services at 602-212-4983 or 1-833-711-0776 (TTY/TDD 711).

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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